Sǔn Diminution Reduction [hexagram 41]

Yang line Yin - controlling line Yin line Yin line Yang line Yang line

Spoil, hurt, taxation, subtraction
Mountain over
Lake
Earth Earth element

Lake Mountain
Xián [31] Reaction; Influence
Opposite
Wind Wood
[42] Increase; Gain
Inverse
Earth Wood
[24] Return; Turning back
Mutual

Lunar month: 7 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
For all about the history of the I Ching / Yi Jing click here and for a description of the methods of divination click here. To get your own reading of the Yi Jing online click here. For a guide to what all this means click:
Show Key

损: , , , , . , 享. Sǔn: yǒu fú, yuán jí, wú jiù, kě zhēn, lì yǒu yōu wǎng. hé zhī yòng, èr guǐ kě yòng xiǎng.

In (what is denoted by) Sun, if there be sincerity (in him who employs it), there will be great good fortune:--freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this (sincerity in the exercise of Sun) be employed? (Even) in sacrifice two baskets of grain, (though there be nothing else), may be presented.

: 损, 损, . 损, , , , . 享; . 损, 损益盈虚, . Tuàn zhuàn: Sǔn, sǔn xià yì shàng, qí dào shàng xíng. sǔn ér yǒu fú, yuán jí, wú jiù, kě zhēn, lì yǒu yōu wǎng. hé zhī yòng? èr guǐ kě yòng xiǎng; èr guǐ yīng yǒu shí. sǔn gāng yì róu yǒu shí, sǔn yì yíng xū, yǔ shí xié xíng.

In Sun (we see) the lower (trigram) diminished, and the upper added to. (But) the method (of action) implied in this operates also above (or, mounts upwards (also) and operates). 'If there be sincerity in this method of diminution, there will be great good fortune; freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this (sincerity in the exercise of Sun) be employed? (Even) in sacrifice, two baskets of grain, (though there be nothing else), may be presented:' - for these two baskets there ought to be the fitting time. There is a time when the strong should be diminished, and the weak should be strengthened. Diminution and increase, overflowing and emptiness: -these take place in harmony with the conditions of the time.

: , 损; 惩忿窒. Xiàng zhuàn: Shān xià yǒu zé, sǔn; jūn zǐ yǐ chéng fèn zhì yù.

(The trigram representing) a mountain and beneath it that for the waters of a marsh form Sun. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains his wrath and represses his desires.

young yang young yin young yin young yin young yang changing yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Water
Méng [4] Initiation; Immaturity
Change
: , , 酌损. Chū jiǔ: sì shì chuán wǎng, wú jiù, zhuó sǔn zhī.

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other).

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Sì shì chuán wǎng, shàng hé zhì yě.

‘He suspends his own affairs and hurries away (to help the subject of the fourth line):’ - the (subject of that) upper (line) mingles his wishes with his.

young yang young yin young yin young yin changing yang young yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Wood
[27] Nutrition; Nourishment
Change
: , , 损, 益. Jiǔ èr: lì zhēn, zhēng xiōng, fú sǔn, yì zhī.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject to maintain a firm correctness, and that action on his part will be evil. He can give increase (to his correlate) without taking from himself.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ èr lì zhēn, zhōng yǐ wéi zhì yě.

‘It will be advantageous for (the subject of) the second ‘nine’, (undivided), to maintain his firm correctness:’ - his central position gives its character to his aim.

young yang young yin young yin changing yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Heaven
Dà xù [26] Impeded; Great nourishment
Change
: , ; , . Liù sān: sān rén xíng, zé sǔn yī rén; yī rén xíng, zé dé qí yǒu.

The third ‘six’, divided, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yī rén xíng, sān zé yí yě.

‘One man, walking,’ (finds his friend): - when three are together, doubts rise among them.

young yang young yin changing yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Lake
Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity
Change
: 损疾, 使遄, . Liù sì: sǔn qí jí, shǐ chuán yǒu xǐ, wú jiù.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject diminishing the ailment under which he labors by making (the subject of the first line) hasten (to his help), and make him glad. There will be no error.

: 损疾, . Xiàng zhuàn: Sǔn qí jí, yì kě xǐ yě.

‘He diminishes the ailment under which he labors:’ - this is matter for joy.

young yang changing yin young yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Wind
Lake
Zhōng fú [61] Truth; Sincerity
Change
: , 违, . Liù wǔ: huò yì zhī, shí péng zhī guī fú kè wéi, yuán jí.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows parties adding to (the stores of) its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells, and accepting no refusal. There will be great good fortune.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Liù wǔ yuán jí, zì shàng yòu yě.

‘The great good fortune attached to the fifth ‘six’, (divided),’ is due to the blessing from above.

changing yang young yin young yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Earth
Lake
Lín [19] Convergence; Approach
Change
: 损益, , , , . Shàng jiǔ: fú sǔn yì zhī, wú jiù, zhēn jí, yǒu yōu wǎng, dé chén wú jiā.

The topmost ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from himself. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers more than can be counted by their clans.

: 损益, . Xiàng zhuàn: Fú sǔn yì zhī, dà dé zhì yě.

‘He gives increase to others without taking from what is his own:’ - he obtains his wish on a grand scale.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also