Hexagram 41 · 損 · sǔn
Hexagram 41. Sǔn · Decrease
☶☱ Mountain over lake: Gèn above, Duì below.
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 correct¬ ness that can be maintained ; and advantage in every
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 correct¬ ness that can be maintained ; and advantage in every
A time of lessening: of expense, ambition, outward show. Decrease is no misfortune when deliberate — like fasting, or pruning a garden. Give the lower for the sake of the higher: sacrifice the secondary to strengthen the essence. Sincerity outweighs splendor — two bowls suffice.
The Image
The lake at the mountain's foot evaporates, feeding its height: the lower is decreased for the sake of the higher. A phase of deliberate reduction — of spending, obligations, outward shine. The cut is not catastrophe but faceting: remove the secondary and the essential grows harder. In scarcity sincerity wins: 'two small bowls' suffice where truth is present.
Interpretation of hexagram 41
XLI. The Sun Hexagram. further operations be necessary, let them be carried through with¬ out delay. Nothing is said in the Thwan about the discountenancing and removal of small men,—unworthy ministers or officers; but that subject appears in more than one of the lines.
The lines of hexagram 41
First line
The first line, 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).
There is a weak line, instead of a strong, in the first place; but this is compensated for by its strong correlate in 4.
Second line
The second line, 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.
Aft Hsi says he does not understand the symbolism under line 2. The place is even, but the line itself is strong; the strength there¬ fore is modified or tempered. And 2 is the correlate of the ruler in 5. We are to look to its subject therefore for a minister striving to realise the idea of the hexagram, and pacify the subdued king¬ dom. He becomes a hunter, and disposes of unworthy men, represented by ‘ the three foxes.’ He also gets the yellow arrows,— the instruments used in war or in hunting, whose colour is ‘ correct,’ and whose form is ‘ straight.’ His firm correctness will be good.
Third line
The third line, divided, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend.
Line 3 is weak, when it should be strong; and occupying, as it does, the topmost place of the lower trigram, it suggests the symbolism of a porter in a carriage. People will say, ‘ How did he get there ? The things cannot be his own.’ And robbers will attack and plunder him. The subject of the line cannot protect himself, nor accomplish anything good.
Fourth line
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject diminishing the ailment under which he labours by making (the subject of the first line) hasten (to his help), and make him glad. There will be no error.
What is said on the fourth line appears in the form of an address to its subject. The line is strong in an even place, and 1, its corre¬ late, is weak in an odd place. Such a union will not be productive of good. In the symbolism 1 becomes the toe of the subject of 4. How the friend or friends, who are to come to him on the removal of this toe, are represented, I do not perceive.
Fifth line
The fifth line, 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.
Line 5 is weak in an odd place; but the place is that of the ruler, to whom it belongs to perfect the idea of the hexagram by
Top line
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from him¬ self. There will be no error. With firm correct¬ ness 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.
SECT. II. THE SUN HEXAGRAM. T47
Did hexagram 41 come up in your reading? The oracle itself gives the full reading, with changing lines and the second hexagram.
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