Forty-First Hexagram : The Wisdom of Decrease

Hello, I Ching enthusiasts! Today, let's delve into the forty-first hexagram of the I Ching, Sun (損), which symbolizes 'Decrease' or 'Diminishing'. It represents mountain over lake, like the mountain diminishing the lake's waters through evaporation or overflow, emphasizing voluntary sacrifice, reducing excess to benefit the greater good, and finding increase through wise decrease. The hexagram statement is: "Sun: Decrease brings about success. It is advantageous to be persevering. It is advantageous to have somewhere to go. Take from the fullness and supplement the emptiness."

The line interpretations in the I Ching can be abstract and hard to remember. So, today, I've woven the six lines into an ancient tale to make them come alive. Read the story to absorb the meanings, and then in the breakdowns, I'll quote relevant parts of the story and add annotations from the I Ching original with sources. This way, you'll easily recall the lessons of each line!

Ancient Tale: 'The Mountain's Gift, Waters of Sacrifice'

Once upon a time, on a high mountain overlooking a parched lake, a wise elder decided to diminish the mountain's hoarded springs to replenish the valley's emptiness, bringing success through perseverance and a clear purpose. Taking from fullness to supplement need, he guided his people. At the outset, he fulfilled his purpose rightly, going forward brought good fortune as he released the waters without regret.

But taking from the fullness to supplement the emptiness led to no blame; the elder gave from abundance to the needy, fostering harmony.

When the people took from the fullness to supplement the emptiness, they received ten tortoise shells and two vessels of jade; great good fortune came from their generous decrease.

If one diminished one's hate but could not move, misfortune arose from rigid resentment blocking the flow.

Gaining ten pairs of turtles symbolized immense reward; but perseverance in excess led to misfortune, as hoarding negated the decrease's wisdom.

At last, not decreasing one's guilt but increasing it brought misfortune; no advantage in any direction, as self-indulgence drowned the mountain's gift.

How did you like the tale? Hope it was engaging! Now, let's break down each line based on the story. For each, I'll quote the matching part and annotate with the I Ching source. This connects the wisdom directly to the narrative for better recall!

Line Interpretations: Wisdom Linked to the Tale

출처 : 위스크AI

First Line (Initial Nine): Fulfill your purpose. Going forward brings good fortune. No blame.

This line advises aligning actions with true purpose for blameless advancement. Matching part in the tale: "At the outset, he fulfilled his purpose rightly, going forward brought good fortune as he released the waters without regret." This symbolizes purposeful decrease succeeding. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram first line: "Fulfill your purpose. Going forward brings good fortune. No blame."

Second Line (Six in the Second Place): Taking from the fullness and supplementing the emptiness brings good fortune. No blame.

This line suggests generous redistribution from abundance to need, yielding success without fault. Matching part in the tale: "But taking from the fullness to supplement the emptiness led to no blame; the elder gave from abundance to the needy, fostering harmony." Generous flow harmonizes. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram second line: "Taking from the fullness and supplementing the emptiness brings good fortune. No blame."

Image Prompt: "Classic I Ching inspired art in decorative frame style with all text displayed in English, showing taking fullness supplementing emptiness good fortune no blame harmony, representing Sun hexagram second line: generous redistribution, giving scene lake mountain, earthy tones with subtle yellows for abundance."

Third Line (Six in the Third Place): When three people journey, one is lost. When one journeys, one meets good fortune.

This line warns against group excess, favoring solitary wise decrease for success. Matching part in the tale: "When the people took from the fullness to supplement the emptiness, they received ten tortoise shells and two vessels of jade; great good fortune came from their generous decrease." Group generosity rewards. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram third line: "When three people journey, one is lost. When one journeys, one meets good fortune."

Image Prompt: "Vintage Chinese folklore illustration with golden borders and all text in English, illustrating three journey one lost solitary good fortune generous decrease, embodying Sun hexagram third line: wise solitude, journey scene mountain lake, muted browns and golds for reward."

Fourth Line (Nine in the Fourth Place): If one can be persevering, no blame. If one's hate diminishes not, humiliation.

This line cautions that rigid resentment blocks decrease's benefits, leading to shame. Matching part in the tale: "If one diminished one's hate but could not move, misfortune arose from rigid resentment blocking the flow." Un diminished hate blocks. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram fourth line: "If one can be persevering, no blame. If one's hate diminishes not, humiliation."

Image Prompt: "Ornate ancient poster style depiction with all text in English, portraying persevering no blame hate diminishes not humiliation block flow, symbolizing Sun hexagram fourth line: resentment caution, hate scene lake mountain, dark reds and grays for rigidity."

Fifth Line (Six in the Fifth Place): Gaining ten pairs of turtles. One cannot oppose this. Perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents him before God. Good fortune.

This line represents immense reward from decrease, with perseverance and divine favor succeeding. Matching part in the tale: "Gaining ten pairs of turtles symbolized immense reward; but perseverance in excess led to misfortune, as hoarding negated the decrease's wisdom." Immense reward perseveres. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram fifth line: "Gaining ten pairs of turtles. One cannot oppose this. Perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents him before God. Good fortune."

Image Prompt: "Traditional Chinese art with intricate patterns and all text displayed in English, showing gaining ten turtles persevere good fortune king presents God, representing Sun hexagram fifth line: divine reward, turtle reward scene mountain lake, vibrant yellows and purples for favor."

Top Line (Six at the Top): If one increases one's faults, what avail is it? If one diminishes one's faults, how could there be blame? One may take from the fullness and supplement the emptiness, but one should not take from the emptiness and supplement the fullness.

This line warns against self-indulgence in decrease, advocating balanced giving from abundance. Matching part in the tale: "At last, not decreasing one's guilt but increasing it brought misfortune; no advantage in any direction, as self-indulgence drowned the mountain's gift." Self-indulgence drowns. Annotation: I Ching Sun hexagram top line: "If one increases one's faults, what avail is it? If one diminishes one's faults, how could there be blame? One may take from the fullness and supplement the emptiness, but one should not take from the emptiness and supplement the fullness."

Image Prompt: "Dramatic vintage I Ching illustration with bordered frame and all text in English, depicting increasing faults no avail diminishing blame balanced giving self-indulgence drowns, symbolizing Sun hexagram sixth line: balanced decrease, indulgence scene lake mountain, dark grays and reds for warning."

This blog should make the six lines of Sun hexagram feel more approachable! The I Ching is full of life wisdom. Share your thoughts in the comments. See you next time~