All hexagrams · ← 40 · 42 →
損 41 · Sǔn · Decrease
Mountain over Lake — upper Gèn 艮 (still, resting, bounded); lower Duì 兌 (joyous, open, exchanging)
Hexagram 41, Decrease (Sǔn, 損), is Mountain over Lake. Lake at the foot of the mountain. Simplifying; giving of the lower to the higher.
The situation
Lake at the foot of the mountain. Simplifying; giving of the lower to the higher.
The counsel
Give sincerely, even if the offering is small. Decrease what is excessive in yourself.
The six lines
Line 1 — Going quickly when the task is done. Consider how much to decrease.
Line 2 — Persist; do not decrease yourself to increase others.
Line 3 — Three walking, one is lost; one walking finds a companion.
Line 4 — Decreasing your faults. Others rejoice.
Line 5 — Someone increases him; ten pairs of tortoises. Great good.
Line 6 — Increase without decreasing others. Good; gain helpers, but no house of your own.