Hexagram 41: Decrease → Hexagram 31: Influence

Decrease
Mountain / Lake
Influence
Lake / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 6 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Line 1

初九 已事遄往。无咎。酌損之。

one's (own)
shìaffairs
chuán(are) rushed
wǎngto go
no
jiùblame
zhuó(but) weigh
sǔndecreasing
zhī(of) this

Nine at the beginning means: Going quickly when one's tasks are finished Is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.

Line 2

九二 利貞。征凶。弗損益之。

(it is) worthwhile
zhēnto persist
zhēng(but) to expedite
xiōng(is) ill-omened
(there is) neither
sǔn(of
(nor
zhīhere

Nine in the second place means: Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, One is able to bring increase to others.

Line 3

六三 三人行。則損一人。一人行。則得其友。

sānthree
rénpeople
xíngstart
(and) then
sǔndecrease
(by) one
rénperson
(this) one
rénperson
xíngstarts
(and) then
finds
the
yǒucompanion

Six in the third place means: When three people journey together, Their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, He finds a companion.

Line 4

六四 損其疾。使遄有喜。无咎。

sǔndecreasing
these
afflictions
使shǐ(to) take(ing) control
chuánexpeditiously
yǒu(and) be
glad
(this is) no
jiùwrong

Six in the fourth place means: If a man deceases his faults, It makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.

Line 5

六五 或益之十朋之龜。弗克違。元吉。

huòsomebody
increases
zhī(to) (this) one
shí(by) ten
péng(matched) pairs
zhīof
guītortoise
(one) (is) not
able
wéi(of
yuánmost
promising

Six in the fifth place means: Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.

Line 6

上九 弗損益之。无咎。貞吉。利有攸往。得臣无家。

(there is) neither
sǔn(of
(nor
zhīhere
(there is) nothing
jiù(is) wrong
zhēnpersistence
(is) promising
worth(while)
yǒu(to) have
yōusomewhere
wǎngto go
(but) (one) accept
chénservants
(but) not
jiāfamily

Nine at the top means: If one is increased without depriving others, There is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. One obtains servants But no longer has a separate home.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramMountain LakeKeeping Still → The Joyous
Lower TrigramLake MountainThe Joyous → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

京庾積聚,黍稷以極。行者疾至,可以厭飽。

The capital granaries piled high; millet and grain to the brim. The traveler arrives in haste; able at last to eat his fill.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Mountain above lake gives way to lake above mountain — Influence, where the mountain yields to the lake's attraction above it. The capital granaries overflow with stored millet and grain, accumulated to the brim. Travelers arrive swiftly and find themselves sated to fullness. The verse celebrates abundance so complete that even the wayfarer need not struggle — provisions are ready before the need arises. From Decrease to Influence, the mountain and lake reverse positions: where Decrease placed the mountain above suppressing the lake, Influence places the lake above the mountain, a posture of receptive openness. Stored grain becomes available grain. The transformation shows Decrease's harvest: what was patiently accumulated through restraint now flows outward as generous sustenance, attracting all who draw near.

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