Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 41 — Mountain over Lake (山澤損) - Decrease
損
Lower Canon 下經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
損：有孚，元吉，無咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用，二簋可用享。
Decrease combined with sincerity brings about supreme good fortune without blame. One may be persevering in this. It furthers one to undertake something. How is this to be carried out? Two small bowls full may be offered with sincerity.
Image
象傳
象曰：山下有澤，損；君子以懲忿窒欲。
At the foot of the mountain, the lake: the image of Decrease. Thus the superior man controls his anger and restrains his instincts.
Interpretation
詮釋
損卦象徵減損與克制。山下有澤，上盈下虛。應抑制憤怒，節制欲望，損己益人。
Decrease and restraint. Mountain below lake, upper full lower empty. Should suppress anger, control desires, decrease self to benefit others.
Six Lines
爻辭
Nine at the beginning
初九
已事遄往，無咎，酌損之。
Going quickly when one's tasks are finished is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.
事畢速去，無咎，酌情減損。助人要適度，不可過分減損自己。
Task finished go quickly, no blame, moderate the decrease. Helping others should be appropriate, not excessively diminishing oneself.
Nine in the second place
九二
利貞，征凶，弗損益之。
Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others.
利於守正，前進則凶，不減損自己反能益人。得中正之位，堅守本位即可。
Benefits correctness, advancing brings misfortune, not decreasing self can benefit others. In balanced position, holding position suffices.
Six in the third place
六三
三人行，則損一人；一人行，則得其友。
When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion.
三人同行則損一人；一人獨行則得朋友。專一則得，雜亂則失。
Three people traveling lose one; one person alone finds friend. Focus brings gain, confusion brings loss.
Six in the fourth place
六四
損其疾，使遄有喜，無咎。
If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.
減損其過失，使人速來歡喜，無咎。改正錯誤，人心歸附。
Decreasing one's faults, makes others quickly come with joy, no blame. Correcting errors, people's hearts return.
Six in the fifth place
六五
或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，元吉。
Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.
有人增益他，十對龜卜也不能違背，大吉。居尊位有德，天佑人助。
Someone increases him, ten pairs of tortoise divination cannot oppose, great fortune. In high position with virtue, heaven blesses and people help.
Nine at the top
上九
弗損益之，無咎，貞吉，利有攸往，得臣無家。
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.
不減損而增益，無咎，守正吉，利有所往，得到臣民而無私家。大公無私，得天下。
Increase without decreasing others, no blame, correctness brings fortune, benefits undertaking, gains subjects without private home. Utterly impartial, gains the world.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 41