谦
GUA 15 · QIAN
AUTHENTICITY
Overall Image (大象)
Within the earth is a mountain
Authenticity
The noble young one, accordingly,
diminishes the excessive and adds to the deficient
Appraising things with fair allocation*▼
Overall Image (大象)
Within the earth is a mountain
Authenticity
The noble young one, accordingly,
diminishes the excessive and adds to the deficient
Appraising things with fair allocation*
The mountain stands in its past and future tense. Beyond its youth and its old age, in both directions, is earth. The level horizon hides the distant peak, while another peak stands just under the surface. Seen from time’s great perspective, the greatest of things has its end. To find that end does not diminish a thing. To admit our own ends and limits does not diminish ourselves. This speaks of an equity, and not of an equality, not of making high things low or low things high, but adding some missing perspective and finding things as they are, from various points of view. We may see an excess and take some away, we may see a need and fill it, but this is just fairness.
Main Judgment (Authenticity*) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
The noble young one gets results▼
Main Judgment (Authenticity*) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
The noble young one gets results
Earth exalted above the mountain? It just is, like an everyday suchness. Why do we wax so hyperbolic and try to turn things into poems? We do not need to level things either: high is high, except from above; we are small, except to the bugs. Modesty is simply insistence that growth be honest and sure, and to be rid of what interferes. Things are brought to completion and closure. It is too hard to keep things in all of their proper contexts if we do not know where things end and their contexts begin. To be genuine, fair, authentic or modest might mean declining a particular honor, or dismissing a point of pride, but real, rock-solid modesty is not about how one declines or accepts an honor, or refuses to allow a little pride. It’s all about giving honor where due, and knowing where pride has its boundaries. We hear how the world is perfect just as it is. Why must we be so extreme? Why do we even presume to speak of perfection? The world is what it is. Cash those dreams in for cash value and what you have left is much more stupendous than perfect. It moves along fine as it is with accidents, defects and all. We seem to want to deceive ourselves forward.
Key Words (关键词)
Due regard, respectfulness, to honor others according their merit; ordinary reality▼
Key Words (关键词)
Due regard, respectfulness, to honor others according their merit; ordinary reality
Genuine, unpretentious, unassuming, modest, accurate, realistic, honest, authentic Consistent, inexcessive; basis in fact, surety, solidity, firmness, stability, sobriety Curtailing the superfluous, parsimony; thoroughness, realism; rocks in the rough On solid foundations; exacting appreciation, accurate assessment, groundedness Simplicity, nothing extra or extraneous, restraint, limiting to the most stable form
Structure & Connections
Structure Class
Gen-Dui Family
This classification indicates the hexagram's role in the 12 Sovereign Cycle (Earthly Branches) or its structural family.
Astrology
note:Jupiter in Earth
planet:Jupiter
element:Earth
Tarot
card:Four of Pentacles
suit:Pentacles
Qabalah
note:Chesed in Assiah
sphere:Chesed
The Lines
11st • YangAuthentic modesty in the noble young one
Is useful in crossing great streams
Promising▼
1
1st • YangAuthentic modesty in the noble young one
Is useful in crossing great streams
Promising
15.1x (The) authentic modesty (of) the noble young one:
Humility (is) a means to self-mastery
He appears to be nothing special. He does not look or speak like a noble, does not look or speak like a beggar. He might not be suspected of harboring one thought, much less a boat and big plans to cross the great stream. This might not be known even after he’s gone. It is not that he has no light to spare, but that he has it invested, with no light to squander. Nearly invisible, yet not seeming mysterious, he keeps to himself and attracts no distractions or challenge, simply doing the work that needs being done and pacing himself for the journey ahead. Modesty here is his method, made to serve greater ambitions. Quiet competence and humble simplicity will take him from this shore to highest adventure. So is a big plan to cross the great stream then immodest? Yes, if he fails to make it. He will not know this until he’s across.
22nd • YangExpressing modesty
Persistence is promising▼
2
2nd • YangExpressing modesty
Persistence is promising
15.2x Expressing modesty, persistence (is) promising:
The inner affections (are) found
If you don’t tell them you’re modest, then how will they ever know? And since they will not read your mind, express your skills, your needs, your desires, your want of an opportunity and your worthiness to take it. An honest modesty, straight from the heart, can feel great about itself. Doors open for virtuous ones and good information can open those doors. Sometimes being appreciated will help both the cause and its outcomes. The cultivation of virtue is often a long and thankless task, so why not see some rewards here? Modesty is not self-effacement, nor shame in being imperfect. It might be announced, or even decreed, without inviting a fall. Outward signs and behavior are not disallowed. The wrongheaded sort of humility that berates itself in court is just a perverse form of vainglory. To silence modesty is to confuse the two.
33rd • YangDiligent modesty in the noble young one
Gets results
Promising▼
3
3rd • YangDiligent modesty in the noble young one
Gets results
Promising
15.3x (The) diligent modesty (of) the noble young one:
The myriads of people concur
Industrial strength modesty. His dedication and competence are inspiring of awe, but he got this way by being modest and attending to what was real. He is good at what he does and he has no doubts about this. Now, as the work begins to see some rewards, people gather around with compliments and praise. But he sends them on errands and starts them on projects, too busy to dwell on the honors, and applies the energy saved by not doing what is not needed. Does this mean that the work is not done for reward? He must be concealing some happiness, or smiling a little inside. Maybe it means that the work is simply not done and greater enjoyment is already had in its doing. It’s the same thing as not speaking out when your silence allows you to listen and learn: it’s as far from done as from wisdom, but working on it still.
44th • YangNothing cannot be turned to advantage
With candid authenticity▼
4
4th • YangNothing cannot be turned to advantage
With candid authenticity
15.4x Nothing cannot be turned to advantage
(With) candid authenticity:
(This is) not against the rules
If it is best not to err, is it then second best to err on caution’s side? Or is it best to step forward with candor and boldness? If you step forward and tell it just like it is, might you not learn a bit sooner whether or not you were wrong? When the rabbit stops to consider himself, the hawk makes a mess of his plans, but when he cowers in fear of the hawk he starves. So rabbits who live to make more of their kind will hop along in the middle. The same applies here. Between a humble silence and all of the things you can say, a middle way will use a plus and a minus to better effect: speaking simply and true, to the point, to the king, to complete strangers. Modesty and candor are learning tools, on learning curves, taking little for granted, making few assumptions, but above all, asking questions and honoring others where due.
55th • YangNo enrichment by way of these neighbors
Worthwhile and useful to occupy and subjugate*
Nothing cannot be turned to advantage▼
5
5th • YangNo enrichment by way of these neighbors
Worthwhile and useful to occupy and subjugate*
Nothing cannot be turned to advantage
15.5x Worthwhile (and) useful to occupy (and) subjugate:
To expedite without permission
Some serious trouble has come and gone and your good for nothing neighbors just sat by, doing nothing to help. What is a modest and authentic sovereign to do here? What right might you have to step in and alter their ways? What foundation might you have to assume that you are superior, that you know what is best for the others? How could this conquest be modesty? To show them good taste by grabbing their hair and rubbing their faces into your own fine cooking? And do it all for the good of the conquered? Are not the criteria relative? You already know from recent events that these folks are not your true friends. To act on good information is not the same as to act on a presumption. Is it enough to know that you have waited this long and examined all these questions? Is it now time for them to learn who their friends are?
6Top • YangExpressing modesty
Worthwhile and useful to mobilize the reserves
To discipline home town and province▼
6
Top • YangExpressing modesty
Worthwhile and useful to mobilize the reserves
To discipline home town and province
15.6x Expressive modesty:
The goals (are) not yet achieved
* An appropriate practice to mobilize the reserves
To discipline home town (and) province
Modesty gets big ideas and even a little ambition. Modesty takes command and it might even make a conquest. One need not be limp to be humble, or passive to be retiring, merely in earnest and honest. Modesty can express itself as often as any old rooster might do. Modesty can set armies marching as often as arrogance can, it can seize the reins of power as often as greed. The difference is due regard, and the good aim of good means to good ends. This means to begin with the failures and flaws all your own and the problems you have on the home front. Hypocrisy is immodest and it cannot lead by example. To conquer their own worst enemies is too much of a battle for most, so they must find their enemies elsewhere, or they fabricate some where none can be found. Fixing yourself is extremely ambitious.
Reference in Original Text & Resources
This content is derived from Bradford Hatcher's THE BOOK OF CHANGES: Yijing, Word By Word.
Original text for Hexagram 15 begins on Page 150-158.
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