损
GUA 41 · SUN
DECREASING
Overall Image (大象)
At the foot of the mountain is a marsh
Decreasing
The noble young one, accordingly,
rules out resentments (and) restrains desires▼
Overall Image (大象)
At the foot of the mountain is a marsh
Decreasing
The noble young one, accordingly,
rules out resentments (and) restrains desires
The water level is low. A mountain towers above, its image held in the pool as a heart holds up a hope. The mountain seems twice as high, the pool seems twice as empty. Only half of an offering sits at the base of the shrine. The flower gives up its petals and attends to developing seeds. The young noble works on his character, giving up this and that, distilling life down to what matters the most. His thrift is extended even to feelings. He fixes the smallest of leaks to save liquid, the resources that he needs. If he must lose, he can start by losing the unwanted things, his defects and excesses, troubles and losses, resentments and cravings. This way poverty becomes simplicity.
Main Judgment (Decreasing) (卦辞)
Be true
Outstanding opportunity
Nothing is wrong
But it calls for persistence
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
How is this applied?
A pair of simple rice baskets may be used for the offering▼
Main Judgment (Decreasing) (卦辞)
Be true
Outstanding opportunity
Nothing is wrong
But it calls for persistence
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
How is this applied?
A pair of simple rice baskets may be used for the offering
To give a thing up is not always a loss if it goes to where it is needed and it comes from where it is not. Nor is surrender always defeat, nor thrift an ungenerous way. Young sprouts and seedlings are topped and pruned but are not diminished thereby. A sacrifice is supposed to cost less than its worth. Two small bowls, even if filled with what is on hand and not needed, might be sacred to someone else. Even if one is half full and the other half empty, there will be a full measure somewhere. And if good spirits top these both off, half-measures can be seen in new ways. Something wonderful happens when economy again means thrift. Whatever is left over, once the needless has gone, is enriched, treasured, appreciated and more easily cared for. After a long run of growth and prosperity this may be hard to relearn. We pare our domains and ambitions back down and lower our expectations, using phrases like leaner and meaner, less is more, or small is beautiful. But does wealth merely mean having much of what is scarce? Why not enough of what is plentiful and the same portion when it’s not? It has to be worth something to not suffer the ups and downs.
Key Words (关键词)
Diminish; to reduce, economize, forego; contraction, concentration, conservation▼
Key Words (关键词)
Diminish; to reduce, economize, forego; contraction, concentration, conservation
Sacrificing, offering up; dues, service, subtraction, trying to lose only inessentials Trimming excesses, plugging leaks, lowering expectations, doing more with less To make the most, make do; distill, condense, concentrate as forms of enrichment Enrich, make less dilute, keep the good stuff; building resilience; losing negatives Extenuation, distraction, depreciation, demands on resources, use, wear and tear
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:Caput Draconis in Water
planet:North Node
element:Water
Tarot
card:Princess of Cups
suit:Cups
Qabalah
note:Assiah of Briah
sphere:Assiah
The Lines
11st • YangOne’s own affairs are rushed and passed by
No harm is done
But consider decreasing this▼
1
1st • YangOne’s own affairs are rushed and passed by
No harm is done
But consider decreasing this
41.1x One’s own affairs (are) rushed (and) passed by:
Value a joining of purposes
The value of your services may be weighed in various ways. To suspend your own activities and rush off with your offerings to help a friend in need is, of course, an unselfish and generous thing to offer. But if your own activities had any true value in their own right, however lesser or greater than what you abandoned them for, this really ought to be weighed in the balance as well. Are you meeting the other’s true needs? Might you be weakening your friend’s self-reliance? Good water is bad for stopping up leaks. What is your effort and time really worth? Or does it not have this kind of value? If decreasing yourself is done with a real economy, then nothing much of value is lost. But think small. If you have but a small cache of seed for next season, it is just as foolish to feed it to needy friends as it is to consume it yourself.
22nd • YangWorthwhile to be steadfast
To go boldly is ill-omened
Avoiding decrease increases one▼
2
2nd • YangWorthwhile to be steadfast
To go boldly is ill-omened
Avoiding decrease increases one
41.2x Nine second merits steadfastness:
Concentrate in order to accomplish the goal
The master of the temple scrubs and waxes the floors, prepares the monk’s meals, cleans up the altar and keeps the idol smoking. But for all of this humble service, he doesn’t give anything up. These are the steps on his path, this is exactly the life he has asked for, the price he has chosen to pay. The very nature of his position is a hard look at the nature of sacrifice. To be blunt, this is often no more than greed in its sanctified form, although the best will say thanks for what little they have, and not please for how much they want. A sage will be wary of this and true to himself. He cannot give up his spark to serve in his cause: he needs his center and all of his strength for the blessing, before making anything sacred. To be happy with getting your basic needs met will set you free to lose without losing and gain without risk.
33rd • YangThree people set out
And in due order lose one member
A single person sets out
And in due order finds a companion▼
3
3rd • YangThree people set out
And in due order lose one member
A single person sets out
And in due order finds a companion
41.3x One person sets out:
The third gives rise to uncertainties
Decrease and increase might only be ways for us to look backwards, to describe the behavior of excess and lack, as derivatives, out of the larger dimensions of change. They are only ideas, confined to short spans of time, they are not homes to dwell in. When thoughts and deeds repeat more than once, the third one is already searching, reaching for novel experience and then for the next confirmation. In these lean times this reaching for more may be no more than untimely distraction. The way things behave implies a way being followed. The rule here might be that the odd will try to get even. Two half-full bowls can together pretend to be plenty, but three suggest a new bowl. Two of the three get a break from the oddness, and one who goes finds a companion. More is not always merrier when what we need now is to concentrate.
44th • YangDecreasing those sufferings
To take charge and expedite becomes happiness
This is not a mistake▼
4
4th • YangDecreasing those sufferings
To take charge and expedite becomes happiness
This is not a mistake
41.4x Decreasing those sufferings:
Truly asking for happiness
Sometimes what we prize beyond all else are the pains of our being so very special, our passions for sorrows and failings, our bondage to weakness and ills. These are greatly valued as treasures, and highly regarded as pets. They bring the neighbors around to help out. They give conversations a place to begin. Friends like to scratch the ears of the ones with sad, little faces. A good illness can keep our friends busy for days. Many are the strange relations between the artist and his form of abuse. One’s troubles are not dismissed lightly. But such suffering is optional and sanity grows elsewhere. It might be fine if one has time and nothing better to do. But this wants too much maintenance now. What better things to give up than the burdens, and sources of loss and exhaustion? Some selective predation will better the species.
55th • YangSomebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells
One cannot refuse
Outstanding opportunity▼
5
5th • YangSomebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells
One cannot refuse
Outstanding opportunity
41.5x Six fifth’s outstanding opportunity:
Assistance from above
You perform what you think a small sacrifice, then you reap an enormous reward. Yet one who is increased in wealth is only given the task of guarding the way wealth will dwindle. There is no such thing as a wealth which stands still and alone. For the shells to give up their omens, one shell at a time is heated up, cracked and destroyed, becoming quite useless for anything else. Intact, they were useful only for turtles. Even gold by itself just has weight, takes up space and colors the light a bit yellow. Would you put cracks in these shells just to question your fortune? Their value is in their spending, in losing them to your own best advantage. If you already knew this, and it was known that you knew this, then perhaps the one who gave them up knew they would not be wasted. Believe no more than you’ll need to believe here.
6Top • YangAvoiding decrease increases one
Not a mistake
Persistence is opportune
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
But one gains servants rather than family▼
6
Top • YangAvoiding decrease increases one
Not a mistake
Persistence is opportune
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
But one gains servants rather than family
41.6x Avoiding decrease increases one:
A well-earned objective
When wealth is not bound to inferior rules, giving and taking both lead to a profit. An economy slowly builds itself up when its circulation is free. Anyone can prosper at times, but in order to sustain this without relying on undiminishing growth rates there are a few rules and prerequisites. Those who are in charge must be kept in a position to lose everything that they own: never leave them unaccountable for their errors in their judgment. Then tax what you want less of and not what you would increase. If government and management exist to solve our problems, then to tax away the problems will shrink these burdens down. Learn to gain in ways where everyone wins and learn to lose to advantage. Remember that a shrinking demand mimics the growth of supply. And never forget that the greater good includes you.
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 41 begins on Page 306-314.
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