Hexagram 41
Decrease (Loss)
损 (Sǔn)
Mountain over Lake
The image is of a Lake at the foot of a Mountain. The lake's depth is decreased to increase the mountain's height and foundation. This symbolizes a necessary sacrifice or reduction. By decreasing what is below (the decorative, emotional aspect of the lake), what is above (the solid, firm mountain) is strengthened. It represents the principle that letting go of excess, simplifying, and making sincere offerings can fortify one's essential character and position.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment teaches that loss or decrease is not inherently negative. When faced with the need to give something up, if you do so with complete sincerity, it will lead to the best possible outcome. This is not a time for elaborate displays. The mention of "two small bowls" for a ritual offering emphasizes that the value lies in the genuineness of the heart, not the material richness of the sacrifice. A simple, heartfelt act of letting go is what brings good fortune.
The Image (象传)
The Image translates the outer principle of Decrease into an inner, psychological practice. The superior person sees the lake (representing strong emotions and passions) contained by the mountain (representing stillness and firmness). This teaches them to achieve inner balance by "decreasing" the power of volatile emotions. Specifically, one must control anger and restrain selfish desires. This inner simplification and self-mastery is the foundation of true strength.
Interpretation & Guidance
Receiving Hexagram 41 indicates that a period of reduction is at hand. This may be a voluntary sacrifice or an involuntary loss. The key is to meet this decrease with sincerity and acceptance, not with bitterness. This is a time to simplify your life, let go of what is excessive or non-essential, and focus on your core values. By cutting back on the superficial, you strengthen the substantial. It is a powerful call for self-control, modesty, and frugality. Your attitude toward this decrease will determine the outcome. Embrace simplicity, and you will find strength.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Nine at the Beginning (初九)
Bottom line - Yang
"Going quickly when one's tasks are finished is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others."
It is right to help others, but you must do so with consideration. Give what you can, but don't deplete yourself or make the other person overly reliant. A modest, balanced approach to giving is the blameless path.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others."
This is a time to hold your position firmly, not to start new ventures. You can help those above you, but you must do so without sacrificing your own integrity or core principles. True service comes from a place of inner wholeness.
Six in the Third Place (六三)
Third line - Yin
"When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one person journeys alone, he finds a companion."
Complex relationships, like a group of three, are often unstable and lead to one person feeling left out. Decrease here means simplifying your relationships. Breaking away from a tense group dynamic will allow you to form a more stable, one-on-one connection.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to rejoice. No blame."
The most valuable thing you can "decrease" is your own flaws. When you actively work on correcting your weaknesses and bad habits, you remove a burden from those around you. This brings them relief and joy and is a highly effective way to improve your relationships.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"Someone is certain to increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune."
Because you have embraced decrease with a sincere and generous spirit, you are now destined to receive a great increase. This blessing is so powerful and certain that nothing can prevent it. Your selfless attitude has attracted immense good fortune from the cosmos.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"If one increases others without decreasing oneself, it is without blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. One obtains servants, but no longer has a home."
You have reached a high state of wisdom where you can give to the world and enrich everyone without any loss to your own being. This brings great fortune. However, this level of service means you transcend personal attachments. You belong to the world, and thus you are detached from a private, exclusive life.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This hexagram calls for simplification within your relationship. It is a time to "decrease" negative emotions—control your anger, restrain demands, and let go of petty arguments. The focus should be on simple, sincere affection rather than complex emotional drama. It may also point to a need to sacrifice some of your personal desires or time for the health of the partnership. By decreasing the ego's demands, you increase the strength of the bond.
Career & Business (事业)
In business, Decrease points to a time for strategic cutbacks. This could mean reducing budgets, discontinuing a product, or simplifying operations. This is not about failure, but about strengthening the core of the business by removing what is non-essential or unprofitable. Frugality and efficiency are key. By sacrificing the fat, you make the muscle stronger. All such reductions should be done with sincerity and a clear vision for long-term stability.
Health & Wellness (健康)
The message for health is clearly about reduction and self-control. It is time to "decrease" what is harmful. This could mean cutting out unhealthy foods, reducing alcohol consumption, or stopping a bad habit. It is about restraining your appetites and desires for the sake of well-being. By simplifying your diet and lifestyle, and controlling your emotional responses like anger, you build a stronger foundation for health.
Financial Matters (财运)
This hexagram is a direct call for financial decrease and frugality. It is time to cut spending, eliminate luxuries, and simplify your budget. This may be due to a reduction in income, or it may be a voluntary choice to build a more solid financial base. Don't resent this period of loss. By embracing a simpler lifestyle with sincerity, you reduce financial stress and create long-term stability. Pay off debts and avoid new ones.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
The lesson of Decrease is the spiritual principle of "less is more." True growth comes from letting go. This starts with material things but finds its deepest meaning in the inner world. To grow now, you must decrease the power of your ego. This means controlling anger, restraining desires, and reducing your own faults. By simplifying your inner life and embracing a humble, sincere attitude, you find a profound and unshakable strength.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
Now is the time to simplify, cut back, and let go. Do not fight against a perceived loss; instead, embrace it with sincerity. This is a period for modesty, self-restraint, and focusing on the absolute essentials. Whether in finances, relationships, or personal habits, the path to good fortune lies in decreasing the superficial to strengthen the core. Act with a humble and genuine heart.
