I Ching hexagram · 15 of 64
Hexagram 15: Modesty 谦 Qiān · Modesty, balance, humility
Staying humble brings lasting success and goodwill. Modesty creates success. The noble person carries things through to the end.
- Upper: ☷ Earth
- Lower: ☶ Mountain
- Nuclear: 40
- Opposite: 10
Number
15 of 64
Chinese name
谦 Qiān
Upper trigram
☷ Earth
Lower trigram
☶ Mountain
Nuclear hexagram
䷧ 40. Deliverance
Opposite hexagram
䷉ 10. Treading
What hexagram 15 means
Hexagram 15 shows a mountain hidden beneath the earth: greatness that does not put itself on display. It is the only hexagram in which every line is favourable.
Modesty here is not low self-esteem but balance. It levels out excess, gives credit to others and lets real achievement speak for itself, which is why it succeeds.
The Judgement · 卦辞
谦：亨，君子有终。
Modesty creates success. The noble person carries things through to the end.
The Image · 象曰
地中有山，谦；君子以裒多益寡，称物平施。
Within the earth, a mountain: the image of modesty. The noble person reduces what is too much and adds to what is too little, weighing things and making them even.
The lines and trigrams
Modesty places ☷ Earth (坤 Kūn), the trigram of receptivity and devotion, above ☶ Mountain (艮 Gèn), the trigram of stillness and restraint. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 15 in your life
Love and relationships
Humility and fairness make the relationship stronger. Listen, share the credit and avoid pride or point scoring.
Personal growth
Practise humility as balance: give where there is too little and hold back where there is too much.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 15 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初六 · Six at the beginning
The modest, modest noble person can cross the great water. Good fortune.
Line 2 六二 · Six in the second place
Modesty that comes to expression. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 3 九三 · Nine in the third place
Modesty with merit. The noble person who works hard without boasting carries things through: good fortune.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
Nothing that does not further modesty in action. Stay modest even as you move ahead.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Not boasting of wealth before one's neighbour. When it is necessary, act firmly; nothing that does not further.
Line 6 上六 · Six at the top
Modesty that comes to expression. It helps to discipline yourself and set your own house in order.
Hexagram 15 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 15 mean?
Hexagram 15, Modesty (谦 Qiān), is about modesty, balance, humility. Staying humble brings lasting success and goodwill. Hexagram 15 shows a mountain hidden beneath the earth: greatness that does not put itself on display. It is the only hexagram in which every line is favourable.
What does hexagram 15 mean in love?
Humility and fairness make the relationship stronger. Listen, share the credit and avoid pride or point scoring.
What does hexagram 15 mean for work and money?
Quietly competent work wins respect. Don't boast; share credit, balance workloads and let results show your worth.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 15?
Hexagram 15 has Earth (Kūn) as its upper trigram and Mountain (Gèn) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 15?
Its nuclear hexagram is 40, Deliverance. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 10, Treading. Turned upside down it becomes 16, Enthusiasm.
All 64 hexagrams
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