I Ching hexagram · 41 of 64
Hexagram 41: Decrease 损 Sǔn · Decrease, sacrifice, simplicity
Reduce excess. Sincere sacrifice now brings later gain. Decrease combined with sincerity brings supreme good fortune without blame. One may persevere, and it helps to undertake something. How should it be carried out? Two small bowls are enough for the offering.
- Upper: ☶ Mountain
- Lower: ☱ Lake
- Nuclear: 24
- Opposite: 31
Number
41 of 64
Chinese name
损 Sǔn
Upper trigram
☶ Mountain
Lower trigram
☱ Lake
Nuclear hexagram
䷗ 24. Return
Opposite hexagram
䷞ 31. Influence
What hexagram 41 means
Hexagram 41 shows a lake at the foot of a mountain, its water rising to nourish the mountain above. It describes decrease: giving something up below so that something higher is strengthened.
Decrease is not always bad. Simplifying, cutting back and curbing anger and desire can bring great good fortune, as long as it is done sincerely. Even a simple offering is enough when the heart is true.
The Judgement · 卦辞
损：有孚，元吉，无咎，可贞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。
Decrease combined with sincerity brings supreme good fortune without blame. One may persevere, and it helps to undertake something. How should it be carried out? Two small bowls are enough for the offering.
The Image · 象曰
山下有泽，损；君子以惩忿窒欲。
At the foot of the mountain, the lake: the image of decrease. The noble person controls anger and restrains desire.
The lines and trigrams
Decrease places ☶ Mountain (艮 Gèn), the trigram of stillness and restraint, above ☱ Lake (兑 Duì), the trigram of joy and openness. 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 41 in your life
Love and relationships
Simplify and give without keeping score. Letting go of demands, pride or anger strengthens the bond.
Personal growth
Less can be more. Reducing excess and controlling impulses makes room for what matters.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 41 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 初九 · Nine at the beginning
When your own work is done, go quickly to help. No blame, but consider how much you can really give.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
Perseverance brings benefit; setting out brings misfortune. You can help others without diminishing yourself.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
When three people travel together, one is lost; when one travels alone, they find a companion.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
Reducing your faults quickly brings joy. No blame.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Someone increases you with tortoise shells worth ten pairs, and it cannot be refused. Supreme good fortune.
Line 6 上九 · Nine at the top
Increase without decreasing others. No blame; perseverance brings good fortune, and helpers come to you.
Hexagram 41 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 41 mean?
Hexagram 41, Decrease (损 Sǔn), is about decrease, sacrifice, simplicity. Reduce excess. Sincere sacrifice now brings later gain. Hexagram 41 shows a lake at the foot of a mountain, its water rising to nourish the mountain above. It describes decrease: giving something up below so that something higher is strengthened.
What does hexagram 41 mean in love?
Simplify and give without keeping score. Letting go of demands, pride or anger strengthens the bond.
What does hexagram 41 mean for work and money?
Cut costs, streamline and focus on essentials. A leaner approach now builds strength for later.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 41?
Hexagram 41 has Mountain (Gèn) as its upper trigram and Lake (Duì) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 41?
Its nuclear hexagram is 24, Return. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 31, Influence. Turned upside down it becomes 42, Increase.
All 64 hexagrams
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