损
SǔnUpper: Mountain · 艮 · Lower: Marsh · 兑
Judgment有孚，元吉。无咎，可贞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。
In plain wordsWith sincerity there is great good fortune, no fault, it can be kept to, and it favors having somewhere to go. Even two simple bowls of food suffice for an offering. Decreasing in measure and not seeking luxury is appropriate.
The imageMountain above, lake below: the deeper the lake at the mountain's foot, the higher the mountain stands, as if what is below is reduced to add to what is above; a picture of decrease.
A hint for youSimplifying is not shortchanging. Letting go of what you can spare leaves energy for what is important. What you reduce is the excess, and what you keep is sincerity.
Line texts (bottom to top)
- 初九祀事遄往，无咎，酌损之。The first line, undivided, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other).
- 九二利贞，征凶，弗损益之。The second line, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject to maintain a firm correctness, and that action on his part will be evil. He can give increase (to his correlate) without taking from himself
- 六三三人行，则损一人；一人行，则得其友。The third line, divided, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend.
- 六四损其疾，使遄有喜，无咎。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject diminishing the ailment under which he labours by making (the subject of the first line) hasten (to his help), and make him glad. There will be no error.
- 六五或益之，十朋之龟弗克违，元吉。The fifth line, divided, shows parties adding to (the stores of) its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells, and accepting no refusal. There will be great good fortune.
- 上九弗损益之，无咎，贞吉，利有攸往，得臣无家。The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from himself. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers more than can be counted by their clans.
Decrease; let go of the unnecessary
For entertainment and self-reflection only