Hexagram 15 of 64 · King Wen order
謙Modesty
Qiān · ䷎ · above: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn · below: Mountain ☶ 艮 Gèn
True strength that does not boast, allowing one to influence others without creating resistance.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
亨，君子有終。
Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. Khien indicates progress and success. It is the way of heaven to send down its beneficial influences below, where they are brilliantly displayed. It is the way of earth, lying low, to send its influences upwards and (there) to act.
2. It is the way of heaven to diminish the full and augment the humble. It is the way of earth to overthrow the full and replenish the humble. Spiritual Beings inflict calamity on the full and bless the humble. It is the way of men to hate the full and love the humble. Humility in a position of honour makes that still more brilliant; and in a low position men will not (seek to) pass beyond it. Thus it is that 'the superior man will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).'
The Image 象
地中有山，謙；君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
(The trigram for) the earth and (that of) a mountain in the midst of it form Khien. The superior man, in accordance with this, diminishes what is excessive (in himself), and increases where there is any defect, bringing about an equality, according to the nature of the case, in his treatment (of himself and others).
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
The first SIX, divided, shows us the superior man who adds humility to humility. (Even) the great stream may be crossed with this, and there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The superior man who adds humility to humility' is one who nourishes his (virtue) in lowliness.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
鳴謙，貞吉。
The second SIX, divided, shows us humility that has made itself recognised. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The good fortune consequent on being firm and correct, where the humility has made itself recognised, is owing to the possessor's having (the virtue) in the core of his heart.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 46, Pushing Upward.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
勞謙君子，有終吉。
The third NINE, undivided, shows the superior man of (acknowledged) merit. He will maintain his success to the end, and have good fortune.
Small Image: 'The superior man of (acknowledged) merit, and yet humble:'—the myriads of the people will submit to him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 2, The Receptive.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
無不利，撝謙。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one, whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirring up (the more) his humility.
Small Image: 'One, whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirs up his humility the more:'(but in doing so) he does not act contrary to the (proper) rule.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 62, Preponderance of the Small.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
不富，以其鄰，利用侵伐，無不利。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one who, without being rich, is able to employ his neighbours. He may advantageously use the force of arms. All his movements will be advantageous.
Small Image: 'He may advantageously use the force of arms:'—correcting, that is, those who do not submit.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 39, Obstruction.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
The sixth SIX, divided, shows us humility that has made itself recognised. The subject of it will with advantage put his hosts in motion; but (he will only) punish his own towns and state.
Small Image: 'His humility has made itself recognised:'—(but) all his aims have not yet been attained. He may employ the force of arms, (but only) in correcting (his own) towns and state.'
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 52, Keeping Still, Mountain.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦10. Treading 履
every line changedInverse 綜卦16. Enthusiasm 豫
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.