Modesty
- In Chinese
- 謙 qiān
- Above
- The Receptive, earth
- Below
- Keeping Still, mountain
Did you get this hexagram?
Mark your changing lines and keep your cast.
Mark my castWhat hexagram 15 means
Hexagram 15 is a mountain in the midst of the earth. Five broken lines surround a single whole line in the third place, and the figure stands for humility.
The judgment is short and favorable. In Legge the hexagram “indicates progress and success”, and the superior man has a good issue to what he undertakes.
Legge sums up the lesson in one sentence. “Humility is the way to permanent success.”
The lines keep the same tone. The first three end in good fortune and the last three speak of advantage.
The judgment and the image
The judgment
謙亨。君子有終。
MODESTY creates success. The superior man carries things through.
success things flow and come through
The image
地中有山，《謙》。君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
Within the earth, a mountain: The image of MODESTY. Thus the superior man reduces that which is too much, And augments that which is too little. He weighs things and makes them equal.
What the commentaries say
The commentary on the judgment begins with heaven and earth. Heaven sends its influences down, and the earth works from below. “It is the way of earth, lying low, to send its influences upwards and (there) to act.”
It then names what heaven does with the full and the humble. “It is the way of heaven to diminish the full and augment the humble.” It says that the earth overthrows the full and that spiritual beings “inflict calamity on the full and bless the humble”, and it ends with people. “It is the way of men to hate the full and love the humble.”
The commentary then says what humility does in a high station and in a low one. “Humility in a position of honour makes that still more brilliant; and in a low position men will not (seek to) pass beyond it.”
The image is the earth with a mountain in the midst of it. From it the commentary draws a rule of balance. The superior man “diminishes what is excessive (in himself), and increases where there is any defect”. Wilhelm puts the result in few words. “He weighs things and makes them equal.”
Legge points to the third line, the only whole one among five divided. He reports that many hold it to be the lord of the hexagram, and he describes it as “the representative of humility, strong, but abasing itself”.
Legge also remarks on the place of this hexagram in the book. “An essay on humility rightly follows that on abundant possessions.”
The six lines
First line
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
A superior man modest about his modesty May cross the great water. Good fortune.
good fortune it goes well
Humility is doubled at the lowest place. Legge calls a weak line there “the fitting symbol of the superior man adding humility to humility”, and the commentary says such a person “nourishes his (virtue) in lowliness”. With this the text allows even the crossing of the great stream. Wilhelm has a man “modest about his modesty”.
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light
Second line
鳴謙，貞吉。
Modesty that comes to expression. Perseverance brings good fortune.
good fortune it goes well
Here humility has become known to others. Legge describes the line as “weak, central, and in its proper place” and reads a humility that “has proclaimed itself”. The text asks for firm correctness, and the commentary traces the good fortune to having the virtue “in the core of his heart”.
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 46, Pushing Upward
Third line
勞謙，君子有終、吉。
A superior man of modesty and merit Carries things to conclusion. Good fortune.
good fortune it goes well
This is the only whole line. Legge notes that it is strong and in its proper place, and he calls it the lord of the hexagram, the one “to whom all represented by the lines above and below turn”. Its subject has merit and is still humble. The text says “He will maintain his success to the end”, and the commentary adds that “the myriads of the people will submit to him”.
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 2, The Receptive
Fourth line
无不利，撝謙。
Nothing that would not further modesty In movement.
nothing that does not further everything is favorable
This line shows someone whose action would be “in every way advantageous” and who stirs up his humility all the more. Legge gives the reason. The line is near the fifth, so its subject “should still use the greatest precaution”. The commentary finds that in this he “does not act contrary to the (proper) rule”. Wilhelm gives the line as “Nothing that would not further modesty In movement.”
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 62, Small Exceeding
Fifth line
不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。
No boasting of wealth before one’s neighbor. It is favorable to attack with force. Nothing that would not further.
it furthers it is favorablenothing that does not further everything is favorable
Legge sees a ruler in the fifth line. His neighbours follow him “though he may not be very rich or powerful”, and Legge gives the reason. “All men love and honour humility”. Wilhelm words the opening differently, as “No boasting of wealth before one’s neighbor.” The text also permits the force of arms, and the commentary gives its purpose as “correcting, that is, those who do not submit”. Legge reads that his humility “need not keep him from asserting the right, even by force of arms”.
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 39, Obstruction
Sixth line
鳴謙，利用行師征邑國。
Modesty that comes to expression. It is favorable to set armies marching To chastise one’s own city and one’s country.
it furthers it is favorable
Humility is recognised again, as in the second line, but the commentary says that “all his aims have not yet been attained”. The subject may put his hosts in motion, though only to punish his own towns and state. Legge places this line “outside the game, so to speak, that has been played out”. Its subject uses force “only within his own sphere and to assert what is right”, and Legge is plain about the limit. “He will not be aggressive.”
When only this line changes, it becomes hexagram 52, Keeping Still
Hexagram 15 unchanging
If none of your six lines is moving, you read the hexagram as a whole. That is the judgment and the image above, without any of the line texts.
The book gives the reason. Lines that do not move are “non-moving lines, which serve only as structural matter in the hexagram, without intrinsic meaning of their own”.
For hexagram 15 unchanging, what remains is the progress and success of the judgment, and the image that asks you to reduce what is too much and add where there is too little.
Questions people ask
What does hexagram 15 mean?
It stands for humility, which the judgment joins to progress and success. Legge sums it up. “Humility is the way to permanent success.”
What does hexagram 15 unchanging mean?
With no moving lines you read only the judgment and the image. For hexagram 15 that is progress and success for the humble, and the rule to reduce what is too much and add to what is too little.
What does hexagram 15 changing to 2 mean?
It is hexagram 15 with its third line moving. That is the only whole line, the superior man of merit who “will maintain his success to the end”, and when it changes the hexagram becomes number 2.
What does hexagram 15 changing to 52 mean?
It is hexagram 15 with its top line moving. That line shows humility that has made itself recognised, and force used only on his own towns and state. When it changes the hexagram becomes number 52.
Is hexagram 15 a favorable hexagram?
The texts are favorable throughout. The judgment speaks of “progress and success”, the first three lines end in “good fortune”, and the last three speak of advantage.
Richard Wilhelm, translated by Cary F. Baynes. Khien in James Legge. Modesty in Wilhelm and Baynes.
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