Qian · Modesty

Judgment

亨，君子有终。

Success. The superior person carries things through to the end.

The Chinese above is the received classical text. The English below it is a plain-language rendering written for this site — not a scholarly translation. The classical wording is terse and genuinely open to more than one reading, so where interpretations diverge we follow the mainstream one.

The Image (Da Xiang)

地中有山，谦，君子以裒多益寡，称物平施。

地中蕴含着山，这是谦卦，谦虚卑下反而亨通的卦象，君子应当损有余而补不足，公平施予。

The Six Lines

• First line谦谦君子，用涉大川，吉。初六 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Second line鸣谦，贞吉。六二 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Third line劳谦君子，有终吉。九三 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fourth line无不利，撝谦。六四 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fifth line不富，以其邻，利用侵伐，无不利。六五 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Top line鸣谦，利用行师，征邑国。上六 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.

Modern Interpretive Reference

Quality: Very Auspicious

Tendency: Modesty; the quiet strength of not overstating oneself.

Guidance: The only hexagram where every line is favourable. Humility genuinely pays.

This section is editorial reflection written for this site, not classical commentary. Hexagram qualities are not fixed outcomes — context and response matter more than the label. For cultural reflection only; not a basis for any decision.