Sun · Decrease

Judgment

有孚，元吉，无咎，可贞。

With sincerity there is sublime good fortune and no blame. One may persevere.

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)

山下有泽，损，君子以惩忿窒欲。

山下有泽水，这是损卦，减损从简的卦象，君子应当克制忿怒，抑制私欲。

The Six Lines

• First line已事遄往，无咎，酌损之。初九 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Second line利贞，征凶，弗损益之。九二 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Third line三人行，则损一人；一人行，则得其友。六三 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fourth line损其疾，使遄有喜，无咎。六四 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fifth line或益之，十朋之龟弗克违，元吉。六五 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Top line弗损益之，无咎，贞吉；利有攸往，得臣无家。上九 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.

Modern Interpretive Reference

Quality: Neutral

Tendency: Decrease; giving up something now for later benefit.

Guidance: Restrain immediate wants. What is sacrificed here returns in another form.

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.