Hexagram 41: Decrease

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Gen (Mountain) · Lower trigram: Dui (Lake)

Judgment

With sincerity, sublime good fortune, no blame; may persevere, favorable to have somewhere to go. Even simple offerings, given sincerely, suffice.

Image

A lake beneath the mountain: decrease. The noble one restrains his anger and curbs his desires.

Meaning of Hexagram Decrease

Decrease (損) is hexagram #41 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Gen (Mountain) and lower trigram Dui (Lake). It represents sacrificing something now to benefit the whole later. When this hexagram is cast, the querent should meditate on the judgment and image to grasp what the Yi is saying about the current situation.

The Six Lines Explained

First Yang Line (Line 1)

"Suspend your own affairs and hasten to help others — no blame, but weigh how much to reduce"

Setting aside one's own affairs to hurry and assist others brings no blame, but one should carefully consider the degree of self-sacrifice involved. This line advises being willing to give up part of one's personal benefit to help others, but with moderation, without excessive harm to oneself.

Second Yang Line (Line 2)

"It is beneficial to hold to uprightness; rushing to comply with others is inauspicious; not harming one's own virtue is itself a way of benefiting others"

Holding to the correct way brings benefit, while hastily yielding to please others is unfavorable; not damaging one's own virtue is also a way to truly help others. This is an important lesson: sometimes firmly maintaining one's own principles (not compromising without reason) is truly the best way to help others.

Third Yin Line (Line 3)

"When three walk together, one is lost; when one walks alone, he gains a companion"

When three people travel together, one is reduced; when one travels alone, he gains a friend. This is a profound philosophy about yin-yang balance — excess must be reduced, deficiency must be supplemented, everything must reach a state of just-right harmony.

Fourth Yin Line (Line 4)

"Reduce one's faults, hasten to end them; there is cause for joy, no blame"

Quickly reducing one's own faults (weaknesses) is cause for joy and brings no blame. This line advises proactively correcting one's own shortcomings, especially when receiving support from others.

Fifth Yin Line (Line 5)

"Someone unexpectedly benefits him with valuable gifts worth ten pairs of tortoise shells, which cannot be declined — supreme good fortune"

Unexpectedly someone benefits oneself, offering a precious gift that cannot be refused — very auspicious. This line, positioned high, receives sincere help from others thanks to the virtue of humility.

Sixth Yang Line (Line 6)

"Benefiting others without harming oneself — no blame, uprightness brings good fortune. It is favorable to go forward; one gains servants without a household"

Benefiting others without any harm to oneself, blameless, correct and thus auspicious; one wins the submission of everyone, regarding every place as home. This final line represents the highest attainment — helping others without self-harm, winning hearts everywhere.

The Transformed Hexagram

The hexagram has Dui (Lake) as the inner trigram and Gen (Mountain) as the outer trigram — it is the inverse hexagram of Feng Lei Yi (Increase, hexagram 42). These two hexagrams form the classic opposing pair "Decrease – Increase". When a line moves, the hexagram transforms depending on the line's position.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

This hexagram speaks of wisely "decreasing" — sometimes one must sacrifice immediate benefit to achieve a greater goal (as in the First line), but should not compromise without principle (as in the Second line). One must know how to balance, neither excess nor deficiency (as in the Third line).

Love & Relationships

This hexagram advises knowing how to "give" in a relationship without losing oneself, while also being willing to correct one's own flaws (as in the Fourth line) to improve the relationship.

Health

This can be understood as "reducing" excess (overeating, harmful habits) to achieve a healthier, more balanced state.

Wealth

Sometimes one must accept reduced immediate profit (investment, sharing) to achieve greater long-term benefit. The principle of "decrease leads to increase" applies well to long-term strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Decrease

What does the Mountain over Lake (Decrease) hexagram mean?

Decrease (Ton) means to reduce or to sacrifice. This hexagram does not simply carry a negative meaning but speaks of a principle: sometimes one must reduce in one area to benefit another, and the key is knowing how to adapt to timing and circumstance.

Why isn't the Decrease hexagram entirely negative?

Because the essence of the hexagram is about balance — if something is in excess, "reducing" it is necessary and good (such as reducing anger and desire, as advised in the Great Image commentary), as long as it is done with sincerity.

What is the meaning of the lesson "three reduced by one, one gains a friend"?

This is a philosophy of ideal yin-yang balance — two elements (one yin, one yang) are enough to form a harmonious pair; whether in excess or deficiency, imbalance arises and needs adjustment.