I Ching Hexagram 15 - Modesty
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 15 "Modesty"
謙 - Qiān
Địa Sơn Khiêm
Modesty
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☶ Gen, Mountain
Other Titles: Temperance, The Symbol of Humility, Moderation, Humbling, Respectful/Humble, Yielding/Retiring.
1. A Humble or modest person is thought of as having an “empty or unoccupied” mind, meaning a mind without prejudice. – Chung Wu.
2. Only superior people who practice Tao know where to stop, disregard what they have and appear to have nothing. – T. Cleary.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Modesty creates success. The superior man carries things through.
Legge: Temperance indicates successful progress. Temperance brings a good issue to the superior man's undertakings.
Blofeld: Modesty brings success. The Superior Man is able to carry affairs through to completion.
Liu: Modesty: success. The superior man can continue to work to the end.
Shaughnessy: Modesty: Receipt; the gentleman has an end.
Cleary (1): Humility is developmental. The superior person has a conclusion.
Cleary (2): Humility gets through. A leader has a conclusion.
Wu: Humility is pervasive. The jun zi will have grace in death.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: 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.
Legge: A mountain hidden within the earth -- the image of Temperance. The superior man, in accordance with this, diminishes his excesses to augment his insufficiencies, thus creating a just balance.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes a mountain in the centre of the earth. The Superior Man takes from where there is too much in order to augment what is too little. He weighs things and apportions them fairly. [The component trigrams symbolize a mountain surrounded by flat earth, thus suggesting too much in one place and too little in others.]
Liu: The mountain within the earth symbolizes modesty. The superior man reduces the excess and increases the lacking; he weighs and then equalizes all things.
Cleary (1): There are mountains in the earth; modesty. Thus does the superior person decrease the abundant and add to the scarce, assessing things and dealing impartially.
Cleary (2): … Leaders assess people and give impartially, by taking from the abundant and adding to the scarce.
Wu: There is a mountain inside earth; this is Humility. Thus the jun zi takes excess from the more to enrich the less and measures goods to ensure fair distribution. [To prepare oneself to accept what is fair among all his fellow men is the essence of humility.]
Line 1
初六: 謙謙君子, 用涉大川, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A superior man modest about his modesty may cross the great water. Good fortune.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows us the superior man who adds temperance to his temperance. Even the great stream may be crossed with this, and there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: The Superior Man, ever modest and retiring, fords the great river -- good fortune! [Any journey undertaken at this time will bring good fortune.]
Liu: The superior man is modest in his modesty. It is favorable to cross the great water. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: So modest is the gentleman; herewith ford the great river; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Humble about humility, the superior person thereby crosses great rivers. This is auspicious.
Cleary (2): Extreme humility. It is fortunate if leaders use this to cross great rivers.
Wu: Being humble about his humility, the jun zi can make use of this virtue to cross the big river. It will be auspicious.
Line 2
六二: 鳴謙, 貞吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Modesty that comes to expression. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows us temperance that has made itself recognized. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: Modestly crows the cock. Righteous persistence brings good fortune.
Liu: Modesty is expressed. Continuing brings good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Calling modesty; determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Expressing humility is upright and good.
Cleary (2): Expressing humility is good if correct.
Wu: The subject rolls about humility. With perseverance there will be auspiciousness.
Line 3
九三: 勞謙, 君子 有終, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A superior man of modesty and merit carries things to conclusion. Good fortune.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows the superior man of acknowledged merit. He will maintain his success to the end, and have good fortune.
Blofeld: The Superior Man, exceedingly hard-working yet modest, brings his affairs to fruition -- good fortune!
Liu: The superior man works in a modest way to conclusion. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Toiling modesty; the gentleman has an end; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Working with humility, the superior person has a conclusion. This bodes well.
Cleary (2): Leaders who work and achieve yet are humble have an auspicious conclusion.
Wu: Working hard toward humility, the jun zi will have grace in death. This will be auspicious.
Line 4
六四: 无不利, 撝謙．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Nothing that would not further modesty in movement.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows one whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirring up the more her temperance.
Blofeld: Everything will be propitious for those who cultivate modesty.
Liu: To act with modesty is beneficial toward everything.
Shaughnessy: There is nothing not beneficial. False modesty.
Cleary (1): Beneficial to all, extending humility.
Cleary (2): Beneficial to all, the exercise of humility.
Wu: Promoting humility is nothing but advantageous.
Line 5
六五: 不富以其鄰, 利用侵伐, 无不利．
Wilhelm/Baynes: No boasting of wealth before one's neighbor. It is favorable to attack with force. Nothing that would not further.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows one who, without being rich, is able to employ her neighbors. She may advantageously use the force of arms. All her movements will be advantageous.
Blofeld: In treating his neighbors, he is modest about his wealth. If he now attacks the rebels, everything will contribute to his success.
Liu: Do not show off your riches to your neighbor. It is beneficial to attack with force. It is favorable for everything.
Shaughnessy: Not wealthy together with his neighbors; beneficial herewith to invade and attack; there is nothing not beneficial.
Cleary (1): Not enriching oneself, one shares with the neighbors. It is beneficial to make an invasion, which will profit all.
Cleary (2): Not rich, employing the neighbors, it is beneficial in invasion and attack; all will profit.
Wu: He is capable of influencing his neighbors, despite his lack of wealth. It will be advantageous to take military actions. [Military actions are advantageous only if used to quell an insurrection, but certainly not to launch an aggression.]
Line 6
上六: 鳴謙, 利用行師, 征邑國．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Modesty that comes to expression. It is favorable to set armies marching to chastise one's own city and one's country.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows us temperance that has made itself recognized. The subject of it will with advantage put her army in motion, but she will only punish her own towns and state.
Blofeld: Modestly crows the cock. Now is the time to set armies marching to subdue the cities and the countries of the empire.
Liu: Modesty is expressed. It is favorable to use the army to chastise the city and country.
Shaughnessy: Calling modesty; beneficial herewith to move troops to campaign against city and state.
Cleary (1): Trumpeting humility, it is profitable to use the army to conquer one’s land.
Cleary (2): Expressing humility, one profits from military operations attacking the country.
Wu: The subject rolls about humility. It will be advantageous to use the armies to chasten the seditious state.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 15 - Prosperity and good fortune will come if you stay humble and sincere. Do not undervalue yourself or over-promote yourself.
Your natural self will attract support and your words and actions speak for themselves. Modesty is not a weakness. Act firmly if necessary.
Stay objective, and you will see the way forward even in difficult circumstances. You can ultimately achieve something good.
