Hexagram 15, line 2
六二Line 2 of Humility
Six in the second place · 謙 qiān
爻辭 The line text
鳴謙，貞吉。The second line, divided, shows us humility that has made itself recognised. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
鳴謙貞吉，中心得也。'The good fortune consequent on being firm and correct, where the humility has made itself recognised,' is owing to the possessor's having (the virtue) in the core of his heart.
In plain words
Line two is 'humility that is heard; steadiness brings good fortune.' 鳴 is a bird's call: this is modesty that has become audible, recognised by others because it shows in speech and manner. Yin in a yin place and central, directly beneath the hexagram's one strong line at three, it is modesty that is correct in every structural sense. The small Image locates its source: 'it is obtained in the centre of the heart' (中心得也). The good fortune is tied to 貞 because reputation for humility, once it sounds, can be performed; the line is good only while the sound comes from inside.
If this line is changing
Your modesty is being noticed, which is right; make sure it still comes from the heart and not from the noticing, and hold to that.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 艮 Gen (Keeping Still) (mountain).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 5: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
謙 Humility becomes ䷭ 46 升 Ascending
Wood growing within the earth: ascending. Supreme success; see the great man; a march to the south brings good fortune — growth by steady, unforced effort.
What it becomes46 · 升 AscendingshēngThe six lines of 謙 Humility
- 初六Six at the beginninghumble upon humble · crossing the river · tending oneself low
- 六二Six in the second placehumility that sounds · from the heart · central and correct
- 九三Nine in the third placemerit with humility · ruler of the hexagram · all submit
- 六四Six in the fourth placenothing unfavourable · showing humility · not breaking the rule
- 六五Six in the fifth placenot rich, yet neighbours · correcting the unsubmissive · humility with force
- 上六Six at the tophumility heard · aim not attained · only one's own town
Read 謙 Humility for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the second place of hexagram 15, Humility, mean?
- Line two is 'humility that is heard; steadiness brings good fortune.' 鳴 is a bird's call: this is modesty that has become audible, recognised by others because it shows in speech and manner. Yin in a yin place and central, directly beneath the hexagram's one strong line at three, it is modesty that is correct in every structural sense. The small Image locates its source: 'it is obtained in the centre of the heart' (中心得也). The good fortune is tied to 貞 because reputation for humility, once it sounds, can be performed; the line is good only while the sound comes from inside.
- What does hexagram 15 become when line 2 changes?
- Humility becomes hexagram 46, 升 Ascending: Wood growing within the earth: ascending. Supreme success; see the great man; a march to the south brings good fortune — growth by steady, unforced effort.
- Is line 2 of Humility in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).