Hexagram 41, line 1
初九Line 1 of Diminishing
Nine at the beginning · 損 sǔn
爻辭 The line text
巳事遄往，无咎，酌損之。The first line, undivided, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other).
巳事遄往，尚合志也。'He suspends his own affairs and hurries away (to help the subject of the fourth line):'—the (subject of that) upper (line) mingles his wishes with his.
In plain words
The first line sets its own affairs aside and hurries off: 'no blame, but weigh how much to give' (酌損之). At the bottom of Sun, yang in a yang place, it is the strong line that corresponds to the weak fourth, and decrease in this hexagram means the lower giving to the upper. The small Image approves because the one above shares its wish (尚合志也): the help is wanted, not imposed. But even a welcome gift has a right measure — give too little and the help is useless, give everything and you are the one left short.
If this line is changing
Go and help now, before the other person's need grows, but decide beforehand how much of yourself you will give and stop there.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang 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 belongs to the lower trigram 兌 Dui (the Joyous) (lake).
- It corresponds (應) with line 4: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
損 Diminishing becomes ䷃ 4 蒙 Immaturity
A spring at the foot of a mountain: youthful ignorance that can be taught. Success comes to the learner who asks sincerely — the teacher does not chase the student.
What it becomes4 · 蒙 ImmaturityméngThe six lines of 損 Diminishing
- 初九Nine at the beginningdrop your own business · hurry to help · measure the gift
- 九二Nine in the second placehold the centre · do not go · give without loss
- 六三Six in the third placethree become two · one finds a friend · doubt in a crowd
- 六四Six in the fourth placelessen the fault · accept help quickly · joy
- 六五Six in the fifth placegifts that cannot be refused · the oracle agrees · blessed from above
- 上九Nine at the topincrease without taking · beyond decrease · followers without a house
Read 損 Diminishing for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine at the beginning of hexagram 41, Diminishing, mean?
- The first line sets its own affairs aside and hurries off: 'no blame, but weigh how much to give' (酌損之). At the bottom of Sun, yang in a yang place, it is the strong line that corresponds to the weak fourth, and decrease in this hexagram means the lower giving to the upper. The small Image approves because the one above shares its wish (尚合志也): the help is wanted, not imposed. But even a welcome gift has a right measure — give too little and the help is useless, give everything and you are the one left short.
- What does hexagram 41 become when line 1 changes?
- Diminishing becomes hexagram 4, 蒙 Immaturity: A spring at the foot of a mountain: youthful ignorance that can be taught. Success comes to the learner who asks sincerely — the teacher does not chase the student.
- Is line 1 of Diminishing 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.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).