FREE I CHING READINGS

41

Sun / Decrease Diminish

This hexagram represents a decrease of the lower trigram in

favor of the upper, because the third line, originally strong,

has moved up to the top, and the top line, originally weak, has

replaced it. What is below is decreased to the benefit of what

is above. This is out-and-out decrease.

If the foundations of a

building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are

strengthened, the whole structure loses its stability.

Likewise, a decrease in the prosperity of the people in favor

of the government is out-and-out decrease. And the entire

theme of the hexagram is directed to showing how this shift

of wealth can take place without causing the sources of

wealth in the nation and its lower classes to fail.

THE JUDGMENT

DECREASE combined with sincerity

Brings about supreme good fortune

Without blame.

One may be persevering in this.

It furthers one to undertake something.

How is this to be carried out?

One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.

Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad.

Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to

understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty

pretense. If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one

must not feel ashamed of simplicity.

For simplicity is then the very thing

needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings.

Indeed, there

need by no concern if the outward beauty of the civilization, even the

elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of

simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to

compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the

content makes up for the simplicity of form. There is no need of

presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the

sentiment of the heart can be expressed.>(1)

It is mentioned here the attitude of being authentic in periods of

shortage. This means to know how to adapt at times that demand

austerity. To be sincere in the decrease implies not to take attitudes or

postures that are not coherent with the reality. To be sincere in the

decrease is to make the little thing be worthy. This supposes a will

towards to reaffirm the own identity.

The two small bowls symbolize two fundamental attitudes: the one of

strengthening the own interior and the other one of reflecting towards out

what is been internally. This way, what is modest on the outside is

strengthened from inside. The two small bowls represent how much one

can make with the scarce thing, when there is capacity for the sacrifice.

The two small bowls are the inner and external factors that, balanced,

grant an excellent potentiality.

THE IMAGE

At the foot of the mountain, the lake:

The image of DECREASE.

Thus the superior man controls his anger

And restrains his instincts.

The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates. In this way it decreases

to the benefit of the mountain, which is enriched by its moisture. The

mountain stands as the symbol of stubborn strength that can harden into

anger. The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety that can develop into

passionate drives at the expense of the life forces. Therefore decrease is

necessary; anger must be decreased by keeping still, the instincts must

be curbed by restriction. By this decrease of the lower powers of the

psyche, the higher aspects of the soul are enriched.

The lake that diminishes its waters to humidify the mountain represents

what is sacrificed for a superior cause. The mountain represents the

great thing, the superior thing, on which the resources are overturned.

The waters of the lake represent what diminishes to enrich another more

important aspect.

The superior man regulates his energy displacing it from a place to

other, where it is more necessary for his personal growth. This means to

be deprived of what is not so useful or lower (anger and instincts) and to

take advantage of what is more valuable or higher (virtue).

THE LINES

Nine at the beginning means:

Going quickly when one's tasks are finished

Is without blame.

But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.

It is unselfish and good when a man, after completing his own urgent

tasks, uses his strength in the service of others, and without bragging or

making much of it, helps quickly where help is needed. But the man in a

superior position who is thus aided must weigh carefully how much he

can accept without doing the helpful servant or friend real harm. Only

where such delicacy of feeling exists can one give oneself

unconditionally and without hesitation.

To go quickly in help of others (fourth line) means solicitous action,

good will, and spirit of cooperation. Also, this line refers to the solicitous

one who recognizes when he is being used in excess, that is to say to

know how to differ from being generous to being menial.

Nine in the second place means:

Perseverance furthers.

To undertake something brings misfortune.

Without decreasing oneself,

One is able to bring increase to others.

A high-minded self-awareness and a consistent seriousness with no

forfeit of dignity are necessary if a man wants to be of service to others.

He who throw himself away in order to do the bidding of a superior

diminishes his own position without thereby giving lasting benefit to the

other. This is wrong. To render true service of lasting value to another,

one must serve him without relinquishing oneself.

This implies to carry out a cooperative work from a posture that doesn't

diminish the own category, to maintain the own level, thus is convenient

to be constant.

Being consequent with the own way will be enough for not making

mistakes; hence one can allow the other ones to grow without being

lowered to such point of losing the own dignity.

Six in the third place means:

When three people journey together,

Their number decreases by one.

When one man journeys alone,

He finds a companion.

When there are three people together, jealousy arises. One of them will

have to go. A very close bond is possible only between two people. But

when one man is lonely, he is certain to find a companion who

complements him.

This means that between two people can exist connection points that

are impenetrable for others. The one who should go away feels that he

doesn't belong to the group, but he will find his own complementary

companion.

Six in the fourth place means:

If a man deceases his faults,

It makes the other hasten to come and rejoice.

No blame.

A man's faults often prevent even well-disposed people from coming

closer to him. His faults are sometimes reinforced by the environment

in which he lives. But if in humility he can bring himself to the point of

giving them up, he frees his well-disposed friends from an inner pressure

and causes them to approach the more quickly, and there is mutual joy.

When one polishes its defects and improves its behavior, one avoids

causing rejections from the others. To reduce the faults means to be

more accessible.

Other translations use "anxiety" or "affliction" instead of "faults". This

means that to relax oneself will be a positive attitude.

Six in the fifth place means:

Someone does indeed increase him.

Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it.

Supreme good fortune.

If someone is marked out by fate for good fortune, it comes without fail.

All oracles --as for instance those that are read from the shells of

tortoises-- are bound to concur in giving him favorable signs. He need

fear nothing, because his luck is ordained from on high.

The tortoises represent signs, guarantees, and tendencies. Ten

couples of tortoises mean signs in great quantity. Thus, the tendency is

completed inevitably. This means that there is a potentiality that has

begun to be developed and it begins to give its fruits through a

projection that gives signs of that.

Nine at the top means:

If one is increased without depriving another,

There is no blame.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

It furthers one to undertake something.

One obtains servants

But no longer has a separate home.

There are people who dispense blessings to the whole world. Every

increase in power that comes to them benefits the whole of mankind and

therefore does not bring decrease to others. Through perseverance and

zealous work a man wins success and finds helpers as they are needed.

But what he accomplishes is not a limited private advantage; it is a public

good and available to everyone.

One stays in the growth and shares it with the other ones. This way, what

is made is carried out with an extensive sense, without selfishness, what

is obtained is for the sake of the whole community and not for personal

benefit. To find servants who do not belong to one's own house means

that they are collaborating with the fair cause.

(1) Cf. the story of the widow's mite in the Gospel of Luke.