I Ching Oracle Result: Transformation from Hexagram 15 with Changing Lines 1, 2, 3, 6 to Hexagram 41

Yin Yang symbol, representing balance

Yì Jīng’s Response: Hexagram 15.1.2.3.6 -> 41

Old Yin Young Yin Young Yin Old Yang Old Yin Old Yin

15. Balancing

Yang Yin Yin Yin Yang Yang

41. Decrease

15. Balancing (謙 Qiān)

Trigrams

Above
☷ Kūn (Earth) — 地 · Receptive
Below
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness

The Symbolism of Hexagram 15

Hexagram 謙 (Qiān) describes a condition in which what is elevated is lowered and what is low is raised, creating balance. It is not self-effacement, but the proper adjustment of excess and deficiency.

Hexagram 15 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
謙亨，君子有終。
(Qiān hēng, jūn zǐ yǒu zhōng.)
English Translation:
"Balancing brings smooth progress. The superior person brings it to completion."

When excess is reduced and deficiency is filled, movement becomes smooth. This creates a condition in which processes can continue without disruption.

The superior person carries this adjustment through to its conclusion, ensuring that balance is not temporary but sustained.

Hexagram 15 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
地中有山，謙。君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
(Dì zhōng yǒu shān, qiān. Jūn zǐ yǐ póu duō yì guǎ, chēng wù píng shī.)
English Translation:
"A mountain rises within the earth: balancing. The superior person gathers what is excessive and adds to what is lacking, distributing things according to balance."

The mountain is contained within the earth, its height moderated rather than exposed. This reflects reduction of excess.

Balance is achieved not by equalizing everything blindly, but by measuring and adjusting according to what each situation requires.

Line 1 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
(Qiān qiān jūn zǐ, yòng shè dà chuān, jí.)
English Translation:
"Balanced in balance, the superior person uses this to undertake a major transition. Favorable outcome."

At the beginning, alignment is already established. Because there is no excess or distortion, movement through difficulty is possible.

The crossing succeeds because nothing is carried in imbalance.

Line 2 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
鳴謙，貞吉。
(Míng qiān, zhēn jí.)
English Translation:
"Balancing is made evident. Correct alignment leads to a favorable outcome."

Balance becomes visible outwardly, not hidden. It is recognized through its effects.

Maintaining this state steadily ensures that the condition remains stable and beneficial.

Line 3 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
勞謙君子，有終，吉。
(Láo qiān jūn zǐ, yǒu zhōng, jí.)
English Translation:
"Working within balance, the superior person brings it to completion. Favorable outcome."

Balance requires effort to maintain. It is not static, but continuously adjusted through activity.

Because this work is sustained, it leads to completion without disruption.

Line 6 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
(Míng qiān, lì yòng xíng shī, zhēng yì guó.)
English Translation:
"Balancing is made evident. It is favorable to set things in motion to restore alignment."

At the highest level, balance is applied outwardly across a wider field. Correction extends beyond the immediate situation.

This is not conquest, but the reordering of what has fallen out of alignment.

Changing to:

41. Decrease (損 Sǔn)

Trigrams

Above
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness
Below
☱ Duì (Lake) — 澤 · Open

The Symbolism of Hexagram 41

Hexagram 損 (Sǔn) describes reduction—removing excess to restore balance. The system is simplified by decreasing what is unnecessary.

Mountain above lake shows containment and limiting of what lies below. Reduction is not loss for its own sake, but a structural rebalancing.

Hexagram 41 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
損，有孚，元吉，无咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用，二簋可用享。
(Sǔn, yǒu fú, yuán jí, wú jiù, kě zhēn, lì yǒu yōu wǎng. Hé zhī yòng, èr guǐ kě yòng xiǎng.)
English Translation:
"Decrease. There is underlying alignment. Primary favorable outcome. No error. Correct alignment is possible. It is favorable to move with direction. What is required is minimal: simple offerings are sufficient."

Reduction is effective when it is intentional and grounded in sincerity. The system does not require excess to function properly.

The final clause is critical: success does not depend on scale. Even minimal resources, correctly applied, are sufficient. Decrease simplifies without undermining function.

Hexagram 41 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
山下有澤，損。君子以懲忿窒欲。
(Shān xià yǒu zé, sǔn. Jūn zǐ yǐ chéng fèn zhì yù.)
English Translation:
"The lake rests beneath the mountain: decrease. The superior person restrains anger and checks desire."

The mountain limits the lake, preventing overflow. This is controlled reduction.

The system improves by removing excess pressure and unnecessary expansion. Reduction restores stability.

Peace and wisdom on your journey!

With gratitude,
The I Ching Team