Takashima Ekidan · Hexagram 41 Mountain over Lake: Decrease. Decrease: There is sincerity; supreme good fortune, no blame, and it is suitable to remain steadfast. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What should be used? Two sacrificial bowls are sufficient for the offering.

Decrease: There is sincerity; supreme good fortune, no blame, and it is suitable to remain steadfast. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What should be used? Two sacrificial bowls are sufficient for the offering.

41 Mountain over Lake: Decrease

The hexagram’s form is a mountain above and a lake below. A mountain is high: the high become still higher, which is called increasing what is above. A lake is low: the low become still lower, which is called decreasing what is below. Thus, when what is below is diminished and what is above increased, it is called Decrease. What is below ought originally to be increased; when increase is below and decrease above, it is called Increase. The principles of Decrease and Increase are certainly opposite, yet their functions happen to complement each other. People know only Decrease and do not know that Increase immediately benefits what has been decreased; they know only Increase and do not know that Decrease immediately diminishes what has been increased. Therefore the Sequence of the Hexagrams places Decrease before Increase. Affairs begin simple and later become complicated, ritual begins frugal and later becomes extravagant, and things begin empty and later become full; thus the Way of the I Ching begins with Decrease. Decreasing Lake and increasing Increase is why it is called Decrease.

Decrease [29]: There is trust; supreme good fortune; no blame. It is possible to maintain correctness; undertaking something is beneficial. How is it to use two bowls? They can be used for the offering.

“Decrease” is interchangeable with “Sincerity”: with a heart, it means feeling; without a heart, it means sincerity. Sincerity means heartfelt trust, hence “there is sincerity.” What is decreased arises from sincere commitment at the center and is sufficient to inspire trust in others. Otherwise, Decrease emphasizes frugality, but frugality that falls short of ritual propriety ultimately invites ridicule and cannot avoid blame—how could it be called “supreme good fortune”? Only when decrease has “sincerity” can people feel its sincerity and obtain “supreme good fortune”; what blame would remain, and steadfastness would be possible. Proceeding in this way, nothing is unfavorable. Decrease is frugal in this manner; why use abundance? A modest offering of “two bowls” can still “be used for the offering”; it not only wins sincerity from people but can also win the sincerity of the spirits.

The Tuan Commentary says: Decrease means decreasing what is below and increasing what is above; its way proceeds upward. Decrease with sincerity brings supreme good fortune, no blame, steadfastness, and benefit in having somewhere to go. What should be used? Two bowls can be used for the offering. Two bowls should be used according to the time; decreasing firmness and increasing softness also has its proper time. Decrease and Increase, fullness and emptiness, move together with the time.

Decrease means reduction: reducing the firmness of Qian below to increase the softness of Kun above, hence “decreasing below and increasing above,” also “decreasing firmness and increasing softness.” Increase lies above, hence “its way proceeds upward.” “There is sincerity” means that if one practices decrease with sincerity, those below are not distressed by the decrease and those above do not resent the increase; sincerity is exchanged between above and below, and no fortune could be greater—what blame could there be? “Steadfastness” means correctness, indicating that what has not yet won trust can be made correct. Gen is above; Gen means stopping. Once Gen receives its increase, it no longer stops but proceeds, hence “it is favorable to have somewhere to go.” Since Decrease already has sincerity, it naturally has no blame; why use abundance? Decrease it further, and even “two bowls” can be used for the offering. Zhen signifies sacrifice, while Gen signifies the ancestral temple, presenting an image of making an offering. A bowl is a vessel for millet and other grains. According to ritual, eight or six bowls were commonly used; using only two now follows Decrease. Since the offering is made with sincere trust, two bowls are enough. Yet Decrease should accord with the time: when the time calls for Decrease, plain soup is not considered frugal; when the time does not call for Decrease, even a pork shoulder will still reveal narrowness. Thus, in decrease and increase, fullness and emptiness, what matters is “moving together with the time.”

Applying this hexagram to human affairs: Decrease means economy. Restraining wealth is Decrease, and restraining desires is also Decrease. Restraining wealth serves practical use; restraining desires lies in clearing the heart. These are indeed essentials of human affairs. Yet when something may properly be decreased and is decreased, even though it is reduced, people do not regard it as Decrease. When something should not be decreased but is decreased, even if nothing is actually lost, people already suspect the harm of Decrease. All human actions that readily incur blame arise from decreasing what ought to be decreased while failing to win people’s trust. Without people’s trust, there is loss without benefit, and blame cannot be avoided—how could good fortune be obtained? If the loss is great and the benefit small, and even stopping is impossible, how could one proceed? Therefore the Decrease hexagram begins by saying, “Decrease: there is sincerity.” The hexagram’s form is Gen above and Lake below. Gen means stopping and Lake means joy. With sincerity, joy and stopping support each other; “mountain and lake exchange their influences,” firmness and flexibility unite in purpose, and those above and below trust each other. Not only is one personally willing to accept the decrease; others also do not suspect it. Applied to the household, expenses are reduced; applied to oneself, emotions and desires are fewer; applied to its utmost use in reaching the spirits, even the spirits accept its sincerity. Following frugality, there is no need for abundance; wherever one goes, how could it be unfavorable? It all depends on the time. If the time is not right for Decrease yet one uniformly follows frugality, some may accuse one of reducing others to benefit oneself, or of reducing public resources to benefit private interests. This is a danger in human affairs, and what excuse could remove the blame? Therefore human affairs must observe the timing of Heaven. By watching the waxing and waning of the sun and moon and the coming and going of cold and heat, one can understand the way of “Decrease and Increase, fullness and emptiness, moving together with the time.”

Applying this hexagram to the state: In a state’s system, fields have taxes, shops have levies, and goods entering or leaving have duties. All these decrease what is below to increase what is above. When the state is at its height, the upper ruler need not demand from below; those below willingly send contributions upward. The upper ruler extends benevolence, the people cherish his virtue, and court and countryside are of one heart. In peace they offer private boarlets and pigs to the ruler; in times of trouble they bring baskets of food and jugs of drink to welcome the army. This is what is meant by “when trust is secured, the people take responsibility.” Once trust is gained, above and below sincerely trust each other; the way brings good fortune and no blame, and its use is favorable wherever it goes. Its principle values moving with the time: take simplicity, not abundance; value sincerity, not material things. In this way the state can be strengthened financially and its resources administered, and ultimately this can extend to reaching the ancestral temple. In all the state’s decrease and increase, fullness and emptiness, the only requirement is to model itself on Heaven and respond to the time. The six lines speak of Decrease, measuring fullness and emptiness, examining self and other, and assessing beginning and end; each has its own meaning. The First says “measure the decrease,” the Second “do not decrease,” the Third “decrease one,” the Fourth “decrease illness,” the Fifth does not say decrease, and the Top likewise says “do not decrease.” Although the hexagram is called Decrease, most lines do not speak of decreasing. The First, Second, and Top all mention “intent”; the Third says “doubt,” the Fourth “joy,” and the Fifth “blessing”; all take sincerity as their principle. The way of governing a state begins with winning the people’s hearts. If their hearts have not been won, even if the ruler says he is extending benefits, the people will not know to feel gratitude. Once their hearts are won, the people will say: The food and daily necessities of us common people all come from what the ruler provides; how could we dare to keep them selfishly for ourselves? Even when reduced, we will not resent it. The Decrease hexagram prominently presents the two words “there is sincerity”; its import is profound and deserves the utmost contemplation.

Viewing the hexagram as a whole, the lower component originally consists of three firm lines of Qian, representing excess and therefore something to be decreased. The upper component originally consists of three yielding lines of Kun, representing insufficiency and therefore something to be increased; hence “decreasing below and increasing above; its way proceeds upward.” Decrease and Increase are the turning points of prosperity and decline, and also the signs of Obstruction and Peace. Decrease comes from Peace, while Increase comes from Obstruction. In Decrease, the Second and Fifth are out of position; in Increase, the Second and Fifth are in position, revealing the opposition between Obstruction and Peace. Decrease gives the Lake’s excess to make up Gen’s deficiency; above and below harmonize, and stopping and joy support each other. Therefore in the Increase hexagram the people rejoice without first requiring sincerity, whereas in the Decrease hexagram sincerity must come first before there can be good fortune. People do not desire Decrease, for human feelings worry about deficiency and seek fullness; the exemplary person, however, dislikes fullness and considers restraint. Although “two bowls” are meager, they can be offered at the ancestral temple; the point is simply to value sincerity. The “two bowls” refer to the two yang lines of Lake, indicating simplicity. The line texts of the upper component mostly take the meaning of sincerity; those of the lower component mostly take the image of making an offering. Together they express the meaning of joy and stopping. This does not mean that all firmness may be decreased or all softness increased. When the time permits decrease, there is Decrease; when the time permits increase, there is Increase. Neither can be forcibly brought about by human beings. Hence, “Decreasing firmness and increasing softness has its time; Decrease and Increase, fullness and emptiness, move together with the time.”

The Great Image says: There is a lake below the mountain: Decrease. Thus the exemplary person restrains anger and blocks desire.

The earth forms a mountain through increase, and forms a lake through decrease. Mountain and lake are inherently things of increase and decrease: without increase, the mountain must collapse; without decrease, the lake must dry up. This is why the hexagram is called Decrease. Among human tendencies, nothing is as easy to express yet difficult to control as anger; nothing is as easy to inflame yet difficult to extinguish as desire. Seeing this image, the exemplary person knows that the force of anger is powerful enough to uproot mountains, so must restrain it to curb the hard and forceful nature. The depth of greed is a ravine difficult to fill, so desire must be blocked to close the source of profit-seeking. Anger arises from firmness, so “restraining anger” puts an end to what has already arisen; greed is drawn by emotion, so “blocking desire” guards what is yet to come. Gen mountain stops and Lake is blocked; both contain the image of Decrease.

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortune: Your present luck is unfavorable; you should restrain your anger yourself.


○ Asked about business: Business is fundamentally about seeking wealth. Maintain a harmonious disposition, do not rely on temper; examine profits carefully, do not squander them.

○ Asked about rank and reputation: If anger and desire are not eliminated, even if you attain rank and fame, you may not be able to preserve them to the end.

○ Asked about warfare: “There is a lake below the mountain”—beware of enemy troops lying in ambush deep below the mountain.

○ Asked about marriage: The hexagram comes from Fellowship and Perseverance; the woman is joyful and the man is still. This is the proper way of husband and wife.

○ Asked about the home: There is a high mountain behind this residence and a deep lake in front. The terrain is rather dangerous; it should be excavated and leveled.

○ Asked about litigation: Do not act from anger and do not covet money; the lawsuit will settle itself.

○ Asked about a lost object: It will not be recovered.

○ Asked about pregnancy: A boy will be born in an odd-numbered month; a girl in an even-numbered month.

Nine at the beginning: Once the matter is finished, go quickly; no blame. Measure the decrease.

The Commentary on the Image says: Once the matter is finished, go quickly; this will hopefully accord with the intent above.

The first line is at the beginning of the hexagram, thus also at the beginning of planning a matter. “Once the matter is finished” means to end the matter, which is the meaning of Gen’s stopping. “Go quickly”: quickly means speedily. Once a matter can be ended, one should “go quickly”; if one delays, the matter will certainly be mishandled, bringing blame. Hence, “Once the matter is finished, go quickly; no blame.” If a matter lies between being endable and not endable—ending it may mean losing one’s livelihood, while not ending it may harm the public—one must weigh what is lighter or heavier, urgent or slow, as appropriate. Hence, “Measure the decrease.” The Commentary on the Image explains it as “hopefully accord with the intent.” “Above” means upper, or hopefully; “once the matter is finished, go quickly” means hoping to accord with the intent above. Yu’s reading takes the character for “finished” as referring to sacrifice, meaning sacrificial rites. Saying “measure the decrease” in the context of sacrifice conveys the same meaning as “two bowls can be used for the offering” in the Tuan Commentary. This interpretation is also coherent.

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortune: Do not pursue the past; now you should strive urgently, and you can avoid blame.


○ Asked about warfare: Advance the troops quickly; do not delay. Provisions and grain must also be “measured and reduced.”

○ Asked about business: Transport and trade should be carried out quickly. Assess the time and circumstances, weigh matters carefully before proceeding, and profit can certainly be gained; there will surely be no blame.

○ Asked about rank and reputation: Going quickly brings success; delay brings no achievement.

○ Asked about marriage: Marry and welcome the bride today; the two families will be happily united.

○ Asked about the home: You must move elsewhere quickly; this is auspicious.

○ Asked about litigation: Settle it and end the lawsuit immediately.

○ Asked about a lost object: Search quickly and it can be found.

○ Question about pregnancy: A girl will be born.

[Case] A friend came to me and said: A friend needs to borrow money urgently. Please divine the consequences for the day after tomorrow. The resulting hexagram was Decrease changing to Youthful Folly.

The judgment says: This line is in the inner trigram and at the first position. The inner trigram is Lake, and Lake signifies the mouth, an image of opening one’s mouth to ask someone for help. The line text says, “Once the matter is finished, go quickly; no blame,” meaning that, being in difficulty at this time, he should abandon his own affair and hurry there to seek assistance. If he obtains a promise of a thousand gold pieces like Ji Bu’s, then there will be no blame. “Measure the decrease” means that the amount borrowed may be insufficient, so he should also carefully assess how much is needed to relieve the shortage. Reflecting on this line text, we know the need is urgent and cannot be relaxed even for a moment; delay would bring blame. Yet the amount borrowed will necessarily be reduced, though he will not return empty-handed.

Nine in the second place: It is favorable to remain steadfast. Campaigning brings misfortune. Do not decrease it; increase it.

The Commentary on the Image says: “The Nine in the second place: Constancy is beneficial. Centeredness is his aim.”

The second line occupies the center of the inner trigram. Whenever something needs to be diminished or increased, it must originally be out of balance. Since the second line is centered, “Do not diminish” means “constancy is beneficial.” If something that should not be diminished is diminished, the result is a loss of balance; hence, “going forward brings misfortune.” Decrease and Increase stand opposite one another. People know only to diminish what should be diminished, treating decrease as increase, but do not understand that not diminishing what should not be diminished is itself Increase. In the end, what is neither diminished nor increased is simply preserving the Middle Way. To attain the center is “constancy is beneficial.” The Commentary on the Image explains this as “making centeredness one’s aim.” Aim is like the target in archery: the center is made the target, and one directs one’s purpose toward it.

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortunes: Good luck is just arriving. Neither reduce nor add; everything attains balance, and benefit will naturally be gained.


○ Asked about warfare: There is no need to reduce provisions or add troops. Hold firmly in the central camp; victory is assured and defeat unlikely. If you advance rashly, there may be misfortune.

○ Asked about commerce: The goods are appropriately priced; there is no need to lower the price, and profit will certainly be gained.

○ Asked about reputation and office: There will be neither honor nor disgrace; preserve the old blue felt mat.

○ Asked about marriage: The households of the two surnames are well matched; auspicious.

○ Asked about the household: Its position is central; no additions or alterations are needed. Great benefit.

○ Asked about litigation: Peaceful resolution.

○ Asked about a lost object: The original item has not been lost.

○ Question about pregnancy: A girl will be born.

【Example】 A friend came and said: “On behalf of my elder brother, I monopolized the rice market in Osaka and suffered a heavy loss. Someone offered a plan for mediation and sent word by telegram, urging me to transport a large sum of money, saying that the loss could still be turned into a profit. I fear that if I lose again, the loss will become even greater. Therefore I divined whether the matter would succeed.” The casting yielded Decrease changing to Nourishment.

The judgment says: The image is of a lake low and a mountain high, showing that rice prices for a time would rise and fall greatly. At first, seeing low prices, many contracts to buy were made; now, as the deadline approaches and prices soar, the agreed quantities must be supplied, inevitably causing loss. The funds of the Tokyo branch must not be moved; this is “constancy is beneficial.” If money is sent there, it is “going forward brings misfortune.” Though the Osaka head office suffered a loss, it can be maintained by the Tokyo branch and naturally recovered; this is “do not diminish; increase it.” The outcome was exactly as divined.

【Example】 In the sixth year of Meiji, a prominent man was appointed governor of a certain prefecture and came to ask about his fortunes. The casting yielded Decrease changing to Nourishment.

The judgment says: The Decrease hexagram diminishes below and benefits above. The second line says, “Do not diminish; increase it,” clearly stating that what is below need not be diminished and what is above need not be increased. Now you have been appointed governor of a certain prefecture and obtained this line. Its text says: “The Nine in the second place: Constancy is beneficial; going forward brings misfortune. Do not diminish; increase it.” Since the Nine in the second place is correct in position, you should firmly preserve established rules; there is no need to change them, and benefit will naturally result. If you arbitrarily alter everything in pursuit of progress, misfortune will instead result. Thus there is no need for Decrease: “not diminishing” itself is “constancy is beneficial.” You should carefully follow the line text and act accordingly.

Six in the third place: If three travel together, one is diminished; if one travels alone, he gains a companion.

The Commentary on the Image says: “One person travels; three bring suspicion.”

The third line of Decrease is associated with the hour of the Boar and receives Qian energy. Qian represents a person and also movement; the third line represents three people, hence “three travel together.” When Qian reaches the third place and changes into Joy, this is one diminished from three. The upper nuclear trigram is Earth; when its top line changes, it becomes Mountain. With two yin lines and one yang line, hence “one travels alone.” The third line is the ruling line of Decrease and stands at the end of Joy. Joy represents a friend, hence “gains a companion”—that is, Mountain gains its companion. In worldly affairs, one is insufficient and three excessive; two is the mean, the fixed number of odd and even. Thus when “three travel together,” one is diminished to make two; when one travels, “he gains a companion,” also making two. One becomes two, and two becomes one: this is agreement of aims. Otherwise, three people form a crowd, and in a crowd hearts are not united, giving rise to suspicion. Therefore the Commentary on the Image explains it as “three bring suspicion.”

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortunes: Financial luck is ordinary. With little, profit is gained; with much, there is loss. Favorable in even-numbered months, unfavorable in odd-numbered months.


○ Asked about warfare: Advance from the direction of Joy. Proceed along one route; reinforcements will naturally come to your aid. Victory is assured and defeat unlikely.

○ Asked about commerce: The business should be conducted by one person alone; at most, two may manage it together. Any more will certainly cause loss.

○ Asked about reputation and office: You must go alone, and you will certainly gain a name.

○ Asked about marriage: To gain a friend is to gain a spouse. Auspicious.

○ Asked about the household: The house lies in the direction of Joy. Among the residents, each household can be judged to have only two adult males.

○ Asked about litigation: Two parties have brought the suit, but one person within them instigated it. Remove that person and the dispute will settle.

○ Question about pregnancy: A girl will be born.

【Example】 In the twenty-fifth year of Meiji, in April, I was serving as president of the Hokkaido Coal Mine Railway Company. Before departing for the site, I divined how a proposed reorganization would proceed. The casting yielded Decrease changing to Great Accumulation.

The judgment says: The structure is Mountain above and Lake below; the virtue of the hexagram is to diminish below and benefit above. It clearly shows the mountain of the upper trigram growing higher and the lake of the lower trigram sinking lower, with the tendency for above and below not to communicate. When above and below do not communicate, business must be obstructed and abuses will multiply, causing the company losses. Now that I have respectfully undertaken the presidency, I cannot avoid eliminating personnel and removing abuses. Yet this company has two defects: one concerns the company’s affairs, which are not devoted exclusively to profit; the other concerns its members, many of whom came from government service. Since it is not devoted to profit, the company’s disbursements and receipts lack standards; since its members came from officialdom, it is difficult to make everyone conform to company regulations. Thus expenses are excessive and redundant personnel numerous; all the company’s affairs have become nominal rather than real. I wish to revive the company, and therefore cannot avoid undertaking reform with determination. Now I have obtained the third line. Studying its text closely, I see that it plainly instructs me in the method of reducing one-third from three parts.

Having obtained this hexagram, I went alone to Hokkaido and carried out the reforms decisively. I first reduced the staff by one-third, thereby opening the process; from then on, the company’s affairs were greatly put in order.

【Example】 In the twenty-fifth year of Meiji, while I was president of the Hokkaido Coal Company, the sales routes for coal became obstructed. The coal being mined accumulated in piles without being sold, and all the members were deeply anxious. The casting yielded Decrease changing to Great Accumulation.

The judgment says: According to the line text, “If three travel together, one is diminished; if one travels alone, he gains a friend.” This clearly indicates that few bring profit and many bring loss, matching the present situation. At the fourth line it says, “Diminish his illness; make him hasten, and there will be joy,” clearly meaning that by removing inferior goods and sending them out quickly for sale, there will be joy. The fifth line says, “Someone enriches him with ten sets of tortoise shells; he cannot refuse them; supreme good fortune.” According to ancient usage, goods and shells were counted in sets of five friends; this clearly means prices will certainly rise, and no one can resist it, hence great good fortune. The top line says, “Do not diminish; increase it. It is beneficial to have somewhere to go,” clearly meaning that prices will rise and fall, but the goods can be sold everywhere and profit will naturally be gained. After this, we leave Decrease and enter Increase. The Tuan Commentary of Increase says, “It is beneficial to have somewhere to go; beneficial to cross the great river,” clearly meaning that the goods can be transported overseas and sold abroad. All six lines of Increase show flourishing sales and profit. From this, taking one line as one year, the next nine years can be understood as clearly as a single day. I showed this judgment to the company members.

And so it proved! In the twenty-fifth year, much coal was stored; in the twenty-sixth year, the sales routes suddenly opened. In accordance with this divination, I judged that the company’s affairs thereafter would surely prosper.

【Example】 A friend came and asked me to divine whether his enterprise would succeed. The casting yielded Decrease changing to Great Accumulation.

The judgment says: In this hexagram, the mountain rises high above while the lake lies low below; mountain and lake do not exchange energy. It has the image of grass and trees not growing and fish and turtles not breeding. You obtained the third line. The general meaning of its text is that three cause loss, while one brings gain. Thus, if you unite many people to undertake a matter, there will surely be many incompatible opinions, bringing loss instead. If you can accomplish the matter through your own efforts, a like-minded friend will certainly come to assist, enabling you to establish the enterprise and achieve something.

【Example】 In January of the thirty-second year of Meiji, the Liberal Party cooperated with the government in the legislature, and the discussions gradually aligned with the government’s wishes. The Liberal Party then nominated three people for ministerial posts, but the government refused. Many newspapers debated whether this was appropriate. A certain legislator came to ask about the Liberal Party’s intentions and whether they would truly be carried through. The casting yielded Decrease changing to Great Accumulation.

The judgment says: In this hexagram, the outer trigram represents the government and the inner trigram the party members. The party members recommend ministers to the government, but the government, embodying Mountain’s nature of stopping, refuses their request. Thus the lower delights while the upper stops, which is why the hexagram is named Decrease. The yin third line corresponds to the yang top line, so the party members’ intentions reach the government. From the government’s perspective, three party members are now being advanced, and it would have to appoint three ministers; this is why the government is troubled. Might it select two from the three? That is “if three travel together, one is diminished.” Or might it use only one? That is “if one travels alone, he gains his companion.”

Some time later I happened to meet Count Itagaki, and when we discussed this divination, we laughed together. Later, because there were suspicious and distrustful people within the party, the matter came to a halt.

Six in the fourth place: Diminish his illness; make him hasten, and there will be joy. No blame.

The Commentary on the Image says: “Diminishing his illness is also cause for joy.”

This line is yin in a yin position, at the beginning of the outer trigram, and corresponds with the Initial Nine. The Initial line’s movement forms Water; Water represents illness of the heart, from which the disease arises. The text calls it “his illness”; “his” refers to the Initial line. With the fourth line responding to it, both inner and outer sides understand what should be diminished and resolve to diminish it. Thus the decrease of the matter comes later, while the decrease of the illness comes first. Once the illness is diminished, it is “hastened.” “Hastening” belongs to the Initial line, while the one that causes it to hasten is the fourth line. Illness brings anxiety; when illness is diminished, joy follows, hence “no blame.” The Commentary on the Image explains it as “also cause for joy,” meaning that even without speaking of diminishing the matter, merely speaking of diminishing the illness is already cause for joy; how much more so when the matter itself is diminished.

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortunes: Although there is a minor disaster for the moment, rescue will bring recovery, turning anxiety into joy.


○ Asked about commerce: The goods should be reduced in quantity; send them out for sale at once, and the profit will be gratifying.

○ Asked about warfare: Injury cannot be avoided, but medical treatment will cure it. No blame.

○ Asked about the household: Yin energy in this residence is excessively strong, causing many illnesses among the family. Prayer may cure them. No blame.

○ Asked about reputation and office: It is difficult to hope for it at present.

○ Asked about marriage: The fourth and initial lines correspond; the initial is yang and the fourth yin, so yin and yang unite. It will certainly succeed, bringing joy.

○ Asked about litigation: “Illness” means harm. Remove what causes harm, and the dispute will naturally be settled.

○ Asked about a traveler: He has gone elsewhere on business and will not return for a while. There will be joy and no blame.

○ Pregnancy: A boy will be born.

【Example】 Mr. Sugita Sanenobu, a secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and an old acquaintance of mine, became gravely ill. On a morning in February of the fifteenth year of Meiji, I received a telegram saying that Mr. Sugita had contracted an acute illness. Alarmed, I cast the sticks and obtained Decrease changing to Opposition.

The judgment says: The line text has already given clear instruction: the illness is quite serious, but if a renowned physician treats him promptly, he can recover at once. If treatment is delayed beyond the proper time, even a famous doctor will be helpless. Hence: “Diminish his illness; make him hasten, and there will be joy. No blame.”

Unfortunately, heavy snow fell during the night, cutting off the roads. By morning the wind and snow had become even more violent. I braved the snow to go to Shinagawa and visit the man in his sickroom, but all the physicians were blocked by the heavy snow, delayed, and failed to arrive. He died that very day. Such is the decree of Heaven; how lamentable and mournful!

Six in the fifth place: Someone enriches him with ten sets of tortoise shells; he cannot refuse them［30］. Supreme good fortune.

The Commentary on the Image says: “The Six in the fifth place brings supreme good fortune through aid from above.”

“Ten sets of tortoise shells”: The great tortoise was twelve inches long and worth 2,160, making ten sets of great cowrie shells; the lord’s tortoise was over nine inches and worth 500, making ten sets of male cowrie shells; the marquis’s tortoise was over seven inches and worth 300, making ten sets of official cowrie shells; the viscount’s tortoise was over five inches and worth 100, making ten sets of small cowrie shells—this is recorded in the Book of Han. Earth’s number is ten, and even numbers signify companions; hence the image of “ten sets.” The tortoise is a numinous creature capable of knowing good and ill fortune beforehand, and was used as the material for divining them. This line is yielding, compliant, and centered, sincerely trusted by those below; therefore people offer their sincerity. “Someone enriches him with ten sets of tortoise shells”: “Someone” is a phrase indicating that its source is unknown—the benefit is unexpected. A noble person may doubt it, so he asks through divination. Once principle and number are fixed, the ten sets of great tortoise shells cannot be rejected, and their auspiciousness is evident. Hence: “Ten sets of tortoise shells; he cannot refuse them; supreme good fortune.” The Commentary on the Image explains “through protection from above” as “Heaven itself protects him.” In terms of the line image, “above” refers to the top line, meaning that the top line can assist and protect the ruler represented by the Six in the fifth place.

　　[Divination]
○ Asked about current fortunes: Fortune is at its fullest; unexpected favor and honor may be received.


○ Asked about warfare: The military matter has first been divined; its omen is supremely auspicious.

○ Asked about commerce: When financial fortune arrives, it cannot be declined.

○ Asked about reputation and office: “Heaven itself protects him; there is nothing inauspicious.”

○ Asked about the household: The family business will prosper; this is clear without divination.

○ Asked about marriage: A union made by Heaven. Auspicious.

○ Asked about illness: After recovering, one may also gain wealth. Auspicious.

○ Pregnancy: A boy will be born.

【Example】 A certain chief manager of a wealthy Tokyo merchant family came and said: “I have been assigned by the head office to handle work for the Ministry of Finance, leading several hundred people in carrying it out. I recently heard that the Ministry of Finance will undergo reforms next year and that this work may be abolished. If so, the several hundred people under my supervision would all lose their livelihoods for a time, which I truly cannot bear. I am now negotiating with a certain company, wishing to provide these people with suitable employment. Please divine whether this can be done.” The casting yielded Decrease changing to Inner Trust.

Judgment: This line has yang occupying the fifth place, appropriately centered and correct. Thus, you, sir, can be known to possess a straightforward heart and should continue in charge of this undertaking for a long time; there is no need to turn elsewhere. “Ten friends’ tortoises” means that unexpected happiness is intended for the future. At present, the Ministry of Finance is considering reforms. There may be gains or losses in them, and you may be entrusted with another duty. It is also possible that these several hundred people will thereby gain blessings. Judging from the line position, next year should correspond to the top line, whose text says, “No diminution but increase; no blame. Correctness is auspicious. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.” Next year there should be neither loss nor gain, and correctness will be auspicious and favorable. It is also not yet certain that this undertaking will actually be proposed for abolition. In short, both you and these several hundred people will be free from blame and receive good fortune, so there is no need to worry. The gentleman was delighted, and afterward the result was exactly as this divination indicated.

Top nine: No diminution but increase; no blame. Correctness is auspicious. It is favorable to have somewhere to go; one gains ministers without a household.

The Commentary on the Image says: “No diminution but increase”—one greatly achieves one’s purpose.

This line is at the extreme of Diminishment and cannot be diminished further. Hence it says, “No diminution but increase.” Its wording is the same as line two, but its meaning differs. The top line responds to the third; the third occupies the position appropriate to Diminishment. One might suppose that diminishing the third would increase the top, but the third’s diminution is in fact the top’s increase. Therefore it specifically states, “No diminution but increase,” making clear that although the third suffers diminution, the top neither loses nor gains from it. With no diminution, affairs are balanced and there is “no blame”; reason is tranquil, bringing “correctness and auspiciousness.” “It is favorable to have somewhere to go” conveys the meaning called in the Tuan Commentary “moving together with the times.” The top is the extreme of Rest; at an extreme, change occurs. Therefore it does not signify stopping but going. The nuclear lower trigram is Earth, which represents ministers; Rest represents a household. When Rest moves and changes into Earth, this gives the image of “gaining ministers without a household.” Not diminishing those below to benefit those above means that the ruler regards the realm as his household. His ministers are transformed by this and likewise regard the state as everything, forgetting their private households; hence, “gaining ministers without a household.” The Commentary on the Image explains it as “greatly achieving one’s purpose”: the ruler makes increase consist in not diminishing or adding, influencing and transforming people imperceptibly, without visible traces. The reach of his purpose is therefore immense, hence “greatly achieving one’s purpose.”

　　[Divination]
○ Inquiry about current fortunes: At present there are absolutely no obstacles; everything undertaken is favorable. Greatly auspicious.


○ Inquiry about warfare: The army needs neither additions nor reductions. Advancing with this force, it will conquer and win battles; nothing undertaken will be unfavorable. One may “greatly achieve one’s purpose.”

○ Inquiry about business: Commodity prices will not rise or fall significantly; selling wherever one goes will bring profit. Greatly auspicious.

○ Inquiry about achievement and fame: One can achieve one’s purpose immediately.

○ Inquiry about the home: This residence need not be rebuilt or altered; good fortune will come of itself.

○ Inquiry about illness: One should go outside to seek medical treatment; there will be no blame.

○ Inquiry about a traveler: Things are greatly auspicious where he is away; he may not return home for some time.

○ Pregnancy: A boy will be born.

[Case] In the ninth year of the Meiji era, the Nagasaki merchant Ōura Aki came with a certain Jindai and said: Previously, the Postal Service Bureau had lent funds to the Yokohama Ironworks for ship-repair expenses. Later, because the returns did not cover the costs, it suffered a heavy loss. We are considering returning the funds to the Postal Service Bureau or transferring the undertaking to someone else. The two options remain undecided. Please divine which is preferable. The resulting hexagrams were Diminishment changing to Approach.

Judgment: This line is at the extreme of Diminishment. From now on there will be no further loss; when there is no loss, there must be gain. Therefore its text says, “No diminution but increase; no blame. Correctness is auspicious. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.” The two friends trusted this, decided to continue taking over the undertaking, and the following year the Southwest Campaign took place. There were many ships, and they made a great profit, it is said.