I Ching hexagram 15
I Ching hexagram 15: Modesty
谦 qiān · earth above a mountain
A mountain hidden under the earth, its height kept low: modesty real enough to see a task through.
- The judgment
- Success. The noble one carries things through to the end.
"Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings)."
- What it says to you
- A mountain sits beneath the earth, its height tucked away under level ground. That's modesty as the text means it: the substance is there, you just don't stand on it. This is one of the very few hexagrams where every line is favorable or close to it, which says something. The judgment promises success and, more unusually, that the noble one finishes. Modest people complete things, because they aren't busy managing their image. The lines follow modesty doubled, then voiced, then earned through hard work, then put into active use. Even force is allowed at the fifth and sixth lines, when a modest person must correct what's wrong. If you have real merit in the matter at hand, keep working, let the results speak, and finish the job.
Matter by matter
- Love
- Humility and quiet attentiveness win more than displays. Listen more than you talk.
- Work
- Do excellent work without self-promotion; credibility built quietly lasts and brings completion.
- Money
- Steady, unshowy management; balancing excess and lack brings lasting results.
- A yes or no question
- Yes. Modesty carries the matter to completion; go ahead quietly.
The six lines of Modesty
A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.
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Bottom line, broken
Modest, modest, the noble one. Crossing the great river, good fortune.
Your humility goes all the way down, modest even about your modesty. That quiet strength lets you attempt something difficult. Go ahead; modesty carries you across.
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Second line, broken
Modesty that is heard. Steadiness brings good fortune.
Your humility is recognized, and people talk about it. Don't let the reputation change you or turn into a performance. Keep steady and it goes well.
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Third line, solid
Hardworking modesty. The noble one finishes; good fortune.
You've done serious work and earned real credit. Stay modest about it and keep working. Hard work without bragging is what carries you through to a good end.
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Fourth line, broken
Nothing unfavorable. Spread modesty out.
Everything favors you, so keep modesty active in how you treat those above and those below. Practice it daily; it is a habit more than a trait.
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Fifth line, broken
Not rich, yet with neighbors. It pays to use force and invade. Nothing unfavorable.
You lead through respect rather than wealth. If something genuinely needs correcting, you have the standing to act firmly. Modesty never meant you can't fight.
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Top line, broken
Modesty that is heard. It pays to march the army, against one's own town and state.
Your humility is known, but something within your own sphere needs discipline. Turn the effort inward, toward your own habits or team. Fix your own house before looking outward.
About hexagram 15
What does I Ching hexagram 15 mean?
Hexagram 15, Modesty, puts earth above a mountain. A mountain hidden under the earth, its height kept low: modesty real enough to see a task through. Its judgment reads: Success. The noble one carries things through to the end.
Is hexagram 15 a yes or a no?
Yes. Modesty carries the matter to completion; go ahead quietly.
What does hexagram 15 mean for love?
Humility and quiet attentiveness win more than displays. Listen more than you talk.
What does hexagram 15 mean for work?
Do excellent work without self-promotion; credibility built quietly lasts and brings completion.
Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks
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The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.