初
初九。己事遄往、无咎。酌損之。
Finish your task quickly—no blame. Measure the decrease.
䷨
Hexagram 41
Decrease (山沢損)
Santaku-son / Sǔn
Taking from the lake to add to the mountain—deliberate reduction. Cutting excess sustains harmony.
Judgment
損。有孚、元吉、无咎、可貞。利有攸往。曷之用、二簋可用享。
Decrease. With sincerity, great fortune, no blame; can be correct. Favorable to have a direction. Even two small bowls suffice for offering.
Voluntary sacrifice brings blessing; small sincere offerings are enough.
Line-by-Line (Yao)
Interpretations if the line changes.
二
九二。利貞、征凶。弗損、益之。
Uprightness benefits; going forth is misfortune. Do not decrease here—add instead.
三
六三。三人行、則損一人。一人行、則得其友。
Three travel—one is lost. One travels—finds a friend. Simplify to gain harmony.
四
六四。損其疾、使遄有喜、无咎。
Decrease your illness; quick action brings joy, no blame.
五
六五。或益之十朋之龜、弗克違。元吉。
Someone increases you with a tenfold tortoise treasure; you cannot refuse—great fortune. Accept helpful gifts.
上
上九。弗損、益之。无咎、貞吉。利有攸往、得臣无家。
Do not decrease—augment instead. No blame; upright fortune. Favorable to move; gain followers with no private agenda.
Practical Reading
Love & Marriage
Give a bit more than you take; generosity deepens trust.
Work & Career
Trim costs and ego; small sincere efforts matter.
Health
Reduce excess—diet, workload—and balance returns.
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