謙Qian · Humility
In one sentence
Lower yourself, and things actually go more smoothly.
The hexagram of humility. Not one of its six line texts is bad; it is the only such hexagram in the whole Zhouyi. Even when you have achievements, don't make a show of them; share what is plentiful with those who have little, and treat people fairly. Those who can stay humble to the end have a good ending.
Asking about work, love or money
- Work
- Have ability and results without showing them off, like a mountain hidden beneath the earth. Share some of the credit with others, even out the benefits from those with much to those with little, treat people fairly, and things actually go more smoothly. The one who bows first is later able to stretch out. The hard part is staying humble all the way to the end; manage that, and the ending is good.
- Love
- Lower yourself, and the relationship actually goes more smoothly. Do not fight over winning and losing, do not flaunt what you have to offer, and do not use what you have given to press on the other person; the one who bows first does not lose by it. Whoever has more and whoever has less between you, take the lead in evening it out and making it fair. This modesty has to be kept up throughout, not only at the start.
- Money
- Have money without displaying it, and do not show off what you have earned. Pass some from where there is much to where there is little, divide the accounts fairly, and do not take more than your share; the road actually grows wider as you go. Do not feel you are losing out because you have lowered yourself. Those who can do this to the end have a good ending.
This is the hexagram as a whole. If your cast has changing lines, the line text governs; each line's page has its own reading for work, love and money.
The judgment
In plain wordsThings go through. The one who bows low first is later able to stretch out; the noble one has a good ending.
The Tuan commentary
謙，亨，天道下濟而光明，地道卑而上行。天道虧盈而益謙，地道變盈而流謙，鬼神害盈而福謙，人道惡盈而好謙。謙尊而光，卑而不可逾，君子之終也。
Qian: "success". The way of heaven reaches down to help, and is bright. The way of earth is low, and moves upward. The way of heaven diminishes the full and adds to the humble. The way of earth changes the full and flows toward the humble. Ghosts and spirits harm the full and bless the humble. The way of people hates the full and loves the humble. Humility, when honored, shines; when low, it cannot be passed over. This is the good end of the noble one.
The Tuan (“judgment”) commentary is one of the Ten Wings. It explains the hexagram name and the judgment from the two trigrams and the positions of the lines.
The image
地中有山，謙。君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
A mountain within the earth: Qian (Humility). The noble one takes from where there is much to add to where there is little, weighing things and giving out evenly.
The lines
Six at the beginning
Text謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。Humble upon humble, the noble one. Use this to cross the great river. Good fortune.In plain wordsHumble, and then more humble still. Take this attitude to cross the great river and get through hard passes: good fortune. More on this line →
Six in the second place
Text鳴謙，貞吉。Humility that sounds forth. Staying true brings good fortune.In plain wordsYour reputation for humility has spread — it comes from the heart and is not put on. Stay true: good fortune. More on this line →
Nine in the third place
Text勞謙，君子有終，吉。Hard work and humility. The noble one reaches a good end. Good fortune.In plain wordsHaving real merit and still being humble: this is the hardest thing. A person like this begins well and ends well. Good fortune. More on this line →
Six in the fourth place
Text无不利，撝謙。Nothing that is not favorable. Put humility forth still further.In plain wordsNothing is unfavorable. But you should go a step further in putting your humility into action, and not dare to be satisfied with yourself on its account. More on this line →
Six in the fifth place
Text不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。Without wealth, yet carrying the neighbors along. It is favorable to attack and invade. Nothing that is not favorable.In plain wordsWithout relying on wealth you can carry along the people on either side of you, and everyone is willing to follow. If there are still some who will not submit, using armed force is also favorable; and in doing other things, nothing is unfavorable. More on this line →
Six at the top
Text鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。Humility that sounds forth. It is favorable to move the army and march on one's own towns and domain.In plain wordsYour reputation for humility is widely known, and you may send out the army — but it is only fit for putting your own territory in order, not for going outward. More on this line →
Lines are counted from the bottom. “Nine” is a yang (solid) line, “six” a yin (broken) line. A line applies to your reading only when it is a changing line.
Related hexagrams
Primary, resulting, nuclear, opposite and inverted hexagrams explained →
In the hexagram calendar
In the Tang monk Yixing’s Dayan calendar, Qian belongs to the second pentad of Minor Cold, “Magpies begin to nest” (January 10 to January 14, 2027).