Hexagram 15, Qiān (Modesty): Line 3

谦卦九三 · 地山谦 · 中文版

九三:劳谦君子,有终吉。

The line (Legge)

The third NINE, undivided, shows the superior man of (acknowledged) merit. He will maintain his success to the end, and have good fortune.

Small Image commentary

'The superior man of (acknowledged) merit, and yet humble:' - the myriads of the people will submit to him.

象曰:劳谦君子,万民服也。

In plain words

The noble person, modest in achievement, carries things to the end: good fortune. The third line is the only yang line in the hexagram and the line that makes it; it has worked hard and achieved much, yet claims no credit. The Small Image says all the people submit to it willingly.

Applying it to your situation

If you have achieved something, this line suggests not claiming the credit, so the road can go on. Which parts of this achievement belong to others?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the third place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 6; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Qiān changes into Hexagram 2 Kūn (The Receptive). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·谦之坤.

The hexagram

Hexagram 15 Qiān (Modesty). The Judgment: Qian indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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