I-Ching Hexagram 15
謙 Modesty
Also known as Humility
A mountain lower than the earth — strength that chooses not to display itself. Of all the hexagrams, this one is unique in having no unlucky lines: true humility never fails.
modesty · humility · balance
The Story
A master swordsman won a great contest, but at the banquet he served wine to his former teacher and spoke only of his own mistakes. "Why do you not boast, as your rank allows?" an envoy asked. "Because the sword knows what I do not," he said, "and because the contest was one afternoon, and there will be a thousand afternoons after it." In old age he taught free of charge. His students, now famous, still called themselves his juniors. The mountain that hides itself inside the earth loses no height; it simply stops advertising what it weighs.
The Judgment
Success. The superior person carries things through.
The Image
Within the earth, a mountain: the image of modesty. Thus the superior person reduces what is too much and augments what is too little. They weigh things and make them equal.
Interpretation
A mountain lower than the earth — strength that chooses not to display itself. Of all the hexagrams, this one is unique in having no unlucky lines: true humility never fails. Modesty is not self-abasement but accurate self-knowledge that sees itself in proportion to the whole.
Trigrams
The Six Lines
- First (Bottom) A superior person modest about their modesty may cross the great water. Good fortune. Humility so thoroughgoing it forgets to announce itself.
- Second Modesty that comes to expression. Perseverance brings good fortune. Genuine modesty that naturally finds its words.
- Third A superior person of modesty and merit carries things to conclusion. Good fortune. Real accomplishment paired with unforced humility finishes what it starts.
- Fourth Nothing that would not further modesty in movement. In action too, carry the same temperament.
- Fifth No boasting of wealth with one's neighbour. It is favorable to attack with force. No blame. Strong action is permitted when it is not self-promotion.
- Sixth (Top) Modesty that comes to expression. It is favorable to set armies marching, to chastise one's own city and one's own country. Even modesty may need to correct what is corrupt — beginning at home.