Hexagram 41: Sun

Judgment

有孚，元吉。无咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。

In (what is denoted by) Sun, if there be sincerity (in him who employs it), there will be great good fortune:--freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this (sincerity in the exercise of Sun) be employed? (Even) in sacrifice two baskets of grain, (though there be nothing else), may be presented.

If you act with sincerity, this is very good and free of fault, and you can keep it up and set out on new plans. Even an offering of just two simple bowls is enough.

Image

山下有澤，損；君子以懲忿窒欲。

(The trigram representing) a mountain and beneath it that for the waters of a marsh form Sun. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains his wrath and represses his desires.

Line 1 · 初九

祀事遄往，无咎，酌損之。

The first line, undivided, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other).

You set your own affairs aside and hurry to help where it is needed. No one can fault you, though you should weigh how much of yourself to give.

Line 2 · 九二

利貞，征凶，弗損益之。

The second line, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject to maintain a firm correctness, and that action on his part will be evil. He can give increase (to his correlate) without taking from himself.

Keeping steady and correct is what helps here, and charging ahead leads to trouble. You can add to the other person's strength without giving up your own standing.

Line 3 · 六三

三人行，則損一人；一人行，則得其友。

The third line, divided, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend.

Three people walking together lose one of them, while one person walking alone finds a companion. The line points to two as the number that holds together.

Line 4 · 六四

損其疾，使遄有喜，无咎。

The fourth line, divided, shows its subject diminishing the ailment under which he labours by making (the subject of the first line) hasten (to his help), and make him glad. There will be no error.

Letting capable help reach you fast reduces a weakness of your own and brings gladness. Accepting it is no mistake.

Line 5 · 六五

或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，元吉。

The fifth line, divided, shows parties adding to (the stores of) its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells, and accepting no refusal. There will be great good fortune.

Others add to what you have, and even the costliest tortoise-shell oracle cannot argue with it. That is the best verdict a line can get.

Line 6 · 上九

弗損益之，无咎，貞吉，利有攸往，得臣无家。

The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from himself. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers more than can be counted by their clans.

You add to others without taking from yourself, so nothing is wrong, and steady conduct and new moves both go well. Supporters gather beyond any one household.