Hexagram 15 Qian - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Modesty
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 15 Qian - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Modesty
Qian's six lines are unique in the I Ching: every single line is auspicious. The person of genuine modesty finds good fortune in every position, at every stage, in every circumstance. This is not because genuine modesty is passive or weak — Line 6's marshaling of armies makes clear that genuine modesty can be forceful when the situation requires it. It is because genuine modesty is the precise intelligence of the person who understands the natural order and acts in accordance with it at every stage.
Line 1 — Six at the Bottom: The Modest Superior Person Crosses the Great Water
A superior person who is modest and modest again may cross the great water. Good fortune.
The first line of Qian describes the humble beginning of genuine modesty — the person who is modest and modest again, whose genuine modesty is not a single act but a sustained quality of genuine inner virtue. This person may cross the great water: the great undertaking is available to the person of genuine sustained modesty. Good fortune: the humble beginning of genuine modesty is the foundation of the great crossing.
- Stage: The humble beginning — genuine sustained modesty as the foundation of the great undertaking
- Action: Maintain genuine sustained modesty; do not allow the great undertaking to generate arrogance
- Wisdom: Good fortune — the person of genuine sustained modesty may cross the great water
When this line appears: Maintain genuine sustained modesty. The great undertaking is available to the person of genuine modesty. Good fortune.
Line 2 — Six in the Second Place: Modesty That Comes to Expression
Modesty that comes to expression. Perseverance brings good fortune.
The second line of Qian describes the genuine modesty that is expressed in outward conduct — the modesty that is not merely an inner quality but a genuine expression in the world. Perseverance brings good fortune: the genuine modesty that comes to expression is not a single act but a sustained quality of genuine inner virtue that is expressed consistently in outward conduct. The person of genuine expressed modesty finds the good fortune of perseverance.
- Stage: Expressed modesty — genuine inner virtue expressed in genuine outward conduct
- Action: Express genuine modesty in outward conduct; persevere in the genuine expression of genuine inner virtue
- Wisdom: Perseverance brings good fortune — the genuine modesty that comes to expression finds the good fortune of sustained genuine inner virtue
When this line appears: Express genuine modesty in outward conduct. Persevere in the genuine expression of genuine inner virtue. Good fortune.
Line 3 — Nine in the Third Place: A Superior Person of Merit Who Carries Things Through
A superior person of merit who yet remains modest brings things to completion. Good fortune.
The single yang line of Qian — the structural center of the hexagram, the mountain of genuine greatness hidden beneath the earth. The superior person of merit who yet remains modest: this is the paradox of Qian in its most direct expression. The person of genuine greatness — the mountain of genuine merit — who holds their genuine greatness with genuine modesty finds the good fortune of carrying things through to completion. This is the most important line of Qian: genuine modesty is not the absence of genuine greatness but the holding of genuine greatness with genuine humility.
- Stage: Genuine greatness held with genuine modesty — the mountain beneath the earth
- Action: Hold genuine merit with genuine modesty; carry things through to completion
- Wisdom: Good fortune — the superior person of merit who remains modest brings things to completion
When this line appears: You have genuine merit. Hold it with genuine modesty. Carry things through to completion. Good fortune.
Line 4 — Six in the Fourth Place: Nothing That Does Not Further Modesty
Nothing that does not further modesty. He who is modest may move about.
The fourth line of Qian describes the genuine modesty that furthers all things — the person of genuine modesty who may move about freely because genuine modesty opens all doors. Nothing that does not further modesty: in the time of Qian, genuine modesty is the universal key — the quality that furthers all things, opens all doors, and makes all movement possible. The person of genuine modesty may move about: the freedom of genuine modesty is the freedom of the person who has nothing to defend, nothing to protect, nothing to hide.
- Stage: The freedom of genuine modesty — the universal key that furthers all things
- Action: Move about freely; genuine modesty opens all doors and furthers all things
- Wisdom: Nothing that does not further modesty — genuine modesty is the universal key
When this line appears: Move about freely. Genuine modesty opens all doors. Nothing that does not further genuine modesty.
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: Not Boasting of Wealth Before One's Neighbor
No boasting of wealth before one's neighbor. It is favorable to attack with force. Nothing that does not further.
The ruler's position in Qian — the person of genuine modesty who does not boast of wealth before their neighbor, who holds the great possession of Da You with genuine modesty. It is favorable to attack with force: the genuine modesty of the ruler is not passive — when the situation requires forceful action to correct what is not right, the person of genuine modesty acts with genuine force. Nothing that does not further: the ruler of genuine modesty finds that nothing fails to further their genuine purpose.
- Stage: The ruler's genuine modesty — no boasting, forceful action when required
- Action: Do not boast of wealth or achievement; act with genuine force when the situation requires it
- Wisdom: Nothing that does not further — the ruler of genuine modesty finds that nothing fails to further their genuine purpose
When this line appears: Do not boast. Act with genuine force when the situation requires it. Nothing that does not further.
Line 6 — Six at the Top: Modesty That Comes to Expression
Modesty that comes to expression. It is favorable to set armies marching to chastise one's own city and one's country.
The final line of Qian — the genuine modesty that is expressed in the most forceful possible action: the marshaling of armies to correct what is not right in one's own city and country. This is the most surprising line of Qian: genuine modesty is not passive acceptance of what is wrong but the forceful correction of what is not right, beginning with oneself. The person of genuine modesty who marshals armies to correct what is not right in their own domain finds the good fortune of genuine modesty expressed in genuine action.
- Stage: Genuine modesty expressed in forceful self-correction — marshaling armies to correct what is not right
- Action: Correct what is not right in your own domain; begin with yourself; act with genuine force when the situation requires it
- Wisdom: Genuine modesty expressed in genuine action — the forceful correction of what is not right, beginning with oneself
When this line appears: Correct what is not right in your own domain. Begin with yourself. Marshal the forces of genuine correction. Genuine modesty expressed in genuine action.
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: Modest and modest again — genuine sustained modesty; may cross the great water
- Line 2: Modesty that comes to expression — genuine inner virtue expressed in outward conduct; perseverance brings good fortune
- Line 3: Superior person of merit who remains modest — genuine greatness held with genuine humility; carries things through
- Line 4: Nothing that does not further modesty — the universal key; may move about freely
- Line 5: No boasting; favorable to attack with force — the ruler's genuine modesty; nothing that does not further
- Line 6: Marshal armies to correct what is not right — genuine modesty expressed in forceful self-correction
The consistent theme: genuine modesty is not passive, not weak, not the absence of genuine greatness. It is the precise intelligence of the person who holds genuine greatness in the service of the genuine common good — who acts with genuine force when the situation requires it, who corrects what is not right beginning with themselves, who carries things through to completion without boasting of the achievement. In every position, at every stage, in every circumstance: genuine modesty creates success.
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Qian in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Qian in Confucian, Taoist, and Political Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Leadership, Relationships, Personal Growth, Social Intelligence
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Psychology of Humility, Servant Leadership, Contemporary Relevance
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