Hexagram 15: Modesty
Outer trigram (upper)
Khôn
Earth · Earth
Inner trigram (lower)
Cấn
Mountain · Earth
Judgment
謙：亨，君子有終.
Khiêm: Hanh, quân tử hữu chung.
Translation
Modesty leads to success; the noble person keeps it intact to the end.
Commentary
The upper trigram is Earth, the lower is Mountain. The mountain is tall and the earth is low, yet here the mountain accepts a position beneath the earth — this is the image of modesty, of yielding one's proper standing. That is why the hexagram brings success. Only one yang line appears in this hexagram, and it serves as the ruling line. The commentary on the Judgment adds further: modesty is the way of Heaven, Earth, and humankind alike. Heaven shows modesty by sending its light down to the lowest places; Earth shows modesty by accepting the lowest position while its energy rises upward. It is the way of Heaven that whatever is full is made to diminish, and whatever is low and modest is filled up. So it is with modesty: held in a high position, its virtue shines all the brighter; held in a low position, no one can overstep the one who possesses it.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉.
Translation
Modest, ever modest — the noble person who acts with this virtue can cross the great river successfully.
Commentary
This line is yin and sits at the very bottom, embodying modesty in its truest form. Whatever danger or difficulty arises, one with this virtue can pass through it safely.
Line 2 (yin)
六二：鳴謙，貞吉.
Translation
One's reputation for modesty becomes widely known; if this is genuine and upright, it brings good fortune.
Commentary
This line is gentle and yielding, holding both the central and correct position, which is highly favorable — hence the fame for modesty. But there is a risk: a growing reputation can easily tempt one toward vanity, turning genuine modesty into false humility or flattery. So the line's text cautions that this reputation is only good so long as the centered, upright virtue of the second line is truly maintained.
Line 3 (yang)
九三：勞謙，君子有終，吉.
Translation
Working hard and achieving merit, yet remaining modest — the noble person who does this stays whole to the end; good fortune.
Commentary
This line has firm yang character and serves as the ruling line of the whole hexagram — all five yin lines rely upon it. It is like a person of standing (at the top of the inner trigram) with real ability (being yang) who nonetheless remains modest (fitting for this hexagram) and does not boast of accomplishments. Because of this, others grow ever more devoted, and the person keeps both position and virtue intact to the very end.
Line 4 (yin)
六四：无不利，撝謙.
Translation
Extending one's modesty further brings nothing but benefit.
Commentary
This line is gentle, yielding, and correctly placed — a good position. But because it sits just above the third line, a person of real merit, and close to the fifth line, the ruler, it must extend its modesty even further. Only then can it avoid all difficulty and find nothing but benefit.
Line 5 (yin)
六五：不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利.
Translation
Without needing wealth or power, one wins over one's neighbors and gains many followers; but a measure of authority is still needed — moving against those who have not yet submitted brings nothing but benefit.
Commentary
This line is yielding yin, holding the central position at the most honored rank, so people naturally come to follow it. But if it is too soft and lacks authority, it fails the true bearing of a ruler. So the line's text advises using firm authority against anyone who still refuses to submit.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國.
Translation
One's reputation for modesty is widely known, and with many followers one may go so far as to raise an army — but this can only bring under control those within one's own domain who resist, nothing more.
Commentary
This line's circumstance and position are both yielding, and it stands at the very end of this hexagram — modesty carried to its furthest point, hence the widespread fame and many followers. Because of this, one may raise an army against those who refuse to follow. But since ability here is limited, only those within one's own domain can actually be brought to heel; the ambition is not fully realized.