What this change means
Wind follows wind as three lines move and both trigrams soften into the same gentle, penetrating force. Read the two judgments side by side. Decrease calls for moderation and saving, for keeping your energy and resources while you prepare for larger tasks, and it promises growth afterward. The resulting hexagram, 57 Gentleness, says the gain comes through softness: no big moves, no pressure or force, just a chosen path followed steadily. Progress may seem slow, yet success shows itself through many small actions added together, and through the support of people above you. The two agree on method. Restraint stays, but it turns into persistence. Pick one direction and stay with it, quietly. Don't scatter your saved strength across many projects, and don't try to push anyone. Influence that works like the wind, patient, constant, getting in everywhere, tends to reach further than anything you could force.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 41 Decrease
It's a time for moderation and saving: conserving your resources and energy matters a great deal now. A period of growth will follow, but for now you need to stay aware and avoid excess of every kind while you get ready to take on big projects.
There is sincere trust. Great good fortune. No fault. Constancy is possible. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What to offer? Two bowls will do for the offering.
- The judgment of 57 Gentleness
It's a time when you'll gain and succeed through gentleness. This isn't the time for big actions, or for using pressure or force. It's a time to choose a path and stay on it steadily. Even if you don't see much progress, success will show itself through the build-up of small actions and through seeking the support of those above you.
Small success. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to see the great person.
- Line 1 of 41 Decrease
Once your tasks are done, this is a time when you can use your time and energy to help others, as long as they ask for that help.
When the work is done, go quickly. No fault. Weigh how much to take away.
- Line 3 of 41 Decrease
A good moment to team up with another person, just one. If you don't know whom to team up with, the ally will come on their own.
When three walk together, one is lost; when one walks alone, they find a companion.
- Line 5 of 41 Decrease
Lucky chances will come unexpectedly, like a gift from heaven, because you've earned them.
Someone adds to it: a tortoise worth ten strings of shells cannot go against it. Great good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
57 Gentleness → 41 Decreaselines 1, 3, and 5
Other transformations of Decrease
- 52Abidinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, and 4
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 4
- 30The Flamelines 2, 3, and 4
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 2, 3, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 1, 4, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 2, 4, and 5
- 1Activitylines 3, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 1, 3, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 2, 3, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 6
- 51Shocklines 2, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 5, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 5, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.