損Sun.Decrease.
Mountain stands above Lake: what is lower gives upward, excess is reduced and sincerity makes modest means sufficient. Sun concerns deliberate reduction, restraint and the transfer of resources toward what matters most.
Reduce with sincerity, proportion and timing.
Sun is not deprivation for its own sake. It asks what can be simplified, contributed or restrained so that the essential can become stronger.
The Judgment says even two simple baskets can serve as an offering. Authenticity, not display, determines whether less is enough.
Mountain above. Lake below.
Joy below is contained by stillness above. Desire is moderated so resources can be directed deliberately.
Sincere simplicity can carry full meaning.
The governing proposition
損：有孚，元吉，無咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。
Decrease with sincerity brings great good fortune, no blame and useful persistence. Two simple baskets may suffice for the offering.
Reduction follows time
損，損下益上，其道上行。損剛益柔有時，損益盈虛，與時偕行。
The lower is decreased and the upper increased. Reducing and increasing, fullness and emptiness, move with the time.
Restrain anger and desire
山下有澤，損；君子以懲忿窒欲。
A Lake beneath Mountain: Decrease. The cultivated person restrains anger and checks desire.
Six disciplines of reduction.
Finish your affairs and go quicklyMeasure how much may be reduced · Changes to 04 蒙
初九：已事遄往，無咎，酌損之。
Help promptly, but calculate the contribution. Generosity should not become self-destruction.
小象傳 · 已事遄往，尚合志也。Prompt movement joins with the higher intention.
Persistence benefits; campaigning harmsDo not diminish yourself—bring increase · Changes to 27 頤
九二：利貞，征凶，弗損益之。
Maintain the centre rather than chasing sacrifice. Stable integrity is itself a contribution.
小象傳 · 九二利貞，中以為志也.The central way defines the intention.
Three walking lose one; one walking finds a friendReduce excess complexity · Changes to 26 大畜
六三：三人行，則損一人；一人行，則得其友。
Some relationships need a simpler configuration. Crowding creates doubt; clarity permits true partnership.
小象傳 · 一人行，三則疑也.With three, doubt arises.
Decrease the ailment; hasten and there is joyRemove the defect without delay · Changes to 38 睽
六四：損其疾，使遄有喜，無咎。
Correct what weakens the system while help is available.
小象傳 · 損其疾，亦可喜也.Reducing the ailment is cause for joy.
Someone increases it beyond refusalRight receptivity attracts support · Changes to 61 中孚
六五：或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，元吉。
Sincere centrality receives an increase that cannot rightly be refused.
小象傳 · 六五元吉，自上祐也.Great fortune comes through blessing from above.
Increase others without diminishing yourselfCreate value that is not zero-sum · Changes to 19 臨
上九：弗損益之，無咎，貞吉，有攸往，得臣無家。
The highest form of contribution enlarges the whole rather than merely transferring loss.
小象傳 · 弗損益之，大得志也.Increasing without diminishing greatly fulfils the intention.
Subtract what consumes value without serving purpose.
Work and leadership
Reduce waste, vanity and duplicated effort before cutting essential capacity.
Relationships
Offer sincerely, preserve mutual dignity and simplify crowded dynamics.
Timing and decisions
Choose the smallest sufficient action and review what the reduction strengthens.
Sun is constructive when less creates greater integrity.
Aligned expression
- Excess is removed.
- The essential remains protected.
- Sincerity replaces display.
- Contribution is proportionate.
Distorted expression
- Austerity becomes punishment.
- The source is weakened.
- Self-erasure is praised as generosity.
- Reduction lacks a clear purpose.