41. Decrease

Judgment

损：有孚，元吉，无咎，可贞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。

Decrease combined with sincerity brings supreme good fortune without blame. One may be persevering; it furthers to undertake something. How is this to be carried out? One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice. Simplifying does not mean losing value.

Image

山下有泽，损；君子以惩忿窒欲。

At the foot of the mountain, the lake: the image of decrease. The noble person controls their anger and restrains their instincts.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：已事遄往，无咎，酌损之。

   Going quickly when one's tasks are finished is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others. Support others without over-drawing yourself.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：利贞，征凶，弗损益之。

   Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others. Some help needs no sacrifice of the core.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：三人行，则损一人；一人行，则得其友。

   When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion. Right-size the team; too many creates friction.

4. Line 4, yin (six)

   六四：损其疾，使遄有喜，无咎。

   If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame. First cut what drains you most.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：或益之十朋之龟，弗克违，元吉。

   Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune. After decrease comes gain.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：弗损益之，无咎，贞吉，利有攸往，得臣无家。

   If one is increased without depriving others, there is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers to undertake something. One obtains servants but no longer has a separate home. Winning support by giving.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of simplification, cost optimisation and the art of letting go: efficiency programmes, business focus, portfolio pruning, fewer meetings and processes, subtraction in personal life. Decrease must rest on sincerity and keep the essence—'two small bowls suffice'.

Psychological lens

Resonates with research on choice overload (Schwartz) and self-control ('control anger, restrain instincts'); 'three journeying lose one' reflects team size and coordination costs (the Ringelmann effect).

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Which growth line to focus on with limited resources Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Too many layers, too slow Enterprise, Line 4, yin (six)
• Layoffs and restructuring Enterprise, Judgment
• A team that is too large Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Rising logistics costs Enterprise, Line 4, yin (six)
• Sharing value in a long partnership Enterprise, Line 6, yang (nine)
• Equity or debt financing? Enterprise, Line 5, yin (six)
• Company-wide cost cutting Enterprise, Line 2, yang (nine)
• A quick temper Individuals, Judgment
• Giving up an opportunity for family Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Whether to apologise first Individuals, Line 4, yin (six)
• Material minimalism Individuals, Judgment
• A friend asks to borrow money Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Balancing service and personal life Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• How to give Individuals, Judgment

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.