Hexagram 15 · Modesty

谦 · Qiān

Hexagram 15, Modesty (谦, Qiān), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Mountain below and Earth above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，君子有终。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with modesty and humility as lasting strengths. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Mountain (艮) — stillness and knowing when to stop
Upper trigram: Earth (坤) — receptivity and support
Symbol: ䷎ · Name: 谦 (Qiān) · Number: 15 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   谦谦君子，用涉大川，吉。
   The Image says: “谦谦君子”，卑以自牧也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   鸣谦，贞吉。
   The Image says: “鸣谦，贞吉”，中心得也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   劳谦，君子有终，吉。
   The Image says: “劳谦君子”，万民服也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   无不利，撝谦。
   The Image says: “无不利，撝谦”，不违则也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   不富以其邻，利用侵伐，无不利。
   The Image says: “利用侵伐”，征不服也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   鸣谦，利用行师，征邑国。
   The Image says: “鸣谦”，志未得也；可“用行师”，“征邑国”也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 15?

Hexagram 15 is Modesty (谦, Qiān), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Mountain below and Earth above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Modesty?

The judgment of Modesty reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，君子有终。”. Its Great Image reads: “地中有山，谦。君子以裒多益寡，称物平施。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Modesty symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Modesty is associated with modesty and humility as lasting strengths. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.