Decrease

損 · Reduce a little; feel lighter

Cutting the excess brings clarity—it is not a punishment.

Try this Cut one drain today (a subscription, a promise, or screen time) for an hour.

In daily life, this often points to trimming excess—clarity is the return, not self-punishment.

Life associations

• Career & work Cut surplus meetings and projects for clarity; subtraction is not self-punishment.
• Relationships A little less control and taking, a little more space—the bond often feels lighter.
• Decisions & direction Actively drop secondary options and concentrate force; trim excess to supply what is lacking.
• Growth & wellbeing Reduce craving, drain, and comparison; keep practices that truly nourish body and mind.
• Money & resources Cut non-essential spend and hold a simple ledger—savings are resources; open fewer clutter sleeves.
• Negotiation & conflict Yield first on non-core interests so the larger scene stays talkable; lose the small to keep the large.

Master reading

Core judgment

The fault is turning reduction into self-punishment, or still hoarding surplus; the remedy is checking anger and choking desire—subtract sincerely, lessen the excess to fill what lacks, and trade it for clarity.

Pattern & remedy

Dui below and Gen above: the marsh under the mountain; lessening below to benefit above so the way rises, hence Sun (Decrease). The qi is economizing: not stripping away, but lightening what is too heavy. The Great Image says a marsh under the mountain is Sun; you check anger and choke desire. First lessen rage and craving; even two bowls can serve for offering—when reduction comes from sincerity, it is still solemn and complete. Restrain using reduction as punishment, or hoarding when you should cut; decrease and increase wax and wane with the time.

Historical mirror

Like Emperor Wen of Han practicing thrift, cutting palace spending to settle people’s livelihood—the qi near Sun: lessen surplus to nourish the root; from sincerity, not self-harm, so it can last.

What to do in the situation

Today cut one drain (a subscription, a promise, or screen time) for one hour. At work, cut surplus meetings and projects for clarity; in relationships, less control and demand, more room. In decisions, actively drop secondary options and concentrate force; in growth, lessen desire, drain, and comparison. Cut nonessential spending and keep a simple ledger; in conflict, yield one non-core interest first—lessen the small to keep the large.

What the ancients said

有孚，元吉，無咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用，二簋可用享。

Sun with trust: great opening, without blame, can be upright, forward helps. Two baskets may serve the offering—reduction with sincerity stays dignified.

損，損下益上，其道上行。損而有孚，元吉，無咎，可貞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享；二簋應有時。損剛益柔有時，損益盈虛，與時偕行。

山下有澤，損；君子以懲忿窒欲。

Marsh under the mountain: curb anger and block craving—lessen rage and desire so you become lighter.

Brief background

"山澤損" has 兌 below and 艮 above. Sun: marsh under the mountain—decreasing below to increase above needs sincerity. Two baskets may serve—reduction, if sincere, still arrives.

The six line texts

• 初九 巳事遄往，無咎，酌損之。
• 九二 利貞，征凶，弗損，益之。
• 六三 三人行，則損一人；一人行，則得其友。
• 六四 損其疾，使遄有喜，無咎。
• 六五 或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，元吉。
• 上九 弗損益之，無咎，貞吉，有攸往，得臣無家。