A mountain hidden under the earth: great substance that does not put itself on display. Qian is the only hexagram in which every line is favorable. True modesty is not self-deprecation but balance, giving each thing its proper weight, including yourself. It disarms opposition, wins cooperation and lets you finish what you start.
Judgment
謙：亨，君子有終。
Modesty: success. The noble one sees things through.
Image
地中有山，謙；君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
A mountain inside the earth: modesty. Taking this as a model, the noble one takes from what has too much and adds to what has too little, weighing things and sharing out evenly.
- Genuine humility
- Balance and fairness
- Quiet strength
- Completion through modesty
- Leveling extremes
- modesty
- humility
- balance
- fairness
- restraint
- steadiness
- Real modesty is accurate self-assessment, not self-belittlement.
- Even out excesses and deficiencies around you.
- Modesty lets you carry things to completion without opposition.
The six lines
Lines are numbered from the bottom. In a reading, only the lines that are changing apply to your cast.
Line 1Six at the beginning 初六
Line text
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
Modest, truly modest, the noble one can cross the great river. Good fortune.
Modesty without any pretension, not even pride in being humble, makes it possible to undertake difficult things. Others support someone who doesn't make claims.
- Unassuming humility
- Undertaking difficult tasks
- Making a show of humility
- Achieving something hard with quiet support
Line 2Six in the second place 六二
Line text
鳴謙，貞吉。
Modesty that is heard. Steadfastness: good fortune.
Modesty that is truly part of your character naturally shows in what you say and do. Its genuine expression is respected.
- Modesty made visible
- Authentic character
- Hollow words about humility
- Influence that comes from genuine character
Line 3Nine in the third place 九三
Line text
勞謙君子，有終吉。
Modest in hard work, the noble one comes to a good end. Good fortune.
Having achieved something real, you do not rest on it or demand recognition. This hardworking modesty wins lasting support and leads to a good end.
- Modest achievement
- Diligent humility
- Demanding credit for your accomplishments
- Respect and loyalty earned through humble work
Line 4Six in the fourth place 六四
Line text
无不利，撝謙。
Nothing is unfavorable for modesty set in motion.
Modesty here is active, not passive: you put it into practice, giving others their due and fulfilling your role well. Everything goes well.
- Active modesty
- Fulfilling your role
- Using modesty as an excuse for inaction
- Smooth progress through respectful action
Line 5Six in the fifth place 六五
Line text
不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。
Not flaunting wealth before the neighbors. Favorable to attack and invade; nothing is unfavorable.
Modesty does not mean weakness. When firm action is needed, a modest person can take it without arrogance, and others will follow.
- Firmness within modesty
- Necessary action
- Confusing modesty with timidity
- Acting decisively with others' support
Line 6Six at the top 上六
Line text
鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
Modesty that is heard. Favorable to deploy troops, to set one's own town and state in order.
Genuine modesty includes the strength to discipline yourself and your own sphere. Begin with putting your own house in order.
- Self-discipline
- Order at home
- Blaming others for what is in your own domain
- Strength gained through setting your own affairs right
Related hexagrams
Have a question on your mind?
Cast a readingChinese text: Zhouyi 周易 (received classical text). English rendering and notes: Site rendering. About our sources
Commentary
The mountain is the highest thing on earth, yet here it lies beneath the earth's surface. Qian (modesty) describes substance that does not need to be seen. The tradition notes that this is the one hexagram whose six lines are all favorable or without blame. The reading may suggest that a low-key, balanced approach will serve you better than self-promotion.
The image gives modesty a social function: taking from where there is too much and adding where there is too little. This is fairness, the leveling that keeps a community stable. In relation to a question, Qian may emphasize letting your work speak for itself, keeping a sense of proportion and treating others even-handedly. The judgment promises that this attitude carries things through to the end.