Zhouyi, received text. Traditional characters are retained from the electronic reference; punctuation is editorial.
A contemporary perspective
Assess your abilities honestly. Leave space for others without diminishing your own work.
This is Fatefold’s original reflective interpretation, not a word-for-word translation or a classical prediction about a modern question.
Classical line statements · bottom to top
01
初六 謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
02
六二 鳴謙，貞吉。
03
九三 勞謙，君子有終，吉。
04
六四 无不利，撝謙。
05
六五 不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。
06
上六 鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
Read the structure
The lower trigram is Gen · Mountain; the upper is Kun · Earth. The six lines describe positions and stages within one situation, rather than six independent answers. Assess your abilities honestly. Leave space for others without diminishing your own work.
The Tuan discusses the judgment through polarity, position and timing. Its conditions belong with the judgment; an isolated favorable or unfavorable word does not settle a whole situation.
Great Image · from pattern to conduct
地中有山，謙，君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
The Great Image turns Modesty into a model for conduct. Alongside divinatory language, this layer asks how to act. Consider whether your approach to modesty fits the actual conditions.
Line-by-line commentary
初六 · 1
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
《小象》：謙謙君子，卑以自牧也。
Approach difficulty through modest responsibility.
The first line concerns an initial stage and its readiness.
六二 · 2
鳴謙，貞吉。
《小象》：鳴謙貞吉，中心得也。
Modesty can be expressed without erasing oneself.
Line two is central within the lower trigram; consider nearby coordination. Centrality is not an automatic favorable verdict.
九三 · 3
勞謙，君子有終，吉。
《小象》：勞謙君子，萬民服也。
Real achievement can coexist with space for others.
Line three ends the lower trigram and invites attention to a threshold and its pressures.
六四 · 4
无不利，撝謙。
《小象》：无不利，撝謙，不違則也。
Modesty is practiced through conduct rather than declared.
Line four enters the upper trigram; consider a transition of setting or responsibility.
六五 · 5
不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。
《小象》：利用侵伐，征不服也。
Limited resources do not remove the need for sound collective action.
Line five is central in the upper trigram; consider responsibility and the use of resources.
上六 · 6
鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
《小象》：鳴謙，志未得也，可用行師，征邑國也。
Recognition and correction both require clear limits.
The top line ends this pattern; consider excess, closure and a next stage.
Relate it to your question
Separate known facts, unconfirmed information and available actions. Which part of this symbol fits, and which does not?
