六十四卦中唯一六爻皆吉的卦
Judgment and its commentary
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。Read the received text first, then its Tuan commentary.
謙：亨，君子有終。
謙——通達。君子保有謙，就能把事情做到完成。全部六十四卦裡，只有謙是六爻皆吉；這不是偶然，是教學。
Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).
謙：亨，天道下濟而光明，地道卑而上行。天道虧盈而益謙，地道變盈而流謙，鬼神害盈而福謙，人道惡盈而好謙。謙尊而光，卑而不可踰，君子之終也。
謙是通達的——天道往下運行而顯得光明，地道處在低位卻能往上運行。天道會削減盈滿的、補益謙虛的；地道會改變盈滿的、流向謙虛的；鬼神會減損盈滿的、賜福於謙虛的；人情也厭惡盈滿的、喜歡謙虛的。謙讓居尊位仍能光大，居卑位也沒人能越過它——這就是君子能把事情做到完成的道理。
'Khien indicates progress and success:'—it is the way of heaven to send down its beneficial influences below, where they are brilliantly displayed. It is the way of earth, lying low, to send its influences upwards and (there) to act. It is the way of heaven to diminish the full and augment the humble. It is the way of earth to overthrow the full and replenish the humble. Spiritual Beings inflict calamity on the full and bless the humble. It is the way of men to hate the full and love the humble. Humility in a position of honour makes that still more brilliant; and in a low position men will not (seek to) pass beyond it. Thus it is that 'the superior man will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).'
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
地中有山，謙
(The trigram representing the) earth and in the midst of it (that representing) a mountain form Khien.
君子以裒多益寡，稱物平施。
The superior man, in accordance with this, diminishes what is excessive (in himself), and increases where there is any defect, bringing about an equality, according to the nature of the case, in his treatment (of himself and others).
大地裡面藏著山——這就是謙的象。君子效法：把多的減掉、把少的補上，權衡事物、公平分配。山本身很高，但甘願藏在地裡——這是真正的謙。
本站導讀，不屬《大象傳》原文；用來預覽本卦六爻由初至上的意象變化。An editorial preview of the six line images, not part of the Great Image Commentary.
謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。
謙上加謙的君子——用這種態度渡過大河（做大事），吉。起步就謙，是最好的出發姿態。
The first SIX, divided, shows us the superior man who adds humility to humility. (Even) the great stream may be crossed with this, and there will be good fortune.
謙謙君子，卑以自牧也。
謙謙君子——用卑下之位來自我修養。
'The superior man adds humility to humility:'—in his low position he keeps himself (still) under (self-)restraint.
鳴謙，貞吉。
謙到已經有名聲了——守正，吉。謙虛的名聲自然傳開，但不要因此飄起來；守住原本的謙。
The second SIX, divided, shows us humility that has made itself recognised. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
鳴謙貞吉，中心得也。
鳴謙貞吉——這是從內心深處得來的。
'Humility that has made itself recognised, with firm correctness, will bring good fortune:'—this is due to his possessing in himself (the virtue indicated).
勞謙，君子有終，吉。
勞苦而仍保持謙——君子能把事情做到完成，吉。九三是全卦唯一陽爻，代表真正有實力的人；有實力而仍謙，是謙的核心教學。
The third NINE, undivided, shows the superior man of (acknowledged) merit. He will maintain his success to the end, and have good fortune.
勞謙君子，萬民服也。
勞謙的君子——萬民都歸服。
'The superior man of acknowledged merit and yet humble:'—all people will submit to him.
无不利，撝謙。
沒有不利——發揮謙、推廣謙到各處。謙不只是守住，還可以主動地把謙延伸到更廣的範圍。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one, whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirring up (the more) his humility.
无不利撝謙，不違則也。
无不利撝謙——不違背法則。
'One, whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirs up the more his humility:'—he does not fail to conform to the (proper) rule.
不富，以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。
自己不炫耀富有——以與鄰人協力為重。在這個位置上用兵征討是有利的；無不利。領導者不擺富，反而有力量號召眾人。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one who, without being rich, is able to employ his neighbours. He may advantageously use the force of arms. All his movements will be advantageous.
利用侵伐，征不服也。
利用侵伐——是去征伐不服的。
'It will be advantageous to use the force of arms:'—correcting, that is, those who do not submit.
鳴謙，利用行師，征邑國。
謙到已經有名聲了——此時用兵是有利的，去征討邑國（自己分內不服的部分）。即使在最高位，謙不是終止，而是可以轉化為行動的根據。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows us humility that has made itself recognised. Its subject will with advantage put his hosts in motion; but (he will only punish) his own towns and state.
鳴謙，志未得也。可用行師，征邑國也。
鳴謙——是志願還未達成；可以用兵，是去征邑國。
'Humility that has made itself recognised:'—but his wishes have not yet been carried into effect. He can 'put his hosts in motion,' but (he will only punish) 'his own towns and state.'
Humility, modesty. 言 (speech) + 兼 (both / combining). A quality that holds force without flaunting it.
To labor; toil; merit earned by effort. In line 3: the person who has actually worked — and still doesn't flaunt it.
To sound, resound, call; here: 'to have one's reputation sound outward.' The humility that's seen isn't broken — but test: does recognition inflate you?
To wave, brandish, extend; here: 'stirring up more humility' — active cultivation, not passive retention.
Reduce the excess, add to the deficient. The 大象 formula for how 謙 operates — it balances, equalizes.
