Hexagram Decrease & Increase: Gain and Loss Are One — What You Think Is Lost Is Another Form of Gain
The Decrease (Sun) and Increase (Yi) hexagrams are an adjacent pair in the I Ching (Book of Changes). Though their meanings of "loss" and "gain" seem entirely opposite, their pairing conveys a core idea: cutting back on one thing frees up space for another. This piece explores the mutual transformation between these two hexagrams, as well as when to reduce and when to expand in decision-making.
Hexagram 41: Decrease (损卦), Hexagram 42: Increase (益卦).
Another pair of hexagrams that sit right next to each other.
Decrease: 山泽损 (Mountain-Lake Decrease). Gen (Keeping Still) is the upper trigram, Dui (The Joyous) is the lower. Mountain above, lake below.
Increase: 风雷益 (Wind-Thunder Increase). Xun (The Gentle) is the upper trigram, Zhen (The Arousing) is the lower. Wind above, thunder below.
Looking at the hexagram images, Decrease takes a yang line from the lower part and moves it up to reinforce the upper part — hence the phrase "damaging the lower to benefit the upper".
Increase takes a yang line from the upper part and moves it down to reinforce the lower part — hence "damaging the upper to benefit the lower".
One key thing to note: there is "increase" within the Decrease hexagram, and "decrease" within the Increase hexagram.
Decrease means "damaging the lower to benefit the upper"; Increase means "damaging the upper to benefit the lower".
Both hexagrams describe the same core action: transfer.
The only difference is who you take from, and who you give to.
This is the deepest meaning of this pair: there is no pure loss, nor pure gain in the world.
When you lose something, it must have gone somewhere else. When you gain something, it must have come from somewhere else.
That’s why when the *I Ching (Book of Changes)* speaks of the Decrease hexagram, its Hexagram Judgment reads "损而有孚，元吉" — Decrease with sincerity and trust brings supreme good fortune.
How can decrease bring supreme good fortune?
Because what you cut away in decrease is usually the excess.
What is the Decrease hexagram really about?
The core of Decrease is "cutting away what ought to be cut".
The *Xiang Commentary* says, "君子以惩忿窒欲" — the superior person restrains anger and curbs desire.
Anger and desire are both things that become "excess".
It’s not that you shouldn’t have them at all — but when there’s too much, they become a burden.
The third line (Six in the Third Place) of the Decrease hexagram is a famous line: "三人行，则损一人；一人行，则得其友。"
When three people walk together, one will inevitably be left behind; when one walks alone, they will meet a companion.
This sounds harsh at first, but it points to a structural issue: a relationship between three people is inherently unstable.
It’s not that anyone is a bad person — there simply isn’t enough "room" in the dynamic.
So "losing one person" isn’t a loss; it’s bringing the relationship back to a stable state.
What is the Increase hexagram really about?
The core of Increase is "adding to what ought to be added to".
But the Hexagram Judgment of Increase is quite interesting: "利有攸往，利涉大川。"
"It furthers one to have somewhere to go" means it is favorable to move forward; "It furthers one to cross the great water" means it is favorable to undertake great ventures.
Both instances of "favorable" point to action.
Increase isn’t about sitting around waiting for benefits to come — you have to take action to receive them.
The *Xiang Commentary* on Increase says, "君子以见善则迁，有过则改" — the superior person moves toward what is good, and corrects their faults when they make them.
See? The "increase" the hexagram talks about is growing your virtue and ability, not accumulating wealth.
Where is the true mutual transformation between this pair of hexagrams?
When decrease reaches its extreme, it turns into increase; when increase reaches its extreme, it turns into decrease.
The top line (Nine at the Top) of the Decrease hexagram reads: "弗损益之，无咎，贞吉。"
No longer decreasing, but instead increasing others — there is no blame, and perseverance brings good fortune.
When you’ve cut away all that can be cut, you start giving.
The top line (Nine at the Top) of the Increase hexagram reads: "莫益之，或击之，立心勿恒，凶。"
No one comes to increase you anymore; some may even attack you, because your resolve is unsteady.
When you’ve added all that can be added, things start being taken away.
So this pair of hexagrams gives us a very practical standard for judgment:
When you are in a phase of decrease, ask yourself: am I cutting away the excess, or the essential?
Cutting away the excess is the proper path of the Decrease hexagram, and it will turn into increase.
Cutting away the essential is forced decrease, and it will harm your foundation.
When you are in a phase of increase, ask yourself: is what I’m gaining what I rightfully deserve, or am I taking more than my share?
Gaining what you rightfully deserve is the proper path of the Increase hexagram, and you can hold onto it.
What you take more than your share of will inevitably be taken back in some way.
Let’s talk about a more everyday application.
A lot of people are afraid of "decrease" — afraid to pass up an opportunity, afraid to end a relationship, afraid to cut a project.
Because they think giving something up means losing out.
But the Decrease hexagram says: if you don’t cut things away, there’s no room to add anything new.
A room full of old things can’t fit new ones.
A schedule packed with old tasks can’t squeeze in new opportunities.
Decrease and increase are always the same action. The space you free up is exactly what you will be able to gain.
So don’t be afraid of decrease. What you should fear is cutting the wrong things, or failing to cut when you ought to.