Hexagram 42: Yì (Increase)
风雷益 · 第 42 卦 · Wind over Thunder · 中文版
The Judgment
Yi indicates that (in the state which it denotes) there will be advantage in every movement which shall be undertaken, that it will be advantageous (even) to cross the great stream.
益：利有攸往，利涉大川。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
In Yi we see the upper (trigram) diminished, and the lower added to. The satisfaction of the people (in consequence of this) is without limit. What descends from above reaches to all below, so great and brilliant is the course (of its operation). That 'there will be advantage in every movement which shall be undertaken' appears from the central and correct (positions of the second and fifth lines), and the (general) blessing (the dispensing of which they imply). That 'it will be advantageous (even) to cross the great stream' appears from the action of wood (shown in the figure). Yi is made up of (the trigrams expressive of) movement and docility, (through which) there is daily advancement to an unlimited extent. We have (also) in it heaven dispensing and earth producing, leading to an increase without restriction of place. Everything in the method of this increase proceeds according to the requirements of the time.
彖曰：益，损上益下，民说无疆，自上下下，其道大光。利有攸往，中正有庆。利涉大川，木道乃行。益动而巽，日进无疆。天施地生，其益无方。凡益之道，与时偕行。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) wind and that for thunder form Yi. The superior man, in accordance with this, when he sees what is good, moves towards it; and when he sees his errors, he turns from them.
象曰：风雷，益；君子以见善则迁，有过则改。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject in his position to make a great movement. If it be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him.
'If the movement be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him:' - though it is not for one in so low a position to have to do with great affairs.
In plain words: It is favourable to undertake great works: supreme good fortune, no fault. The first line is strong and low and, increased from above, can do great things; but because it is lowly, only great good fortune will keep it free of fault. The Small Image says those below should not normally take on heavy affairs.
初九：利用为大作，元吉，无咎。 象曰：元吉无咎，下不厚事也。
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. Let the king, (having the virtues thus distinguished), employ them in presenting his offerings to God, and there will be good fortune.
'Parties add to his stores:' - they come from beyond (his immediate circle) to do so.
In plain words: Someone increases it: even a tortoise worth ten strings of cowries cannot oppose it; lasting steadfastness brings good fortune. The king makes offerings to the Lord on High: good fortune. The words echo the fifth line of Decrease. The second line is central and correct and humbly receives. The Small Image says the increase comes from outside.
六二：或益之，十朋之龟弗克违，永贞吉。王用享于帝，吉。 象曰：或益之，自外来也。
Line 3 (third): The third SIX, divided, shows increase given to its subject by means of what is evil, so that he shall (be led to good), and be without blame. Let him be sincere and pursue the path of the Mean, (so shall he secure the recognition of the ruler, like) an officer who announces himself to his prince by the symbol of his rank.
'Increase is given by means of what is evil and difficult:' - as he has in himself (the qualities called forth).
In plain words: Increased through unfortunate events: no fault. With sincerity, walking the middle way, one reports to the duke with a jade tablet. The jade tablet was a token of good faith. The third line is neither central nor correct and can only gain in a crisis, but it must stay sincere and balanced. The Small Image says this is what it rightly has.
六三：益之用凶事，无咎。有孚中行，告公用圭。 象曰：益用凶事，固有之也。
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject pursuing the due course. His advice to his prince is followed. He can with advantage be relied on in such a movement as that of removing the capital.
'His advice to his prince is followed:' - his (only) object in it being the increase (of the general good).
In plain words: Walking the middle way, one reports to the duke and is heeded; it is favourable to be relied on in moving the capital. The fourth line is at the bottom of the upper trigram and carries out the work of decreasing above to increase below; it is fair and trusted. In ancient times the capital was moved for the people's good. The Small Image says being heeded comes from aiming to benefit the people.
六四：中行，告公从。利用为依迁国。 象曰：告公从，以益志也。
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with sincere heart seeking to benefit (all below). There need be no question about it; the result will be great good fortune. (All below) will with sincere heart acknowledge his goodness.
'(The ruler) with sincere heart seeks to benefit (all below):' - there need be no question (about the result). '(All below) with sincere heart acknowledge (his goodness):' - he gets what he desires on a great scale.
In plain words: With sincerity and a kind heart, there is no need to ask: supreme good fortune. With sincerity, others treasure my virtue. The fifth line is central and correct in the place of honour and truly wishes the people well. The Small Image says there is no need to ask, and others treasuring my virtue means its aims are fully achieved.
九五：有孚惠心，勿问元吉。有孚惠我德。 象曰：有孚惠心，勿问之矣。惠我德，大得志也。
Line 6 (sixth (top)): In the sixth NINE, undivided, we see one to whose increase none will contribute, while many will seek to assail him. He observes no regular rule in the ordering of his heart. There will be evil.
'To his increase none will contribute:' - this expresses but half the result. 'Many will seek to assail him:' - they will come from beyond (his immediate circle) to do so.
In plain words: No one increases it; someone may even strike it; its heart is not constant: misfortune. The top line is at the end of increase and seeks gain only for itself, so everyone turns away. The Small Image says no one increases it because it is partial, and the attack comes from outside.
上九：莫益之，或击之，立心勿恒，凶。 象曰：莫益之，偏辞也。或击之，自外来也。
Line positions
4 of the six lines stand in their proper place (strong lines in odd places, weak lines in even places).
The second and fifth lines hold the central places of the lower and upper trigrams; being one strong and one weak, they correspond, and both are also in their proper places.
Of the three pairs of corresponding places (first and fourth, second and fifth, third and top), 3 pairs are made of one strong and one weak line.
| Line | Proper place | Central | Corresponds with |
|---|---|---|---|
| top (strong) | — | — | 3rd line: yes |
| 5th (strong) | yes | yes | 2nd line: yes |
| 4th (weak) | yes | — | 1st line: yes |
| 3rd (weak) | — | — | top line: yes |
| 2nd (weak) | yes | yes | 5th line: yes |
| 1st (strong) | yes | — | 4th line: yes |
Strong lines belong in odd places and weak lines in even places; the second and fifth are the central places; first and fourth, second and fifth, third and top correspond, and they "respond" when one is strong and the other weak.
These are structural conventions, not scores of good or bad fortune. Commentators differ: Wang Bi treats the first and top places as beginning and end without fixed yin or yang positions. Read each line with its Small Image and the whole hexagram.
Place in Jing Fang's eight palaces
Jing Fang grouped the 64 hexagrams into eight "palaces" of eight, each headed by a doubled trigram. Changing the lines of the head hexagram one by one from the bottom gives the next five; the last two are the "wandering soul" and "returning soul" hexagrams. The Xun palace runs: Xùn (head), Xiǎo Chù (1st change), Jiā Rén (2nd change), Yì (3rd change), Wú Wàng (4th change), Shì Kè (5th change), Yí (wandering soul), Gǔ (returning soul).
A recorded case from Takashima
Yi (Increase) to Yi (Nourishment): adopting an heir: A friend meant to adopt a boy from another family as his heir and received the fifth line of Yi (Increase), "sincere and kind at heart; no need to ask, it is supremely good; sincerely they will repay my kindness". Takashima said a father who gives with a sincere heart will find the son glad to be his son, carrying on his work and repaying him; it was plainly good without asking.
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.