Hexagram 46: Shēng (Pushing Upward)
地风升 · 第 46 卦 · Earth over Wind · 中文版
The Judgment
Sheng indicates that (under its conditions) there will be great progress and success. Seeking by (the qualities implied in it) to meet with the great man, its subject need have no anxiety. Advance to the south will be fortunate.
升：元亨，用见大人，勿恤，南征吉。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
(We find) the weak (line), as it finds the opportunity, ascending upwards. We have (the attribute) of flexibility and that of obedience; we have the strong line (below) and its proper correlate above: - these things indicate that there will be 'great progress and success.' 'Seeking (by the qualities implied in Sheng) to meet with the great man, its subject need have no anxiety:' - there will be ground for congratulation. 'Advance to the south will be fortunate:' - his aim will be carried out.
彖曰：柔以时升，巽而顺，刚中而应，是以大亨。用见大人，勿恤，有庆也。南征吉，志行也。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) wood and that for the earth with the wood growing in the midst of it form Sheng. The superior man, in accordance with this, pays careful attention to his virtue, and accumulates the small developments of it till it is high and great.
象曰：地中生木，升；君子以顺德，积小以高大。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards with the welcome (of those above him). There will be great good fortune.
'He is welcomed in his advance upwards, and there will be great good fortune:' - (the subjects of) the upper (trigram) are of the same mind with him.
In plain words: Rising with trust: great good fortune. The first line is the ruler of the lower trigram, yielding and modest, of one mind with the second and third lines above, and rises with them. The Small Image says its aims match those above.
初六：允升，大吉。 象曰：允升大吉，上合志也。
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject with that sincerity which will make even the (small) offerings of the vernal sacrifice acceptable. There will be no error.
'The sincerity of the subject of the second NINE, undivided,' affords occasion for joy.
In plain words: With sincerity, even a simple offering is favourable: no fault. The second line is strong and central and corresponds to the fifth, reaching upward with sincerity. The Small Image says the sincerity of the second line brings joy.
九二：孚乃利用禴，无咎。 象曰：九二之孚，有喜也。
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
'He advances upwards (as into) an empty city:' - he has no doubt or hesitation.
In plain words: Rising into an empty city. The third line is strong and correct; the three lines of the upper trigram ahead are all yin, like an empty city with nothing in the way. The Small Image says there is nothing to doubt.
九三：升虚邑。 象曰：升虚邑，无所疑也。
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject employed by the king to present his offerings on mount Kh?. There will be good fortune; there will be no mistake.
'The king employs him to prevent his offerings on mount Kh?:' - such a service (of spiritual Beings) is according to (their mind).
In plain words: The king makes offerings on Mount Qi: good fortune, no fault. Mount Qi was the homeland of the Zhou, and tradition takes this as King Wen. The fourth line is yielding and correct at the bottom of the upper trigram; it serves those above and smooths the way for those rising below. The Small Image says this is going along with the course of things.
六四：王用亨于岐山，吉无咎。 象曰：王用亨于岐山，顺事也。
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth six, divided, shows its subject firmly correct, and therefore enjoying good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony).
'He is firmly correct, and will therefore enjoy good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony):' - he grandly succeeds in his aim.
In plain words: Steadfastness brings good fortune: rising step by step. The fifth line is yielding in the place of honour and corresponds to the strong, central second line; with a worthy helper and without haste, it climbs the steps one at a time. The Small Image says it fully achieves its aims.
六五：贞吉，升阶。 象曰：贞吉升阶，大得志也。
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth six, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards blindly. Advantage will be found in a ceaseless maintenance of firm correctness.
'He blindly advances upwards,' and is in the highest place: - but there is decay in store for him, and he will not (preserve) his riches.
In plain words: Rising blindly; it is favourable to be steadfast without ceasing. The top line is at the end of rising yet still wants to climb; if that unceasing drive is turned toward cultivating virtue, it is favourable. The Small Image says rising blindly at the top wears one down instead of enriching.
上六：冥升，利于不息之贞。 象曰：冥升在上，消不富也。
Line positions
3 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.
Of the three pairs of corresponding places (first and fourth, second and fifth, third and top), 2 pairs are made of one strong and one weak line.
| Line | Proper place | Central | Corresponds with |
|---|---|---|---|
| top (weak) | yes | — | 3rd line: yes |
| 5th (weak) | — | yes | 2nd line: yes |
| 4th (weak) | yes | — | 1st line: no |
| 3rd (strong) | yes | — | top line: yes |
| 2nd (strong) | — | yes | 5th line: yes |
| 1st (weak) | — | — | 4th line: no |
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 Zhen palace runs: Zhèn (head), Yù (1st change), Xiè (2nd change), Héng (3rd change), Shēng (4th change), Jǐng (5th change), Dà Guò (wandering soul), Suí (returning soul).
A recorded case from Takashima
Sheng to Heng: fortunes rising like the morning sun: A merchant asked about his fortunes and received the fourth line of Sheng, "the king makes offerings on Mount Qi; good fortune, no fault". Takashima noted that all the lines of Sheng speak of rising except the second and fourth, which speak of offerings: to rise, one must first seek the protection of the spirits. The merchant's fortunes were rising like the morning sun.
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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.