益Augmenting
yìAlso known as “Increase” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Yî” (Legge)
In plain words
Wind and thunder strengthening each other: increase. Favourable to undertake something and to cross the great river; those above give to those below, and everyone rejoices.
The attitude it asks for
Use the favourable wind to move, improve and give; see good and move toward it, see faults and correct them.
Structure
卦辭 The Judgment
益：利有攸往，利涉大川。Yî 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，損上益下，民說无疆，自上下下，其道大光。利有攸往，中正有慶。利涉大川，木道乃行。益動而巽，日進无疆。天施地生，其益无方。凡益之道，與時偕行。In Yî 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). Yî 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.
風雷，益；君子以見善則遷，有過則改。(The trigram representing) wind and that for thunder form Yî. 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.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
- 上九Nine at the top
莫益之，或擊之，立心勿恆，凶。
In the sixth line, 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.
Its symbolism 莫益之，偏辭也。或擊之，自外來也。
'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.
- 九五Nine in the fifth place
有孚惠心，勿問元吉。有孚惠我德。
The fifth line, 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.
Its symbolism 有孚惠心，勿問之矣。惠我德，大得志也。
'(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.
- 六四Six in the fourth place
中行，告公從。利用為依遷國。
The fourth line, 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.
Its symbolism 告公從，以益志也。
'His advice to his prince is followed:'—his (only) object in it being the increase (of the general good).
- 六三Six in the third place
益之用凶事，无咎。有孚中行，告公用圭。
The third line, 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.
Its symbolism 益用凶事，固有之也。
'Increase is given by means of what is evil and difficult:'—as he has in himself (the qualities called forth).
- 六二Six in the second place
或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，永貞吉。王用享于帝，吉。
The second line, 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.
Its symbolism 或益之，自外來也。
'Parties add to his stores:'—they come from beyond (his immediate circle) to do so.
- 初九Nine at the beginning
利用為大作，元吉，无咎。
The first line, 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.
Its symbolism 元吉无咎，下不厚事也。
'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.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Read 益 Augmenting for a question about
古籍
From the classics
Two of the Ten Wings speak of every hexagram: the Sequence (Xù Guà) says why it follows the one before, the Miscellany (Zá Guà) sums it up in a phrase. Here is what they say of 益 yì · Augmenting.
損而不已，必益，故受之以益。Decrease that does not stop is sure to bring increase; therefore Yì follows.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
損、益，盛衰之始也。Sǔn and Yì are the beginnings of rise and decline.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
The classical Chinese is the authoritative text. Translations are iching.tools' own from the Chinese unless another translator is named; several attributions are traditional rather than historical (託名).
Questions about this hexagram
- What does Hexagram 42, Augmenting, mean?
- Wind and thunder strengthening each other: increase. Favourable to undertake something and to cross the great river; those above give to those below, and everyone rejoices.
- Which trigrams form Augmenting?
- 巽 above 震 — wind over thunder. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 剝 Peeling Away.
- What happens when a line of Augmenting changes?
- A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
- How do I get Augmenting in a reading?
- Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - - - - - — — is Augmenting. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).