升Ascending
shēngAlso known as “Pushing Upward” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Shăng” (Legge)
In plain words
Wood growing within the earth: ascending. Supreme success; see the great man; a march to the south brings good fortune — growth by steady, unforced effort.
The attitude it asks for
Rise step by step like a tree, accumulating small gains, and let those who can help see you.
Structure
卦辭 The Judgment
升：元亨，用見大人，勿恤，南征吉。Shăng 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.
柔以時升，巽而順，剛中而應，是以大亨。用見大人，勿恤；有慶也。南征吉，志行也。(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 Shăng) 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.
地中生木，升；君子以順德，積小以高大。(The trigram representing) wood and that for the earth with the wood growing in the midst of it form Shăng. 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.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
- 上六Six at the top
冥升，利于不息之貞。
The sixth line, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards blindly. Advantage will be found in a ceaseless maintenance of firm correctness.
Its symbolism 冥升在上，消不富也。
'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.
- 六五Six in the fifth place
貞吉，升階。
The fifth line, divided, shows its subject firmly correct, and therefore enjoying good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony).
Its symbolism 貞吉升階，大得志也。
'He is firmly correct, and will therefore enjoy good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony):'—he grandly succeeds in his aim.
- 六四Six in the fourth place
王用亨于岐山，吉无咎。
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject employed by the king to present his offerings on mount Khî. There will be good fortune; there will be no mistake.
Its symbolism 王用亨于岐山，順事也。
'The king employs him to prevent his offerings on mount Khî:'—such a service (of spiritual Beings) is according to (their mind).
- 九三Nine in the third place
升虛邑。
The third line, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
Its symbolism 升虛邑，无所疑也。
'He advances upwards (as into) an empty city:'—he has no doubt or hesitation.
- 九二Nine in the second place
孚乃利用禴，无咎。
The second line, undivided, shows its subject with that sincerity which will make even the (small) offerings of the vernal sacrifice acceptable. There will be no error.
Its symbolism 九二之孚，有喜也。
'The sincerity of the subject of the second line, undivided,' affords occasion for joy.
- 初六Six at the beginning
允升，大吉。
The first line, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards with the welcome (of those above him). There will be great good fortune.
Its symbolism 允升大吉，上合志也。
'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.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Read 升 Ascending 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 升 shēng · Ascending.
聚而上者，謂之升，故受之以升。Gathering and rising up is called ascending; therefore Shēng follows.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
萃聚，而升不來也。Cuì is gathering, while Shēng does not come back.
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 46, Ascending, mean?
- Wood growing within the earth: ascending. Supreme success; see the great man; a march to the south brings good fortune — growth by steady, unforced effort.
- Which trigrams form Ascending?
- 坤 above 巽 — earth over wind. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 歸妹 Marrying the Younger Sister.
- What happens when a line of Ascending 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 Ascending in a reading?
- Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - — — - - - - - - is Ascending. 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).