The 64 Hexagrams / 42
Hexagram 42 · ䷩
Increase
益 · Yì
Upper Wind 巽Lower Thunder 震
The Judgment · 卦辭
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.
The Image · 大象
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.
Plain-English Meaning
Increase. A time of gain and help; act boldly on what benefits others.
The Judgment
It is favourable to have somewhere to go and to cross great waters.
The Image
Like wind and thunder strengthening each other, move towards the good and correct your faults.
Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.
The Lines · 爻辭
- 初九 · Line 1利用為大作,元吉,无咎。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.象曰:元吉无咎,下不厚事也。
- 六二 · Line 2或益之,十朋之龜弗克違,永貞吉。王用享于帝,吉。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.象曰:或益之,自外來也。
- 六三 · Line 3益之用凶事,无咎。有孚中行,告公用圭。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.象曰:益用凶事,固有之也。
- 六四 · Line 4中行,告公從。利用為依遷國。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.象曰:告公從,以益志也。
- 九五 · Line 5有孚惠心,勿問元吉。有孚惠我德。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.象曰:有孚惠心,勿問之矣。惠我德,大得志也。
- 上九 · Line 6莫益之,或擊之,立心勿恆,凶。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.象曰:莫益之,偏辭也。或擊之,自外來也。
English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.