Hexagram 46 · ䷭

Pushing Upward

升 · Shēng

Upper Earth 坤Lower Wind 巽

The Judgment · 卦辭

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.

The Image · 大象

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.

Plain-English Meaning

Pushing upward. Steady, gradual growth; keep rising step by step.

The Judgment

Rising brings great success; seek out good counsel and do not worry.

The Image

Like a tree growing up from the earth, build greatness from small things.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初六 · Line 1
允升，大吉。
The first SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards with the welcome (of those above him). There will be great good fortune.
象曰：允升大吉，上合志也。
九二 · Line 2
孚乃利用禴，无咎。
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.
象曰：九二之孚，有喜也。
九三 · Line 3
升虛邑。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
象曰：升虛邑，无所疑也。
六四 · Line 4
王用享于岐山，吉无咎。
The fourth SIX, 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.
象曰：王用亨于岐山，順事也。
六五 · Line 5
貞吉，升階。
The fifth six, divided, shows its subject firmly correct, and therefore enjoying good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony).
象曰：貞吉升階，大得志也。
上六 · Line 6
冥升，利于不息之貞。
The sixth six, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards blindly. Advantage will be found in a ceaseless maintenance of firm correctness.
象曰：冥升在上，消不富也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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