Hexagram 42 of 64
益 Yì · Increase
上 巽 Wind (Xùn) over 下 震 Thunder (Zhèn)
Give a little; the wind returns.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: wind and thunder aid each other.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Yì is wind and thunder aiding each other: wind magnifies the thunder's voice, while thunder stirs the wind, each adding something to the other. Yì speaks of giving a little away—not tallying the small gains and losses is often the very spark that sets things in motion. Give without demanding return; once in motion, echoes follow naturally.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Favorable to undertake great works. Supreme good fortune. No blame.” Help received from above makes undertaking a major endeavor favorable. Great work means a major undertaking; great good fortune means an especially favorable outcome, and no blame means no fault. At the beginning of Yì, help received is to be answered through what one accomplishes.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Supreme good fortune without blame: those below should not undertake heavy tasks.” The line statement indicates that attaining supreme good fortune avoids blame because Initial Nine sits at the very bottom and should not shoulder overly weighty tasks; only by establishing supreme virtue and great success does one leave no blame behind.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Someone enriches him; tortoises worth ten pairs of cowries cannot oppose it. Constant perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents offerings to the Supreme Lord: good fortune.” Someone benefits him, and even the divination of a ten-péng tortoise, meaning a valuable large tortoise, cannot contradict this. Lasting steadfastness means consistently holding to what is right, hence good fortune. The king's sincere, reverent offering to Shàngdì also brings good fortune. Dì denotes the sovereign deity in heaven.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Someone increases him: it comes from without.” The line statement says someone actively comes to assist and increase him because Six in the second place is yielding, open-hearted, and maintains the center and correctness; external aid is drawn naturally to him, never sought through selfish contrivance.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Enriched through unfortunate events: no blame. With sincerity walk the central path, reporting to the prince with jade scepter.” Using assistance for dangerous situations and crises brings no blame, meaning no fault. This also requires sincerity and trustworthiness and conduct that follows the middle way, together with reporting to the lord while holding a guī. This jade object was used in ancient ceremonies as a token establishing trust.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Using increase for unfortunate events: one truly possesses it.” Applying the received increase to dangerous and distressing circumstances serves to make this increase firmly one’s own. Another view holds that relieving misfortune is originally a duty that falls naturally to oneself.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Walking the central path, report to the prince and he complies. Favorable to act as an anchor in relocating the capital.” Acting according to the middle way and reporting to the lord wins his agreement. Relocating the state with support is favorable. One reading makes the fourth line the person relied upon to undertake the relocation; another has this person rely on someone above. Relocation is a major matter requiring support.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Reporting to the duke, who complies: to benefit his purpose.” Six in the fourth place reports to the duke and is obeyed because, near the ruler and walking the center, it acts to benefit the people below.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“With sincere heart benevolence unfolds; no need to ask, supreme good fortune. Sincerity acknowledges our virtue.” Trustworthiness and a wish to benefit others warrant great good fortune without consulting an oracle. Having fú means being sincere and trustworthy. Those who receive kindness also respond sincerely, gratefully acknowledging the speaker's kindness. This line concerns sincere generosity and a sincere response in return.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“With sincerity and a kind heart, ask not about it. Cherishing our virtue, one greatly attains his will.” Bearing sincerity and kindness toward others, one knows without asking that supreme good fortune follows; as people cherish the virtue received, one’s aspirations are grandly fulfilled.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“None enriches him; someone strikes him. Inconstancy of mind: misfortune.” No one benefits him; instead, someone attacks him. His resolve lacks constancy, and misfortune denotes an unfavorable outcome. At the extreme of Yì, the desire for benefit loses its steadiness. What comes is no longer help and may even turn into opposition from others.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“None increases him: these are partial words. Someone strikes him: it comes from without.” That no one benefits him stems from words of seeking gain being biased toward oneself alone, drawing no response; that someone strikes him means it comes from without. Another view explains partial words as meaning that “none increases him” speaks only of one side of the matter, while on the other side someone strikes.
Zhouyi, hexagram 42, line 12. Koyonari translation.