Hexagram 42 · Yi Increase 风雷益

“Increase: it is beneficial to have somewhere to go; it is beneficial to cross the great river.”

Yi (Increase) is the way of benefiting the world, so it can get through danger and difficulty: it is beneficial to cross the great river.

“Increase: decreasing above to increase below; the people’s joy is boundless. From above it descends to those below; its way is greatly bright.”

The root meaning of Increase is that its way lies in decreasing what is above to increase what is below. The people will surely rejoice in it without end or limit. It comes down from above, and even the lowest of those below receive it; so the way of Increase shines out and is great.

“It is beneficial to have somewhere to go: central and correct, there is blessing. It is beneficial to cross the great river: the way of wood then prevails.”

When the world is helped by the central and correct way, the world receives blessing; so going is fortunate. Of all things, wood helps humankind the most: medicines, carts and boats, the building of houses, none of these does without wood. In ordinary times wood does not show its importance, but in times of danger and hardship its help is great. The way of Increase is the same.

“Increase moves and is gentle, advancing daily without limit. Heaven gives and earth brings forth; its increase knows no bounds. The way of all increase goes along with the time.”

The movement of the way of Increase lies in compliance; if movement does not comply with principle, it surely does not become increase. The way of heaven nourishes beginnings and the way of earth completes things, transforming and nurturing all things so that each has its proper nature and life; this makes the way of Increase vast and boundless. The sage, embodying the way of heaven and earth, knows that the way that can benefit the world must accord with the time and respond to principle, doing what suits the time: this is the great way of Increase.

“Wind and thunder: Increase. The noble person accordingly, seeing good, moves toward it; having faults, corrects them.”

Wind and thunder, the two things, help and increase each other. Observing their image, the noble person knows the way to increase himself: it lies in moving toward the good when he sees it, so that he can take in all the good in the world, and in correcting his faults when he has them, so that he is without fault.

“It is beneficial to undertake great works. Great good fortune, no blame.”

The first nine is a yang firm worthy. If he meets the compliance of the fourth six in the upper position, that is, if a capable worthy in a low position can gain the compliance and support of one above, he will surely do things of great benefit to the world; this is a great work. If he cannot hold to this principle, not only will regret and blame come, he will also drag down the one above, and this becomes the fault of the one above. If he benefits the many, there will surely be no fault.

Many people today are self-satisfied and complacent, borrow others’ power to intimidate, deceive those above and hide things from those below, and seek only their own profit.

“Great good fortune, no blame: those below are not meant for weighty affairs.”

A person in a low position is not, in the first place, meant to bear great affairs. Now, having the trust of the one above and taking on a great task, he must be able to help the age and assist people; only then can the one above earn a reputation for knowing people and employing them well. If he only spoils things and resentment rises among the people on all sides, both above and below are at fault.

“Someone increases them with a tortoise worth ten pairs of shells, which cannot be refused. Lasting steadfastness brings good fortune. The king offers to the Supreme Lord. Good fortune.”

If a person can keep to the central and correct way, know to empty his centre in seeking increase, and be compliant and selfless, what in the world could he not receive? Nothing will go against him, and as time goes on there is even more good fortune. In this way he can surely reach those above and gain good fortune, and everyone will follow him.

“Someone increases them: it comes from outside.”

One who knows the way of benefiting the world and holds firmly to it will surely cause people to come from outside and turn to him.

“Increase through inauspicious affairs. No blame. With sincerity, walking in the middle, report to the duke using the jade tablet.”

The third six is the minister’s position: placed above the common people, it oversees the people’s affairs. If, being above the people, it can be firm and decisive, and its decisions are truly made to benefit the people, then even in inauspicious affairs there can be no blame. But it must still reach the one above with sincerity so that he can trust it. If what it does does not accord with the central way, then even if the one above trusts it, it must not be done.

“Increase through inauspicious affairs: this belongs to it firmly.”

One in a low position should report all affairs to the one above; only so does one win trust. But when facing danger, hardship or disaster relief, one may decide at once with firmness and will surely be without blame. This is the great principle here.

“Walking in the middle, report to the duke and he follows. It is beneficial to rely on this when relocating the state.”

Being at the ruler’s side, it follows the ruler with softness and compliance, and toward those below it responds to the firm worthy of the first yang line. In this way it can make the people comply and follow.

“Report to the duke and he follows: because the will is to benefit.”

The will behind its action is to benefit the world, so the one above will surely trust and follow it, because it acts for the common good and not for itself. That is why the ancients did not worry that those above would not follow; they worried that they themselves were not upright.

“A sincere, generous heart. Without asking, great good fortune. Sincerity blesses my virtue.”

A yang firm ruler, in the honoured place, central and sincere and upright in heart, will surely benefit the world; this is known without asking. The people of the world will surely love and honour him with utmost sincerity, because the ruler is able to bestow kindness and virtue.

“A sincere, generous heart: no need to ask. Blessing my virtue: the will is greatly fulfilled.”

When the ruler has a heart of utmost sincerity to increase the good of the world, there is no need to ask: the people of the world will surely cherish his virtue and receive his kindness; the way of Increase prevails greatly, and the ruler’s will is surely carried out.

“None increase them; someone strikes them. Establishing no constant heart. Misfortune.”

This is firmness at the extreme of Increase: it wants only to benefit itself and does not share the desires of the many, so it will surely invite resentment, or suffer attack. The sage’s warning concerns human desire: one must be firm of heart and have no selfish desire, or one invites misfortune. If one has it, one must correct it quickly.

“None increase them: these are one-sided words. Someone strikes them: it comes from outside.”

If one increases oneself for private profit, others will surely contend with one and will certainly not accept it. Whether through one-sided words or through attack, it all comes from outside. The cause in every case is that one’s heart does not accord with right principle, and selfish desire seeks to monopolise profit.