Hexagram 46 of 64 · King Wen order
升Pushing Upward
Shēng · ䷭ · above: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn · below: Wind ☴ 巽 Xùn
Effortless but steady progress made possible by being in harmony with the forces of the time.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
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.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. (We find) the weak (line), as it finds the opportunity, ascending upwards.
2. 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.'
3. 'Seeking (by the qualities implied in Shang) 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.
The Image 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.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
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.
Small Image: '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.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 11, Peace.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
孚乃利用禴，無咎。
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.
Small Image: 'The sincerity of the subject of the second NINE, undivided,' affords occasion for joy.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 15, Modesty.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
升虛邑。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
Small Image: 'He advances upwards (as into) an empty city:'—he has no doubt or hesitation.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 7, The Army.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
王用亨于岐山，吉無咎。
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.
Small Image: 'The king employs him to prevent his offerings on mount Khi:'—such a service (of spiritual Beings) is according to (their mind).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 32, Duration.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
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).
Small Image: 'He is firmly correct, and will therefore enjoy good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony):'—he grandly succeeds in his aim.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 48, The Well.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
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.
Small Image: '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.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 18, Work on what has been spoiled.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦25. Innocence 無妄
every line changedInverse 綜卦45. Gathering Together 萃
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.