升 Shēng Advancing upwards (Growing upward) [hexagram 46]

Earth element

无妄 Wú wàng [25] Honesty; Without Pretense

Opposite

萃 Cuì [45] Bringing together; Gathering

Inverse

归妹 Guī mèi [54] Union; Marrying

Mutual

The Decision

Advancing upward – great success. Rewarding to meet great people without anxiety. Advancing south is very fortunate.

The weak finds the opportunity to advance upwards. Adaptive and accepting with strength below and resonant with those above and so ‘great success’. ‘Rewarding to meet great people without anxiety’ – appropriate to congratulate. ‘Advancing south is very fortunate’ – aims will be achieved.

升: 元亨, 用见大人, 勿恤, 南征吉. Shēng: yuán hēng, yòng xiàn dà ren, wù xù, nán zhēng jí.

彖传: 柔以时升, 巽而顺, 刚中而应, 是以大亨. 用见大人, 勿恤; 有庆也. 南征吉, 志行也. Tuàn zhuàn: Róu yǐ shí shēng, xùn ér shùn, gāng zhōng ér yīng, shì yǐ dà hēng. yòng jiàn dà ren, wù xù; yǒu qìng yě. nán zhēng jí, zhì xíng yě.

The Image

The wise gain virtue by accepting nature through gradual accumulation until they can achieve something worthwhile.

象传: 地中生木, 升; 君子以顺德, 积小以高大. Xiàng zhuàn: Dì zhōng shēng mù, shēng; jūn zǐ yǐ shùn dé, jī xiǎo yǐ gāo dà.

Line Change 1

泰 Tài [11] Progress; Interplay

Advancing upward with confidence. Big opportunity.

‘Advancing upward with confidence. Big opportunity’ – unity of purpose.

初六: 允升, 大吉. Chū liù: yǔn shēng, dà jí.

象传: 允升大吉, 上合志也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yǔn shēng dà jí, shàng hé zhì yě.

Line Change 2

谦 Qiān [15] Humility; Modesty

Acting with sincerity earns rewards after modest sacrifice. Nothing is wrong.

The second ‘nine’ denotes sincerity – a joyful occasion.

九二: 孚乃利用禴, 无咎. Jiǔ èr: fú nǎi lì yòng yuè, wú jiù.

象传: 九二之孚, 有喜也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ èr zhī fú, yǒu xǐ yě.

Line Change 3

师 Shī [7] Throng; Multitude

Advancing towards an empty town.

‘Advancing towards an empty town’ – without hesitation.

九三: 升虚邑. Jiǔ sān: shēng xū yì.

象传: 升虚邑, 无所疑也. Xiàng zhuàn: Shēng xū yì, wú suǒ yí yě.

Line Change 4

恒 Héng [32] Perseverance; Endurance

The king presents offerings on Mount Qi*. Good fortune and no blame.
* Mount Qi is in the homeland of King Wen, Gansu province.

‘The king presents offerings on Mount Qi’ – following the tradition.

六四: 王用亨于岐山, 吉无咎. Liù sì: wáng yòng hēng yú qí shān, jí wú jiù.

六四: 王用亨于岐山, 吉无咎. Liù sì: wáng yòng hēng yú qí shān, jí wú jiù.

Line Change 5

井 Jǐng [48] The well; Replenish

Remaining steadfast and upright brings promise. Advancing upwards step by step.

‘Remaining steadfast and upright brings promise. Advancing upwards step by step’ – slowly achieving objectives.

六五: 贞吉, 升阶. Liù wǔ: zhēn jí, shēng jiē.

象传: 贞吉升阶, 大得志也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhēn jí shēng jiē, dà dé zhì yě.

Line Change 6

蛊 Gǔ [18] Decay; Detoxify

Advancing upwards in darkness – requiring care and perseverance.

‘Advancing upwards in darkness’ – to reach the high place but only at great cost.

上六: 冥升, 利于不息之贞. Shàng liù: míng shēng, lì yú bù xī zhī zhēn.

象传: 冥升在上, 消不富也. Xiàng zhuàn: Míng shēng zài shàng, xiāo bù fù yě.