Hexagram of the Day Wednesday, July 15, 2026: #42 Increase (益)

Increase means augmenting. As a hexagram, it decreases the yang of the upper trigram's initial line to increase the yin of the lower trigram's initial line; descending from the upper trigram beneath the lower trigram, it is therefore Increase.

In the hexagram, Nine in the Fifth Place and Six in the Second Place both attain the center and correctness; below is Zhen (Thunder) and above is Xun (Wind), both having the image of Wood.

Therefore its divination is that it is advantageous to have somewhere to go and advantageous to cross the great stream. The 'xia' in 'shang xia zhi xia' (descending) is in the falling tone [xià].

Explaining the name and meaning of the hexagram through its structure. Explaining the hexagram statement through the structure and images of the hexagram. Shi is pronounced as shi and chi in reverse [shì].

The virtues of the two trigrams, movement and gentleness; Qian bestowing below and Kun generating above also carry the meaning of the hexagram structure mentioned above; furthermore, this speaks to the utmost in praise of the greatness of Increase.

The momentum of wind and thunder mutually assist and increase each other. Moving toward good and correcting faults is the greatest of increases, and their mutual increase is just like this.

Increase. The Sequence of the Hexagrams states: 'Decreasing without ceasing will surely bring increase; hence it is received with Increase.'

Prosperity and decline, decrease and increase, operate like a cycle; when decrease reaches its limit, increase must follow, as a matter of natural principle. Increase is that which succeeds Decrease.

As a hexagram, Xun is above and Zhen is below; thunder and wind are two things that mutually increase each other. When the wind is fierce, thunder is swift; when thunder crashes, the wind rages; the two mutually assist and increase each other, which is why it is Increase.

This speaks from the image. Both Xun and Zhen are formed by changes from below: a yang changing into a yin is decrease; a yin changing into a yang is increase.

The upper trigram decreases while the lower trigram increases; decreasing the upper to increase the lower is why it is Increase. This speaks from the meaning. When the lower is substantial, the upper is secure; therefore increasing the lower constitutes Increase.

Increase is the way of benefiting all under heaven; hence it is advantageous to have somewhere to go. The way of Increase can cross perils and difficulties; it is advantageous to cross the great stream.

The Commentary on the Judgments states: Increase: Decreasing the upper and increasing the lower, the people's joy knows no bounds. Descending from above to reach below, its way is greatly illuminated. This speaks in terms of the hexagram's meaning and dynamic.

The hexagram is Increase because it decreases the upper to increase the lower. Decreasing the upper to increase the lower, the people's joy knows no bounds, meaning it is inexhaustible.

Descending from above to humble oneself beneath the lower, its way is grand and brilliantly manifest. Yang descending to dwell in the initial position and yin ascending to dwell in the fourth carries the meaning of descending from above to humble oneself below.

'It is advantageous to have somewhere to go; central and correct, there is celebration.' The fifth occupies the honored position with firm yang, centrality, and correctness; the second further responds to it with centrality and correctness.

Thus, through the central and correct Way, it benefits all under heaven, and the world receives its blessings and celebrations. 'It is advantageous to cross the great stream; the way of wood then moves forward.'

As for the way of Increase, in ordinary times of calm, its increase is still small; when facing hardships, perils, and difficulties, its increase is greatest. Therefore it is advantageous to cross the great stream.

Ferrying across difficulties is the time when the way of Increase greatly prevails. [Note: 'Wood' is sometimes taken as an error for 'Increase', while others say upper Xun and lower Zhen signify wood; the latter is incorrect.]

'Increase moves and is gentle; advancing daily without bounds.' Again, speaking of the hexagram's dynamic through the two trigrams: below is movement and above is gentleness; it moves and is gentle.

For the way of Increase, when its movement is gentle and compliant with principle, its increase advances daily, becoming vast without limit. If it moves without complying with principle, how could it accomplish great increase?

'Heaven dispenses and earth generates; its increase knows no limits.' Speaking of the greatness of the way of Increase through the work of heaven and earth, which the Sage embodies to benefit the world: Heaven's way supplies the beginning, and Earth's way brings things to birth.

Heaven dispenses and earth generates, nurturing all things so that each rectifies its nature and destiny; its increase can truly be said to have no boundary.

'Boundary' (fang) means a specific quarter or location; having a specific location implies a limit, whereas having no boundary means vastness without end. How could heaven and earth's increase of all things ever have an end?

'In all, the way of Increase moves together with the time.' The inexhaustibility of heaven and earth's increase is simply principle.

The Sage's way of benefiting all under heaven adapts to the time and complies with principle, harmonizing with heaven and earth, moving together with the time.

When the wind is fierce, thunder is swift; when thunder crashes, the wind rages; the two things mutually increase each other. The noble person observes the image of wind and thunder mutually increasing to seek increase in himself.

In the way of increase, nothing compares to moving toward good upon seeing it, and correcting errors upon having them. If one moves toward good upon seeing it, one can exhaust all the good under heaven; if one corrects errors upon having them, one becomes free of faults.

Of benefits to a person, none is greater than this.

Zhen is yang; Xun is yin. Xun does not oppose Zhen. Dwelling above and being gentle, not opposing the lower—this is meant by 'decreasing the upper to increase the lower.'

The fifth dwells in centrality and correctness, 'descending from above to reach below,' hence 'there is celebration.' With the virtue of central and correct celebration, having somewhere to go, where would it not be advantageous!

Wood is that which makes crossing the great stream its norm without sinking. Using increase to cross difficulties is identical to 'wood.' Limits. Decreasing the lower to increase the lower [i.e., decreasing the upper to increase the lower].

The function of increase is to bestow where there is deficiency. To increase what is already full is the way of harm. Therefore, 'In all, the way of Increase moves together with the time.'

Moving toward good and correcting errors—no increase is greater than this.

The Sub-commentary states: 'Increase' is the name for adding and augmenting; decreasing the upper to increase the lower, hence it is called Increase. The lower already has it, and the upper augments it further, illuminating that the Sage's benefiting of things is endless.

The hexagram Decrease decreases the lower to increase the upper, while the hexagram Increase decreases the upper to increase the lower; both derive their names from the lower rather than the upper.

Xiang Xiu said: 'The way of an enlightened king aims at benefiting the lower; hence taking from the lower is called decrease, and giving to the lower is called increase.'

Since the upper practices the way of benefiting the lower and enriches all things, moving without opposition, where would it go and not be advantageous? Hence it says, 'It is advantageous to have somewhere to go.'

Using increase to cross difficulties, principle leaves behind all hazards; hence it says, 'It is advantageous to cross the great stream.'

The Sub-commentary states: This explains the meaning of the hexagram's name from its two component trigrams. The yielding decreases above, and the firm moves below; upper gentleness does not oppose the lower, which is the meaning of 'decreasing the upper to increase the lower.'

Since those who dwell above can decrease themselves to increase the lower, the common people rejoice without bounds. The reason the hexagram Increase is named Increase is precisely because 'decreasing the upper and increasing the lower, the people's joy knows no bounds.'

The Sub-commentary states: This explains 'It is advantageous to have somewhere to go; central and correct, there is celebration' through Nine in the Fifth Place.

The fifth dwells in centrality and correctness, able to 'descend from above to reach below'; then its way is grand and brilliant, celebrated and complied with by all under heaven. 'With the virtue of central and correct celebration,' wherever it goes, nothing is not advantageous.

The reason Increase makes it 'advantageous to have somewhere to go' is precisely because of central and correct celebration. The Sub-commentary states: This uses a metaphor to explain 'It is advantageous to cross the great stream.'

Wood is buoyant by nature; crossing the great stream is its regular course without sinking. Crossing difficulties through increase is like the way of wood crossing a stream.

Crossing the stream without harm first reveals the benefit of increase; hence it says, 'It is advantageous to cross the great stream; the way of wood then moves forward.'

The Sub-commentary states: Regarding 'Increase moves and is gentle; advancing daily without bounds': from here onward, the meaning of Increase is broadly illuminated.

Previously, it explained the hexagram's name by decreasing the upper to increase the lower through the two trigrams: since the lower moves to seek and the upper gently receives, that is the meaning of 'decreasing the upper to increase the lower.'

Now taking the two trigrams, it further clarifies the method of obtaining increase.

If one moves with arrogance and fullness, then another's decrease will not cease; if one moves with humility and gentleness, then advancement and increase know no bounds; hence it says, 'Increase moves and is gentle; advancing daily without bounds.'

Regarding 'Heaven dispenses and earth generates; its increase knows no limits': this broadly illuminates the great meaning of Increase through heaven and earth.

Heaven bestows its breath upon earth, and earth receives the breath to transform and generate; this too is the meaning of 'decreasing the upper to increase the lower.'

The increase of its dispensing and transforming has no fixed spatial limit; hence it says, 'Heaven dispenses and earth generates; its increase knows no limits.'

The Sub-commentary states: Although bestowing increase knows no limits, it cannot be used constantly, but must be practiced in accordance with the proper time. Hence it raises 'In all, Increase' to conclude, saying: 'In all, the way of Increase moves together with the time.'

The Sub-commentary states: The Zixia Commentary says: 'Thunder moves them, wind scatters them, and all things become full.' Meng Xi also shared this view. It means that thunder must move before and wind scatter after, and then all things are increased.

For instance, after the waking of insects in the second month, the wind fosters growth; after the cessation of thunder in the eighth month, the wind strips things bare. The benefit of wind follows thunder; hence it says, 'Wind and thunder: Increase.'

'Moving' means migrating toward and admiring; 'correcting' means changing and restraining.

Moving toward good and correcting errors—no increase is greater than this; hence the noble person seeks increase by 'moving toward good upon seeing it, and correcting errors upon having them.' Among the six children, all benefit things, yet why select thunder and wind?

He Yan says: 'It takes their meaning of being most enduring and able to last.'