I Ching hexagram · 42 of 64
Hexagram 42: Increase 益 Yì · Increase, benefit, generosity
A time of gain. Help others and improve yourself. It helps to undertake something. It helps to cross the great water.
- Upper: ☴ Wind
- Lower: ☳ Thunder
- Nuclear: 23
- Opposite: 32
Number
42 of 64
Chinese name
益 Yì
Upper trigram
☴ Wind
Lower trigram
☳ Thunder
Nuclear hexagram
䷖ 23. Splitting Apart
Opposite hexagram
䷟ 32. Duration
What hexagram 42 means
Hexagram 42 shows wind and thunder strengthening each other. It is the reverse of hexagram 41: those above give to those below, and everything grows. It describes a time of increase, benefit and generosity.
Times of increase do not last for ever, so use them for important undertakings. Generosity, learning from good examples and correcting your faults keep the growth going.
The Judgement · 卦辞
益：利有攸往，利涉大川。
It helps to undertake something. It helps to cross the great water.
The Image · 象曰
风雷，益；君子以见善则迁，有过则改。
Wind and thunder: the image of increase. When the noble person sees good, they imitate it; when they have faults, they correct them.
The lines and trigrams
Increase places ☴ Wind (巽 Xùn), the trigram of gentle, penetrating influence, above ☳ Thunder (震 Zhèn), the trigram of movement and arousal. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 42 in your life
Love and relationships
Generosity and mutual support make the relationship flourish. A good time to invest in each other.
Personal growth
Imitate what is good and correct what is wrong. Steady self-improvement multiplies.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 42 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初九 · Nine at the beginning
It helps to carry out great deeds. Supreme good fortune, no blame.
Line 2 六二 · Six in the second place
Someone increases you with tortoise shells worth ten pairs, and it cannot be refused. Lasting perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
Even unfortunate events bring increase. With sincerity, there is no blame.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
Walking the middle path, you advise the prince and he follows. It helps to be trusted with a great undertaking.
Line 5 九五 · Nine in the fifth place
With a sincere and kind heart there is no need to ask: supreme good fortune.
Line 6 上九 · Nine at the top
No one increases him; someone even strikes him. An unsteady heart brings misfortune.
Hexagram 42 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 42 mean?
Hexagram 42, Increase (益 Yì), is about increase, benefit, generosity. A time of gain. Help others and improve yourself. Hexagram 42 shows wind and thunder strengthening each other. It is the reverse of hexagram 41: those above give to those below, and everything grows. It describes a time of increase, benefit and generosity.
What does hexagram 42 mean in love?
Generosity and mutual support make the relationship flourish. A good time to invest in each other.
What does hexagram 42 mean for work and money?
Growth, gains and opportunities. Make bold moves, invest and help others grow with you.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 42?
Hexagram 42 has Wind (Xùn) as its upper trigram and Thunder (Zhèn) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 42?
Its nuclear hexagram is 23, Splitting Apart. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 32, Duration. Turned upside down it becomes 41, Decrease.
All 64 hexagrams
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