46. Pushing Upward (升 Shēng)

Trigrams

Above

☷ Kūn (Earth)

Below

☴ Xùn (Wind)

Symbolic Meaning

升 (Shēng) represents upward progress, growth, and advancement. This hexagram speaks of steady, consistent effort to improve one's position or circumstances. Success comes from persistence, gradual advancement, and humility.

Judgment

Original Chinese:
"升，元亨，用見大人，勿恤，南征吉。"
(Shēng, yuán hēng, yòng jiàn dàrén, wù xù, nán zhēng jí.)

"Pushing Upward. Supreme success. It is favorable to see the great person. Do not worry. Going south brings good fortune."

This hexagram advises slow and steady progress toward one's goals. Success comes from seeking the guidance of a wise person, remaining patient, and advancing in a humble and deliberate manner. The direction south symbolizes a favorable course of action.

Image

Original Chinese:
"地中生木，升。君子以順德，積小以高大。"
(Dì zhōng shēng mù, shēng. Jūn zǐ yǐ shùn dé, jī xiǎo yǐ gāo dà.)

"Wood grows up from the earth: The image of Pushing Upward. The superior person, by cultivating virtue, builds small things to achieve greatness."

The image of wood growing from the earth symbolizes slow, steady growth. The superior person cultivates their character and gradually builds up small successes into great accomplishments. Patience and consistency are key.

Line 1

Original Chinese:
"允升，大吉。"
(Yǔn shēng, dà jí.)

"Sincere advancement. Great good fortune."

This line advises making sincere, honest efforts toward upward progress. By remaining true to one's goals, great good fortune follows. It emphasizes the importance of integrity in advancing.

Line 2

Original Chinese:
"孚乃利用禴，无咎。"
(Fú nǎi lì yòng yuè, wú jiù.)

"Sincerity brings the opportunity to make a small offering. No blame."

This line speaks of sincere efforts leading to the opportunity to contribute or offer something of value. Even a small offering brings success, and there is no blame in working steadily toward one's goals.

Line 3

Original Chinese:
"升虛邑。"
(Shēng xū yì.)

"Advancing into an empty city."

This line describes advancing into a situation where there is no immediate reward or gain, symbolized by the empty city. It advises continuing the effort, even if progress seems slow or unrecognized at first.

Line 4

Original Chinese:
"王用亨于岐山，吉无咎。"
(Wáng yòng hēng yú qí shān, jí wú jiù.)

"The king offers sacrifices on Mount Qi. Good fortune. No blame."

This line speaks of a leader making offerings and sacrifices to honor the higher powers, symbolized by Mount Qi. It advises humility and dedication to the greater good, which leads to success and the removal of blame.

Line 5

Original Chinese:
"貞吉，升階。"
(Zhēn jí, shēng jiē.)

"Perseverance brings good fortune. Advancing step by step."

This line advises persevering in one's efforts, advancing slowly and steadily. Step-by-step progress leads to success, and good fortune follows from consistent, careful effort.

Line 6

Original Chinese:
"冥升，利于不息之貞。"
(Míng shēng, lì yú bù xī zhī zhēn.)

"Advancing into darkness. It is beneficial to persevere without rest."

This line describes advancing into unknown or uncertain circumstances, symbolized by darkness. It advises persevering without stopping, trusting that progress will eventually bring success, even when the path is unclear.