Hexagram 42, line 1
初九Line 1 of Augmenting
Nine at the beginning · 益 yì
爻辭 The line text
利用為大作，元吉，无咎。The first line, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject in his position to make a great movement. If it be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him.
元吉无咎，下不厚事也。'If the movement be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him:'—though it is not for one in so low a position to have to do with great affairs.
In plain words
The first line is told 'it is favourable to use this for a great undertaking; supremely fortunate, no blame' (利用為大作，元吉，無咎). Yi is Pi with its fourth yang sent to the bottom — the upper giving to the lower — and this line is the one that received the increase: a strong yang in a yang place at the start of Zhen, movement. It has been given the means to do something large. The small Image adds the caution: one so low should not normally handle heavy affairs (下不厚事也), so only a result that is supremely good will clear it of blame. The gift is real; the margin for error is not.
If this line is changing
You have been handed more than your position would normally allow, so use it for something substantial and do it well; a half-result at this level will be held against you.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It corresponds (應) with line 4: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
益 Augmenting becomes ䷓ 20 觀 Observation
Wind over the earth: a tower from which all is seen, and which all can see. Observe deeply before acting, and remember that you are watched — sincerity even before the offering is made.
What it becomes20 · 觀 ObservationguānThe six lines of 益 Augmenting
- 初九Nine at the beginninggreat undertaking · a low position · only great success clears it
- 六二Six in the second placegifts from outside · lasting steadiness · offering to heaven
- 六三Six in the third placeincrease through hardship · sincere middle course · report with the jade
- 六四Six in the fourth placethe middle course · advice followed · moving the capital
- 九五Nine in the fifth placesincere kindness · no need to ask · goodness acknowledged
- 上九Nine at the topno one adds · someone strikes · an unsteady heart
Read 益 Augmenting for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine at the beginning of hexagram 42, Augmenting, mean?
- The first line is told 'it is favourable to use this for a great undertaking; supremely fortunate, no blame' (利用為大作，元吉，無咎). Yi is Pi with its fourth yang sent to the bottom — the upper giving to the lower — and this line is the one that received the increase: a strong yang in a yang place at the start of Zhen, movement. It has been given the means to do something large. The small Image adds the caution: one so low should not normally handle heavy affairs (下不厚事也), so only a result that is supremely good will clear it of blame. The gift is real; the margin for error is not.
- What does hexagram 42 become when line 1 changes?
- Augmenting becomes hexagram 20, 觀 Observation: Wind over the earth: a tower from which all is seen, and which all can see. Observe deeply before acting, and remember that you are watched — sincerity even before the offering is made.
- Is line 1 of Augmenting in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).