Hexagram 42, line 4
六四Line 4 of Augmenting
Six in the fourth place · 益 yì
爻辭 The line text
中行，告公從。利用為依遷國。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject pursuing the due course. His advice to his prince is followed. He can with advantage be relied on in such a movement as that of removing the capital.
告公從，以益志也。'His advice to his prince is followed:'—his (only) object in it being the increase (of the general good).
In plain words
Line four 'walks the middle way; its advice to the prince is followed; favourable to be relied on in moving the capital' (中行，告公從，利用為依遷國). This is the minister's place, yin in a yin place, directly beneath the ruler and in the original Pi the very line that was given downward — so it knows what it is to give. It corresponds to the strong first line. The small Image explains why the prince listens: the aim is increase for all (以益志也), not for the adviser. Moving a capital is the largest undertaking a state can make; a counsellor whose only motive is the common good can be trusted with it.
If this line is changing
Speak up for the change you believe in and make it plain that you gain nothing personally from it; that is what will get your advice taken on something this large.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin 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 upper trigram 巽 Xun (the Gentle) (wind).
- It corresponds (應) with line 1: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
益 Augmenting becomes ䷘ 25 无妄 Without Falsehood
Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.
What it becomes25 · 无妄 Without Falsehoodwú wàngThe 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 Six in the fourth place of hexagram 42, Augmenting, mean?
- Line four 'walks the middle way; its advice to the prince is followed; favourable to be relied on in moving the capital' (中行，告公從，利用為依遷國). This is the minister's place, yin in a yin place, directly beneath the ruler and in the original Pi the very line that was given downward — so it knows what it is to give. It corresponds to the strong first line. The small Image explains why the prince listens: the aim is increase for all (以益志也), not for the adviser. Moving a capital is the largest undertaking a state can make; a counsellor whose only motive is the common good can be trusted with it.
- What does hexagram 42 become when line 4 changes?
- Augmenting becomes hexagram 25, 无妄 Without Falsehood: Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.
- Is line 4 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).