Yi 風雷益
A time of growth and gain
Help and benefits are increasing. Share what you receive and the blessing grows.
What does I Ching hexagram 42 (Increase) mean?
Reducing above to add below. The more you give, the more benefit grows: a good time.
- Increase in love
- A giving heart makes love grow.
- Increase at work and with money
- A favorable time for expansion and investment.
- Advice
- When things favor you, share generously and advance boldly.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Increase
No blame“It is fitting to undertake something; it is fitting to cross the great river.”
The Image: Wind and thunder: increase. The noble person, seeing good, moves toward it; having faults, corrects them.
原文 · 利有攸往。利涉大川。 / 風雷，益；君子以見善則遷，有過則改。
The six lines of hexagram 42
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
Very auspicious“It is fitting to undertake great work; supreme good fortune, no blame.”
You have the support to do something big. Do it well.
原文 · 利用為大作，元吉，无咎。
Line 2 · 六二
Very auspicious“Someone adds to you; a tortoise shell worth ten strings of cowries cannot be refused; lasting perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents offerings to heaven: good fortune.”
You deserve the gift and gain from it. Keep a steady, sincere attitude.
原文 · 或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，永貞吉。王用享于帝，吉。
Line 3 · 六三
Misfortune“Increase through bad events: no blame. If one is sincere and walks the middle way, reporting to the prince with a jade tablet.”
Even troubles become a benefit if handled honestly and centrally.
原文 · 益之用凶事，无咎。有孚中行，告公用圭。
Line 4 · 六四
No blame“Walking the middle way, he reports and is followed; it is fitting to be relied on for moving the capital.”
A trusted go-between for big decisions.
原文 · 中行，告公從。利用為依遷國。
Line 5 · 九五
Very auspicious“Sincere and kind: no need to ask; supreme good fortune. Sincerely, my virtue is kind to you.”
Generosity given truly comes back to you.
原文 · 有孚惠心，勿問元吉。有孚惠我德。
Line 6 · 上九
Misfortune“No one increases him; someone may strike him; his heart is not constant: misfortune.”
An unreliable, selfish person gains no help and may be attacked.
原文 · 莫益之，或擊之，立心勿恆，凶。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 32. Heng (Duration)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 41. Sun (Decrease)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.