益 Yì — Increase
Wind over Thunder · Selfless Generosity · 風雷，益。君子以見善則遷，有過則改
Yì (益) is the forty-second hexagram in the I Ching — Wind above Thunder, the upper decreases itself to enrich the lower. The character 益 means "to increase," "to benefit," "to augment," "to add" — it depicts water overflowing from a vessel (皿), the act of abundance spilling over to nourish others. This is the hexagram of selfless generosity: those in positions of power voluntarily give to those below, and the entire system flourishes. Wind above strengthens the thunder below; the ruler diminishes personal wealth to enrich the people. The Xugua teaches: "Decrease that does not cease must lead to Increase. Hence Increase follows" (損而不已必益，故受之以益). After Hexagram 41 (Sǔn, Decrease), the complementary movement arrives — when sincere sacrifice has reached its natural limit, increase flows back as the inevitable response.
Hexagram Structure
益 Yì
Upper Trigram: ☴ Xun (Wind / Wood / Gentle Penetration)
Lower Trigram: ☳ Zhen (Thunder / Arousing / Eldest Son)
Element: Wood (Wind) / Wood (Thunder)
Season: Spring (life surging upward, growth and increase)
Direction: Southeast / East
Image: Wind and thunder reinforce each other — the gentle above strengthens the arousing below
Quality: Increase, generosity, benevolence, growth, giving from above to below, self-improvement
The Judgment (卦辭)
"益，利有攸往，利涉大川。"
Increase. It furthers one to undertake something. It furthers one to cross the great water.
The judgment of Yì is remarkably open and encouraging — one of the most positive in the entire I Ching:
Yì
Increase · Benefit · Augmentation
益 — "increase," "benefit," "gain". The hexagram describes a time when those above give to those below. In the original structure of the hexagram, the bottom line of the upper trigram (originally yang in the Qian hexagram) has moved to the bottom of the lower trigram — the ruler diminishes himself to enrich the people. This downward flow of benefit is the most auspicious form of increase: it creates loyalty, harmony, and boundless energy throughout the entire system.
Lì
It Furthers · Beneficial
利 — "it furthers," "it is beneficial". The word 利 appears twice in this judgment, emphasizing double benefit. When the upper gives to the lower, the result is not merely good but actively propitious for forward movement. The time is ripe for action. Unlike Hexagram 41 (Decrease), which counsels patience and sincerity, Increase calls for decisive advance — take advantage of the favorable conditions.
Yōu Wǎng
To Undertake Something · To Set Forth
有攸往 — "to have somewhere to go," "to undertake something". 攸 (yōu) is a grammatical particle meaning "that which"; 往 (wǎng) is to go, to advance. This is a green light for initiative. The energy of increase supports new ventures, bold plans, and forward movement. This is not a time to sit still — the wind is at your back and the thunder drives you forward.
Dà Chuān
The Great Water · Major Undertakings
利涉大川 — "it furthers one to cross the great water". 涉 (shè) is to wade, to cross; 大川 (dà chuān) is the great river, symbolizing major challenges and dangerous undertakings. Even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome during a time of increase. The combined force of wind and thunder — gentle penetration above, dynamic energy below — provides enough power to cross any barrier. This phrase appears in only the most auspicious hexagrams.
💡 Key Insight: Hexagrams 41 and 42 — Sǔn (Decrease) and Yì (Increase) — form the I Ching's most fundamental pair of economic and moral philosophy. Sǔn teaches that when the lower gives to the upper with sincerity, even two small bowls suffice. Yì teaches the complementary truth: when the upper gives to the lower with generosity, the entire world benefits. Together they reveal the complete theory of circulation: in a healthy system, wealth, energy, and virtue must flow in both directions. The key principle: decrease from above to enrich below is "increase" (益); decrease from below to enrich above is "decrease" (損) — but both serve the whole when done with sincerity.
The Six Lines: The Art of Generous Increase (爻辭)
The six lines of Yì trace the various modes and degrees of increase — from the empowered commoner who accomplishes great deeds to the leader whose generosity is rewarded by heaven, and finally the warning against increase that becomes selfish.
利用為大作，元吉，無咎
It furthers one to accomplish great deeds. Supreme good fortune. No blame.
The most auspicious opening line in the I Ching. 利用為大作 — "it furthers one to accomplish great deeds". 大作 (dà zuò) is great works, major undertakings. The yang line at the bottom has received increase from above — it now possesses the strength and resources to undertake something extraordinary. 元吉 — "supreme good fortune". This is rare for a first line, which typically counsels patience. Here, the person at the bottom has been empowered by the generosity of those above and should use this energy immediately. 無咎 — "no blame". The teaching: when you receive genuine increase from above, do not waste it on small matters — use it for great deeds. The person who receives generosity and channels it into significant accomplishment honors both the giver and the gift.
或益之十朋之龜，弗克違，永貞吉。王用享于帝，吉
Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoise shells cannot oppose it. Eternal perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents offerings to God. Good fortune.
This line echoes the identical phrase from Hexagram 41, Line 5 — 或益之十朋之龜，弗克違. The same ten pairs of tortoise shells, the same irresistible heavenly increase. But here the context is different: in Sǔn (Decrease), this increase came as a reward for sincere sacrifice; in Yì (Increase), it comes because the person occupies the center of the lower trigram with perfect receptivity. 永貞吉 — "eternal perseverance brings good fortune". 永 (yǒng) is eternal, forever; 貞 (zhēn) is steadfastness. The increase must be sustained through unwavering constancy. 王用享于帝 — "the king presents offerings to God". 享 (xiǎng) is to offer sacrifice; 帝 (dì) is the Supreme Deity. The increase is so profound that it becomes a matter of cosmic significance — worthy of presenting before the highest power. The teaching: when heaven sends increase, receive it with gratitude, maintain it with constancy, and honor it with reverence.
益之用凶事，無咎。有孚中行，告公用圭
One is increased through an unfortunate event. No blame, if you are sincere and walk the middle path. Report to the prince using the jade tablet.
The most paradoxical line of Yì. 益之用凶事 — "increase through misfortune". 凶事 (xiōng shì) is an unfortunate event, a calamity. How can misfortune bring increase? Because crises reveal character, and adversity builds strength. The person in this position gains increase not through gifts from above but through rising to meet a challenge. 有孚中行 — "with sincerity, walk the middle path". 中行 (zhōng xíng) is the middle way, the balanced approach. In the face of misfortune, the key is not panic or passivity but sincere, centered action. 告公用圭 — "report to the prince using the jade tablet". 圭 (guī) is the jade tablet of authority, a symbol of official legitimacy and trustworthiness. When misfortune strikes, report it honestly and with proper authority. The teaching: adversity itself becomes increase when met with sincerity, balance, and transparent communication.
中行，告公從，利用為依遷國
Walking the middle path, one informs the prince and he follows. It furthers one to be relied upon in relocating the capital.
The mediator between upper and lower. 中行 — "walking the middle path". The yin line in the fourth position occupies the bottom of the upper trigram, the crucial junction between the ruler above and the people below. 告公從 — "inform the prince and he follows". 告 (gào) is to inform, to report; 公 (gōng) is the prince, the ruler; 從 (cóng) is to follow, to comply. The person in this position has earned enough trust that when they speak, the ruler listens and acts. 利用為依遷國 — "it furthers to be relied upon in relocating the capital". 依 (yī) is to rely on; 遷國 (qiān guó) is to move the capital, one of the most significant decisions in ancient China. The teaching: when you walk the middle path with sincerity, you become so trusted that even the most momentous decisions are entrusted to you. The increase here is not material wealth but influence, trust, and responsibility.
有孚惠心，勿問元吉。有孚惠我德
With sincerity and a benevolent heart — do not ask, supreme good fortune. Through sincerity, others reciprocate my virtue.
The supreme line of Yì — the heart of generous leadership. 有孚惠心 — "with sincerity and a benevolent heart". 惠 (huì) is benevolence, kindness, grace; 心 (xīn) is heart. The ruler in the fifth position gives to the people not out of calculation but out of genuine benevolence. 勿問元吉 — "do not ask — supreme good fortune". 勿問 (wù wèn) is "do not ask," "do not question." When your generosity comes from a truly sincere heart, you do not need to calculate the return. The good fortune is supreme and automatic. 有孚惠我德 — "through sincerity, others reciprocate my virtue". 惠我德 (huì wǒ dé) is "benefit my virtue" — others respond to your benevolence by returning virtue for virtue. The teaching: give with a sincere heart without asking for return, and return will come naturally — not because you demanded it, but because sincerity begets sincerity.
莫益之，或擊之，立心勿恆，凶
No one increases him. Perhaps someone even strikes him. He does not keep his heart steadily set. Misfortune.
The warning at the summit of Increase. 莫益之 — "no one increases him". 莫 (mò) is "no one," "none." At the top of the hexagram, the person has climbed beyond the proper limit. When you are at the very top of the Increase hexagram and still seek more for yourself, no one is willing to give. 或擊之 — "perhaps someone even strikes him". 擊 (jī) is to strike, to attack. Not only does increase stop, but active opposition arises — others attack the one who hoards at the top instead of sharing below. 立心勿恆 — "his heart is not steadily set". 恆 (héng) is constancy, steadiness. The root cause of the misfortune: inconstancy of heart. The person who seeks increase without a steady, sincere heart — who gives only when it suits them and takes when they can — earns the hostility of all. 凶 — "misfortune". The teaching: increase must flow downward; when it is hoarded at the top or sought with an inconstant heart, the entire system turns against the hoarder.
💡 The Lesson of Increase: Yì's six lines reveal the I Ching's complete theory of benevolent increase. The progression: those who receive increase should accomplish great deeds (初九) → heaven itself sends irresistible increase to the receptive (六二) → even misfortune becomes increase when met with sincerity (六三) → the trusted mediator gains influence as the greatest form of increase (六四) → the benevolent heart that gives without asking receives supreme good fortune (九五) → but increase hoarded at the top without constancy brings attack and misfortune (上九). The key that runs through all six lines: increase must flow downward. When it does, everyone benefits — even the giver. When it stops flowing, even the hoarder suffers.
The Great Image (大象)
"風雷，益。君子以見善則遷，有過則改。"
"Wind and thunder: the image of Increase. Thus the superior man, seeing good, imitates it; having faults, he corrects them."
風雷 (fēng léi) — "Wind and thunder." Wind above thunder — wind strengthens thunder's force, and thunder spreads wind's influence. Together they amplify each other, creating the image of natural increase. When wind and thunder combine, the storm's energy doubles.
見善則遷 (jiàn shàn zé qiān) — "Seeing good, imitate it." 見 (jiàn) is to see; 善 (shàn) is goodness, virtue; 遷 (qiān) is to move toward, to change, to follow. When you witness something good — a virtue, a skill, a noble action — move toward it, adopt it, make it your own. This is the increase of virtue: adding others' goodness to your own.
有過則改 (yǒu guò zé gǎi) — "Having faults, correct them." 過 (guò) is fault, error, excess; 改 (gǎi) is to correct, to reform, to change. When you discover a fault in yourself — do not defend it, do not ignore it — correct it immediately. This is the increase through subtraction: removing faults adds virtue. The Great Image thus identifies two paths of increase: adding good (見善則遷) and removing bad (有過則改). Together, these two practices create unlimited self-improvement — the most powerful form of increase, available to anyone at any time.
Modern Application
💼 Career
Yì in career signals a period of growth, promotion, and expanding opportunity. The judgment's "it furthers one to undertake something" is a clear call to action — start new projects, pursue promotions, propose bold ideas. Line 1's "accomplish great deeds" encourages ambitious action. Line 4's "the prince follows" suggests your proposals will be accepted. The Great Image's teaching is the ultimate career strategy: constantly learn from good examples and correct your own weaknesses.
💰 Business
In business, Yì speaks to investment, expansion, profit-sharing, and the power of generous leadership. The judgment's "cross the great water" supports major ventures and calculated risks. Line 5's "benevolent heart" is the golden rule of sustainable business: companies that genuinely invest in employees and customers create self-sustaining cycles of loyalty and growth. Line 6 warns: businesses that hoard profits while cutting benefits inevitably face backlash.
❤️ Relationships
Yì in relationships indicates a time of deepening connection, mutual generosity, and emotional growth. The hexagram's fundamental teaching — the upper gives to the lower — translates to relationships as: the stronger partner supports the developing one. Line 5's "benevolent heart, do not ask" is the highest form of love: giving without keeping score. Line 3 teaches that even difficulties in the relationship become sources of growth when met with sincerity.
🧘 Personal Growth
Yì's deepest teaching for personal growth is the Great Image's 見善則遷，有過則改 — "see good, imitate it; have faults, correct them." This is a complete self-cultivation program in ten characters. Every day, find something good to learn and one fault to correct. The compound effect of this practice is unlimited increase. Line 3's "increased through misfortune" teaches that adversity is the greatest teacher — every setback contains a hidden gift of growth.