益 → 復
Hexagram 42: Increase → Hexagram 24: Return
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 5, 6).
Line 5
九五 有孚惠心。勿問元吉。有孚惠我德。
Nine in the fifth place means: If in truth you have a kind heart, ask not. Supreme good fortune. Truly, kindness will be recognized as your virtue.
Line 6
上九 莫益之。或擊之。立心勿恆。凶。
Nine at the top means: He brings increase to no one. Indeed, someone even strikes him. He does not keep his heart constantly steady. Misfortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
德施流行，利之四鄉。雨師洒道，風伯逐殃。巡狩封禪，以告成功。
Virtue spreads and flows forth, blessing the four directions. The Rain Master sprinkles the roads; the Wind Lord drives calamity away. On the royal tour to the sacred peak, the sovereign announces the work's completion.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind and thunder bestow increase, and the transformation leads to thunder returning within the earth — the regenerative pulse of Return. Virtue and grace flow forth, bringing benefit to all four directions. The Rain Master sprinkles the road clean; the Wind Earl drives calamity away. The sovereign makes an inspection tour to the sacred mountains and performs the feng and shan sacrifices, announcing the completion of his great work. This is the image of the sage-king at the apex of his reign, having brought such order that even the weather gods serve as his attendants. The feng and shan sacrifices at Mount Tai were the supreme ritual acknowledgment of cosmic harmony. From Increase to Return, the cycle completes: the thunderous first yang stirs again within the earth, and the virtue that was bestowed now regenerates from its source.
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