益 → 大畜
Hexagram 42: Increase → Hexagram 26: Great Taming
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 2, 3, 5).
Line 2
六二 或益之十朋之龜。弗克違。永貞吉。王用享于帝吉。
Six in the second place means: Someone does indeed increase him; Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Constant perseverance brings good fortune. The king presents him before God. Good fortune.
Line 3
六三 益之用凶事。无咎。有孚中行。告公用圭。
Six in the third place means: One is enriched through unfortunate events. No blame, if you are sincere And walk in the middle, And report with a seal to the prince.
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
和氣相薄，膏潤津澤，生我嘉穀。
Harmonious vapors press together; rich moisture anoints and nourishes, bringing forth our fine grain.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind and thunder bestow increase, and the transformation leads to heaven stored within the mountain — the deep accumulation of Great Taming. Harmonious vapors press together; rich moisture and fertile dew nourish and produce fine grain. The verse is spare but luminous: when warm and cool airs mingle in proper measure, the resulting condensation feeds the earth. This is agriculture at its most elemental — no human intervention, only the cosmic kitchen of yin and yang producing sustenance. From Increase to Great Taming, the dynamic is one of generous endowment stored and concentrated. The mountain holds heaven within it, accumulating virtue over time. The harmonious vapors are increase itself, compressed and retained until they yield something nourishing and lasting.
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