益 → 咸
Hexagram 42: Increase → Hexagram 31: Influence
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 6).
Line 1
初九 利用為大作。元吉无咎。
Nine at the beginning means: It furthers one to accomplish great deeds. Supreme good fortune. No blame.
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 4
六四 中行。告公從。利用為依遷國。
Six in the fourth place means: If you walk in the middle And report the prince, He will follow. It furthers one to be used In the removal of the capital.
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
佳居千里，不見河海，无有魚市。
A fine dwelling a thousand li from any shore, seeing neither river nor sea; there is no fish market to be found.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind and thunder bestow increase, but the transformation leads to the lake resting upon the mountain — the mutual influence of Influence, here marked by absence. A fine dwelling sits a thousand li from any river or sea, with no fish market in sight. What is beautiful and well-established is nonetheless isolated from the nourishment it needs. A home without access to water and its bounty is a place of structural want despite surface comfort. From Increase to Influence, the verse highlights a specific failure of connection. Xian's image of mountain and lake in mutual resonance depends on proximity; here, the thousand-li distance negates that possibility. Increase has provided the dwelling, but not the conditions for it to receive what sustains. Influence requires receptivity, and receptivity requires being within reach.
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