益 → 兌
Hexagram 42: Increase → Hexagram 58: The Joyous Lake
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 2, 4, 6).
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 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
福德之士，歡悅日喜。夷吾相桓，三歸為臣，賞流子孫。
A man of blessed virtue, gladness and delight grow daily. Yi Wu serves Duke Huan; the three inheritances pass to his heirs. Rewards flow down to sons and grandsons.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind and thunder bestow increase, and the transformation leads to doubled lake — the shared delight of the Joyous. A man of blessed virtue, happy and joyful day after day. Yi Wu served as minister to Duke Huan, receiving the 'three returns' as a vassal, with rewards flowing down to his descendants. Yi Wu is the personal name of Guan Zhong, the legendary prime minister of Qi who helped Duke Huan achieve hegemony over the feudal states. The 'three returns' refers to the lavish estates Guan Zhong received — a level of reward normally reserved for the ruler himself. Yet this extravagance was justified by the extraordinary service rendered. From Increase to the Joyous, the dynamic is one of benefit shared in mutual celebration. Two lakes nourish each other through friendship and discourse; ruler and minister prosper together, and the joy ripples through generations.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store