益 → 小畜
Hexagram 42: Increase → Hexagram 9: Small Taming
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 2, 3).
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
鴻飛戾天，避害紫淵。雖有鋒門，不能危身。
The wild goose flies to the heavens, escaping danger at the Purple Depths. Though sharp blades guard the gate, they cannot endanger its life.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind and thunder bestow increase, and the transformation leads to wind moving across heaven — the gentle restraint of Small Taming. A wild goose soars to the very vault of heaven, avoiding danger by retreating to purple depths. Though sharp blades guard the gate, they cannot threaten its life. The goose that flies highest is beyond the reach of hunters below; the one who seeks the purple abyss — a poetic name for deep waters — finds sanctuary where weapons cannot follow. From Increase to Small Taming, the verse shows how augmented capability, when paired with the wisdom to withdraw, renders one untouchable. Wind rides upon heaven but does not force; the gentleman refines his virtue. True safety lies not in armor but in the elevation that places one beyond the range of harm.
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