萃 → 益
Hexagram 45: Gathering Together → Hexagram 42: Increase
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 4, 6).
Line 1
初六 有孚不終。乃亂乃萃。若號一握為笑。勿恤。往无咎。
Six at the beginning means: If you are sincere, but not to the end, There will sometimes be confusion, sometimes gathering together. If you call out, Then after one grasp of the hand you can laugh again. Regret not. Going is without blame.
Line 4
九四 大吉无咎。
Nine in the fourth place means: Great good fortune. No blame.
Line 6
上六 齎咨涕洟。无咎。
Six at the top means: Lamenting and sighing, floods of tears. No blame.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
長城既立，四夷賓服。交和結好，昭君受福。
The Long Wall stands complete; the four barbarian peoples submit. They exchange peace and bind friendship; Zhao Jun receives her blessing.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Lake upon earth gives way to wind and thunder, the expanding Increase. The Long Wall stands completed, and the four barbarian peoples submit. Harmonious treaties are sealed, and Zhaojun receives her blessings. The Long Wall here refers to the frontier defenses that secured China's borders, while Wang Zhaojun's marriage alliance with the Xiongnu brought decades of peace. The verse pairs military infrastructure with diplomatic marriage, two complementary strategies for managing relations with northern peoples. From Gathering to Increase, the transformation shows how assembly amplifies when both hard and soft power align. Wind and thunder reinforce each other: the wall provides structure while the marriage alliance provides goodwill, and together they increase the security of the entire realm.
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