升 → 无妄

Commentary

Wood grows within the earth, and a mediator introduces a figure reminiscent of Weizi — the Shang prince who preserved his integrity by departing the corrupt court of King Zhou — ensuring that the ruler averts catastrophe. Two states join in harmony; Yan and Qi find lasting peace through diplomatic reconciliation. The act of introduction and mediation prevents conflict between neighboring powers that might otherwise have destroyed both. Heaven over thunder, the image of Innocence, shows action aligned with heaven's will rather than human calculation. From Pushing Upward to Innocence, the gradual ascent achieves its breakthrough through honest mediation. No artifice is needed: a single trustworthy introduction connects what was estranged, and peace follows as naturally as wood rises through soil.