Pushing Upward
Earth (坤 Kūn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 46, 升 (Shēng), represents Pushing Upward.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 46 (升 Shēng). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/sheng). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
升：元亨，用見大人，勿恤，南征吉。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Great success. It is favorable to see a great person; do not worry. A southward expedition brings good fortune.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
地中生木,升。君子以顺德,积小以高大。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) wood and that for the earth with the wood growing in the midst of it form Shang. The superior man, in accordance with this, pays careful attention to his virtue, and accumulates the small developments of it till it is high and great.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：允升，大吉。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards with the welcome (of those above him). There will be great good fortune.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：孚乃利用禴，无咎。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject with that sincerity which will make even the (small) offerings of the vernal sacrifice acceptable. There will be no error.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：升虛邑。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：王用亨于岐山，吉无咎。
James Legge: The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject employed by the king to present his offerings on mount Khi. There will be good fortune; there will be no mistake.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：貞吉，升階。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject firmly correct, and therefore enjoying good fortune. He ascends the stairs (with all due ceremony).
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：冥升，利于不息之貞。
James Legge: The sixth SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing upwards blindly. Advantage will be found in a ceaseless maintenance of firm correctness.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Pushing Upward can prompt a careful question about growth that bends: what here rises by yielding and accumulating rather than by force? The image of a tree crowding up through the mountain's ground reads here as the figure's picture of patient ascent.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing predicts how high anything climbs. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 46 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.