Increase
Wind (巽 Xùn) above, Thunder (震 Zhèn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 42, 益 (Yì), represents Increase.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 42 (益 Yì). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/yi1). 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)
益：利有攸往，利涉大川。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Having somewhere to go is fruitful. Crossing the great water is fruitful.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
风雷,益。君子以见善则迁,有过则改。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) wind and that for thunder form Yi. The superior man, in accordance with this, when he sees what is good, moves towards it; and when he sees his errors, he turns from them.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：利用為大作，元吉，无咎。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject in his position to make a great movement. If it be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
六二：或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，永貞吉。王用享于帝，吉。
James Legge: The second SIX, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. Let the king, (having the virtues thus distinguished), employ them in presenting his offerings to God, and there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：益之用凶事，无咎。有孚中行，告公用圭。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows increase given to its subject by means of what is evil, so that he shall (be led to good), and be without blame. Let him be sincere and pursue the path of the Mean, (so shall he secure the recognition of the ruler, like) an officer who announces himself to his prince by the symbol of his rank.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：中行，告公從。利用為依遷國。
James Legge: The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject pursuing the due course. His advice to his prince is followed. He can with advantage be relied on in such a movement as that of removing the capital.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
九五：有孚惠心，勿問元吉。有孚惠我德。
James Legge: The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with sincere heart seeking to benefit (all below). There need be no question about it; the result will be great good fortune. (All below) will with sincere heart acknowledge his goodness.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：莫益之，或擊之，立心勿恆，凶。
James Legge: In the sixth NINE, undivided, we see one to whose increase none will contribute, while many will seek to assail him. He observes no regular rule in the ordering of his heart. There will be evil.
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.
Increase can prompt a careful question about benefit: what would genuinely strengthen what is below or behind this situation rather than what already stands tallest? Wind and thunder reinforcing each other is the text's picture of gain moving generously.
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 that anything increases. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 42 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.