Hexagram 46: Pushing Upward
Outer trigram (upper)
Khôn
Earth · Earth
Inner trigram (lower)
Tốn
Wind · Wood
Judgment
升：元亨，用見大人，勿惕，南征，吉.
Translation
Pushing Upward: great success. It is fitting to see a great person; have no fear, advance toward the south — good fortune.
Commentary
Above is Khôn, the earth; below is Tốn, wind, which also represents wood. A tree grows up out of the earth, rising gradually. Line 2, yang, is centered and supported by line 5, yin, in the place of honor. Genuine advancement is gradual, following its natural course, and benefits from the guidance of someone experienced.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：允升，大吉.
Translation
Trusted by others, one advances — great good fortune.
Commentary
Line 1, yin, sits at the bottom, but rises with the backing of line 4, yang, which corresponds to it. Its advance is recognized and trusted — great good fortune.
Line 2 (yang)
九二：孚乃利用禴，无咎.
Translation
With true sincerity, even a modest summer offering is favorable — no blame.
Commentary
Line 2 is yang and centered. Because its sincerity is genuine, even a simple offering is accepted by those above — no fault.
Line 3 (yang)
九三：升虛邑.
Translation
Advancing into an empty town.
Commentary
Line 3 is yang and correctly placed, advancing as easily as walking into a town with no one to block the way — smooth, unobstructed progress.
Line 4 (yin)
六四：王用亨于岐山，吉，无咎.
Translation
The king makes offering at Mount Qi — good fortune, no blame.
Commentary
Line 4 is yin and correctly placed, close to the ruler, and assists in carrying out a great rite at Mount Qi, recalling the example of King Wen — a good outcome, no fault.
Line 5 (yin)
六五：貞吉，升階.
Translation
Holding to what is right brings good fortune — advancing step by step, like climbing a staircase.
Commentary
Line 5, yin, occupies the position of honor. By holding to the right course and advancing one deliberate step at a time, it builds something that lasts and thrives.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：冥升，利于不息之貞.
Translation
Advancing blindly into the dark — favorable only through unceasing, steady adherence to what is right.
Commentary
Line 6, yin, sits at the very top, having pushed onward and upward past all reasonable limits into confusion, not knowing when to stop. Its only safeguard is to hold without pause to what is right, and to guard against arrogance.