Wind above Thunder
I Ching Hexagram 42 – Yi (益), Increase
What Is Hexagram 42?
Hexagram 42 is Yi, Increase: Wind above Thunder. Gentle influence strengthens rising movement, describing resources redirected toward growth.
Increase is not accumulation for its own sake. It asks where timely support will enlarge life, learning, or public usefulness.
- Upper trigram
- Xun — Wind
- Lower trigram
- Zhen — Thunder
- Key themes
- increase, support, growth, shared benefit
The Meaning of Hexagram 42
Yi favors generosity backed by judgment. Strengthen what is emerging, but keep the relationship between giving and responsibility visible.
The lines move from helpful action to excess at the summit. Growth needs circulation, limits, and a reason beyond appetite.
The Image of Hexagram 42
Wind moves with thunder, spreading energy across a field. The image is expansion through repeated influence and responsive action.
Invest where effort can compound. Increase the conditions, not only the visible result.
The Six Lines of Hexagram 42
Lines are numbered from the bottom of the hexagram upward. In a cast, give particular attention to any positions that appeared as changing lines.
Line 1
A major undertaking is favorable when its purpose is clear. Act promptly for the common good.
Line 2
Increase arrives through a reliable guide. Accept assistance and use it transparently.
Line 3
Misfortune may come from an unearned increase. Correct the imbalance before enjoying the gain.
Line 4
The center is strengthened through public trust. Build systems that let benefit circulate.
Line 5
Sincere generosity brings recognition without seeking it. Give from a sound source.
Line 6
No one increases you; your heart is unstable. Do not demand endless growth when restraint is needed.
What Hexagram 42 Can Mean in Different Situations
Relationships
Offer practical support without making care a debt. Growth is shared when both people retain agency.
Work and Career
Direct budget, mentoring, or authority toward work with real future value. Measure benefit beyond personal status.
Decisions
Choose the option that increases capability and resilience, not merely scale. Set limits so expansion remains healthy.
Personal Direction
Feed the practice, relationship, or skill that makes your life more useful. Generosity can be a disciplined form of growth.