← All meanings · I Ching

Hexagram 46: Pushing Upward

䷭ 升 (Shēng) · Pushing upward. Steady effort lifts you gradually.

growth, effort, steadiness, ascent

Lower trigram: Wind ☴ · Upper trigram: Earth ☷

The judgment

Like a young tree rising through the soil, progress now comes from patient, steady growth. Seek out people who can help and support you, and don't be anxious. Keep moving toward the light, one small step at a time.

The image

Wind (wood) within Earth: a plant rising up out of the ground. Build something great by piling up many small, faithful acts.

The six lines

Read only the lines that changed in your casting, counting from the bottom.

• Line 1 (bottom): Others welcome your rise and trust you. Going up with their confidence behind you is a very good start.
• Line 2: Sincerity counts for more than display. Even a modest offering, given honestly, is enough.
• Line 3: You push upward into an empty city, with no one standing in your way. Go ahead, without overthinking why it seems so easy.
• Line 4: You are given a place of honor, like a king's offering on a sacred mountain. Take it with humility and gratitude.
• Line 5: Climb steadily, step by step, like going up a staircase. Patience at each stage keeps the rise secure.
• Line 6 (top): You are pushing upward in the dark, unable to see where you are going. Keep on only with steady, honest effort, not blind ambition.

← 45. Gathering Together · 47. Oppression →