ChineseStudy

46. Sheng | Pushing Upward

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English translation

Sheng / Pushing Upward: Advancement is fundamentally smooth and successful. Meet trusted leaders and do not worry; advancing southward is good.

This is the judgment of Sheng (Pushing Upward), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

First Six: The rise is approved and accepted; this is great good fortune.

The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Second Nine: With sincerity present, sacrificial rites are useful here, and there is no blame.

The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

Third Nine: The rise reaches an empty settlement; the gain is unstable because the footing is not yet secure.

The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Fourth Six: The ruler performs a rite at Qishan; this is auspicious and brings no blame.

The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Fifth Six: Stand firm in rectitude; this is auspicious. The next higher step is taken.

The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Top Six: The rise is dim or unclear. It is favorable to keep to unceasing correctness.

The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.

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