I Ching Hexagram 35 - Progress
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 35 "Progress"
晉 - Jìn
Hỏa Địa Tấn
Progress
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Other Titles: Progress, Prospering, The Symbol of Forwardness, To Advance, Advancement, Making Headway, Getting the Idea, “Comes the Dawn”
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Progress. The powerful prince is honored with horses in large numbers. In a single day he is granted audience three times.
Legge: In Advance of Consciousness we see a prince who secures the tranquility of the people presented on that account with numerous horses by the king, and three times in a day received at interviews.
Blofeld: Progress. The richly endowed prince receives royal favors in the form of numerous steeds and is granted audience three times in a single day. [This passage indicates great merit richly rewarded.]
Liu: The Marquis K'ang (rich, powerful, healthy) is bestowed with many horses by the king, who receives him three times in a single day.
Shaughnessy: The Lord of Kang is herewith awarded horses in luxuriant number, during daylight thrice connecting.
Cleary (1):Advancing, a securely established lord presents many horses, and grants audience three times a day.
Cleary (2): Advancing , a securely established lord is presented with, etc.
Wu: Advancement indicates that the prince who has secured peace and prosperity of the state is conferred with many fine horses. The king grants him an audience three times in one day.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: The sun rises over the earth: the image of Progress. Thus the superior man himself brightens his bright virtue.
Legge: The image of the earth and that of the bright sun coming forth above it form Advance of Consciousness. The superior man, in accordance with this, gives himself to make more brilliant his bright virtue.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire blazing from the earth. The Superior Man reflects in his person the glory of heaven's virtue.
Liu: The sun rising above the earth is the symbol of Progress. Thus the superior man brightens his character.
Cleary (1): Light emerges over the earth, advancing. Thus do superior people by themselves illumine the quality of enlightenment.
Cleary (2): Light emerges over the ground, advancing. Developed people illumine the quality of enlightenment by themselves.
Wu: Brightness rises above the earth; this is Advancement. Thus the jun zi keeps his bright virtue shining.
Line 1
初六: 晉如, 摧如, 貞吉, 罔孚, 裕. 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Progressing, but turned back. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one meets with no confidence, one should remain calm. No mistake.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows one wishing to advance, and at the same time kept back. Let her be firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. If trust be not reposed in her, let her maintain a large and generous mind, and there will be no error.
Blofeld: Where progress seems likely to be cut short, righteous persistence brings good fortune. To respond to lack of confidence with liberality entails no error.
Liu: When progress meets obstruction, persistence brings good fortune. If one lacks the trust of others, one should remain benevolent. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Aquatically, deeply; determination is auspicious; regret is gone. Returning to the bath; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Advancing impeded, rectitude is good. Lacking confidence, become fulfilled, and there will be no fault.
Cleary (2): Advancing, impeded, it bodes well to be correct. If there is no trust, be easygoing, and there will be no blame.
Wu: It is like advancing and it is like turning back. Perseverance will bring good fortune. People may not have confidence in him; if he can take it easy, he will have no error.
Line 2
六二: 晉如, 愁如, 貞吉; 受茲介福于其王母．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Progressing, but in sorrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Then one obtains great happiness from one's ancestress.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows its subject with the appearance of advancing, and yet of being sorrowful. If she can be firm and correct, there will be good fortune. She will receive great blessing from her grandmother. [Compare this line and its situation with line two of Hexagram 62. – Ed.]
Blofeld: Where progress is being made sorrowfully, righteous persistence brings good fortune. A little happiness is received, thanks to the Queen Mother.
Liu: When progress comes with sadness, persistence brings good fortune. He receives good fortune from the Queen Mother.
Shaughnessy: Aquatically, gloomily; determination is auspicious. Receiving this strong good fortune from his royal mother.
Cleary: Advancing, grieving, rectitude is good; this great blessing is received from the grandmother.
Wu: It is like advancing and it is like having concerns. Perseverance will bring good fortune. He will receive a big fortune from his grandmother.
Line 3
六三: 眾允, 悔亡．
Wilhelm/Baynes: All are in accord. Remorse disappears.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject trusted by all around her. All occasion for repentance will disappear.
Blofeld: All are in accord -- regret vanishes!
Liu: When the majority assents, remorse vanishes.
Shaughnessy: The masses are real; regret is gone.
Cleary: The group concurs; regret vanishes.
Wu: There is consensus among many people. No regret.
Line 4
九四: 晉如, 鼫鼠, 貞厲．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Progress like a hamster. Perseverance brings danger. [In times of progress it is easy for strong men in the wrong places to amass great possessions. But such conduct shuns the light. And since times of progress are also always times in which dubious procedures are inevitably brought to light, perseverance in such action always leads to danger.]
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows its subject with the appearance of advancing, but like a marmot. However firm and correct he may be, the position is one of peril.
Blofeld: Squirrel-like progress -- persistence would have serious consequences.
Liu: When progress is like a hamster, to continue brings danger.
Shaughnessy: Aquatically the mole cricket; determination is dangerous.
Cleary(1): Advancing like a squirrel, even if correct it is dangerous.
Cleary(2): Advancing like a squirrel is dangerous even if determined.
Wu: He makes advance like a giant rat. Even with correctness, he is in peril.
Line 5
六五: 悔亡, 失得勿恤, 往吉, 无不利．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Remorse disappears. Take not gain and loss to heart. Undertakings bring good fortune. Everything serves to further.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows how all occasion for repentance disappears from its subject. But let her not concern herself about whether she shall fail or succeed. To advance will be fortunate, and in every way advantageous.
Blofeld: Regret vanishes. Care not for loss or gain. To seek some goal or destination now would bring good fortune; everything is favorable.
Liu: Remorse vanishes. One should not mind gain or loss. To act brings good fortune and benefit in everything.
Shaughnessy: Regret is gone. The arrow is gotten; do not pity; going is auspicious; there is nothing not beneficial.
Cleary (1): Regret vanishes. Loss or gain, don’t worry. It is good to go: everything will benefit.
Cleary (2): … Don’t worry about loss of gains, etc.
Wu: There will be no regret. He is not concerned with either gains or losses. To advance is auspicious. Nothing is disadvantageous.
Line 6
上九: 晉其角, 維用伐邑, 厲吉, 无咎, 貞吝．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Making progress with the horns is permissible only for the purpose of punishing one's own city. To be conscious of danger brings good fortune. No blame. Perseverance brings humiliation.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows one advancing his horns. But he only uses them to punish the rebellious people in his own city. The position is perilous, but there will be good fortune. Yet, however firm and correct he may be, there will be occasion for regret.
Blofeld: He advances as with lowered horns, intent solely upon subduing the cities of his enemies. Whether his affairs go awry or prosper, he is not in error, but for him to persist thus would involve him in ignominy
Liu: Progressing to the horns. It is only in order to chastise his own city. Awareness of danger brings fortune and no blame. To continue brings humiliation.
Shaughnessy: Aquatic his horns; it is only to be used to attack the city; danger; auspicious; there is no trouble; determination is distressful.
Cleary (1): Advancing the horns; this requires conquering one’s domain. There is danger, but it bodes well, so there will be no blame. But even though correct it is humiliating.
Cleary (2): … Hard work leads to good results, without blame; but even though correct, one is humiliated. [Since one was unable to govern oneself early on, and only now has been capable of self-mastery, even though it is correct, it is still humiliating.]
Wu: He advances with his horns to quell disturbances of his town. Although he makes a risky move, he is not in error. His insistence is nevertheless regrettable.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 35 means to advance or proceed. It is a time of new activity and new relationships. It’s also a new day and the beginning of action. The prospects for the future are very bright. You will achieve a high level of success in business and your career.
For this good fortune to continue, one must possess behavior that is uncorrupted, for even the greatest fortune can dissipate immediately by negative motivations.
