晉 Progress

Also known as Advance

Dawn. A time of visible rising, of favour from above, of recognition.

progress · advance · recognition

The Story

A new official arrived in a province in the hour before dawn. Rather than sending runners ahead, he rode quietly to a hilltop and watched the sun come up. He saw the villages wake — smoke from the kitchens, children to the fields, the old gathering under the gate-trees. He did not try to impress anyone; he began his work by being present as the day began. "Dawn does not announce itself," he said later. "It simply rises, and the world ripens into seeing it. I wanted the province to ripen into me, not flinch from me." Progress at its best feels like morning.

Before Dawn Arrival panel 1 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Before Dawn Arrival

Hilltop Watching panel 2 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Hilltop Watching

Smoke And Fields panel 3 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Smoke And Fields

Beginning Work Present panel 4 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Beginning Work Present

Province Ripens Into Seeing panel 5 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Province Ripens Into Seeing

Progress As Morning panel 6 for Hexagram 35, Progress. — Progress As Morning

The Judgment

The powerful prince is honored with horses in large numbers. In a single day he is granted audience three times.

The Image

The sun rises over the earth: the image of progress. Thus the superior person themselves brightens their bright virtue.

Interpretation

Dawn. A time of visible rising, of favour from above, of recognition. The counsel is to let one's real character shine rather than to push; the sun does not strain.

Trigrams

Upper · Outer

離

Lí · Fire

the clinging, brightness, clarity

Lower · Inner

坤

Kūn · Earth

the receptive, yielding, nurturing

The Six Lines

First (Bottom) Progressing, but turned back. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one meets with no confidence, one should remain calm. No mistake. Rebuffs at the start; do not take them personally.
Second Progressing, but in sorrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Then one obtains great happiness from one's ancestress. Rewards may be delayed but come through unexpected channels.
Third All are in accord. Remorse disappears. Shared support clears away doubt.
Fourth Progress like a hamster. Perseverance brings danger. Nervous, greedy advancement — precarious.
Fifth Remorse disappears. Take not gain and loss to heart. Undertakings bring good fortune. Everything serves to further. Letting go of outcome-attachment; the advance flows.
Sixth (Top) 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. Aggression allowed only against one's own inner disorder; outward belligerence brings shame.