#35 晋 Progress – Promotion

 

#35 晋 Progress – Promotion

晋      火地晋         离上坤下

This hexagram has a Fire trigram on top of the Earth Trigram. The fire trigram also represents the Sun. The Sun rising from the Earth signifies sunrise or progress.

Description:

1. 康侯用锡马蕃庶: The duke received many horses as gifts
2. 昼日三接: Within a day, he was called upon three times (by the King).

Textual Commentary:

彖曰：晋，进也。 明出地上，顺而丽乎大明，柔进而上行。 是以康侯用锡马蕃庶，昼日三接也。

晋 means progress. Brightness appears on the ground. All follow and absorb the brightness and become beautiful. Follow and progress with the trend and move upward.  That is why the Duke received many rewards and had close relationships with the King (literally many horses and received an audience 3 times in a day).

Pictorial Commentary: 明出地上，晋；君子以自昭明德。

Brightness appears on the ground in Progress. Wise men progress and show forth their righteous character.

Moral Teaching:

1. Progress brings forth two things: rewards in resources and a close relationship with those with power (network of power).
2. Progress comes from righteous and proper behavior and character.
3. Righteous behavior brings beauty and growth that shine forth brightly for others to follow.

Stage 1 Being Six: Progress is blocked. Perseverance in righteousness brings blessings. Even though there is a lack of confidence, the person remains open and there is no fault. 初六：晋如，摧如，贞吉。 罔孚，裕无咎。

The pictorial commentary explains the blockage is due to one’s own righteous behavior. Continuing to keep one integrity will bring no fault. It is just that one has not yet received the commission. 象曰：晋如，摧如；独行正也。 裕无咎；未受命也。

This is the beginning stage. Our’s righteous character has not been seen or appreciated by others yet. We should continue with our condor behavior and the time will come when we will be appreciated and entrusted with greater responsibility. The Bible recorded Jesus saying that faithfulness in little leads to faithfulness in the large Luke 16:10 and will bring about others entrusting us with greater responsibility Luke 16:11-12.

Stage 2 Second Six: Progress with worry. Perseverance in righteousness brings blessings.  Receive many blessings from the King’s Mother.  六二：晋如，愁如，贞吉。 受兹介福，于其王母。

The pictorial commentary explains the blessings that come from our righteous behavior from the right position. Our behavior is fair and square. 象曰：受之介福，以中正也。

Progress and promotion come with greater responsibility and corresponding concerns. There could also be jealousy and sabotage from others. Even so, those in higher ranking take notice of us and give us many blessings, encouragement, and rewards.

Stage 3 Third Six: Others support you. There are no regrets. 六三：众允，悔亡。
The pictorial commentary explains that people follow and support you because of your ambition and vision to move upward. 象曰：众允之，志上行也。

In stage 2, we got bosses but not fellow colleagues support. At this stage, they all share your vision and are committed to following you. Move on.

Stage 4 Fourth Nine: Progress like a Marmot (Groundhog). This spells danger. 九四：晋如硕鼠，贞厉。
The pictorial commentary explains the danger comes from the wrong position. 象曰：硕鼠贞厉，位不当也。

While we got the full support, from bottom to top, in stage 3, stage 4 warns us to be cautious especially on ‘positioning’. We must make sure the tasks given correspond to the positions. Else there could be confusion and slow down the movement. Sticking to core righteous values is fine but watch the positioning and task assignments.

Stage 5 Fifth Six: There is no regret. There is no concern with gains or losses. Going forward brings blessings. There are no losses. 六五：悔亡，失得勿恤，往吉无不利。
The pictorial commentary explains that not worrying about gain or loss results in celebrations going forward. 象曰：失得勿恤，往有庆也。

With the right positioning and proper development of people in stage 4 and no concern about personal gains or losses, we can see things with greater clarity and do things with greater fairness. Not prejudiced and biased, our moving forward brings success.

Stage 6 Top Nine: Progresses to the top edge corner (literally a horn), move to conquer city is dangerous but no fault. Perseverance bring some blame.上九：晋其角，维用伐邑，厉吉无咎，贞吝。
The pictorial commentary explains the need to conquer a city is due to the righteous way not being brightly shining (not widely developed) 象曰：维用伐邑，道未光也

Progress, instead of overall pervasiveness, has taken a narrow path. Only some corners have the light. Use of force is needed to force an issue. While it is not wrong, it is risky, and extreme caution needs to be exercised. One should not persevere in using force to bring about changes otherwise the righteous and bright way that draws people is defeated. There is blame for such a forceful method.

Summary:

Progress brings rewards and powerful connections. They come from perseverance in righteous character and courageous behavior. The proven righteousness shines out brightly and influences others.

Wisdom from the Stage Lines:

1. Progress with opposition. Don’t be discouraged by the opposition at the beginning. Continue in righteousness.
2. Progress with worry but the bosses like you.
3. All support you. Continue your good work and progress toward your vision.
4. Progress slowly with perseverance. Select and assign the right people to the right task.
5. Put our gains and losses aside, move ahead objectively and clarity brings great success.
6. Progress to a corner, watch out, and use force rarely and only if at all needed.

Relating to Other Hexagrams:

See the related hexagram 46 升 Rising – Faithfulness brings Promotion
The difference between #46 Rising and #35 Progress is that #46 is about following a leader with integrity and faithfulness whereas #35 Progress is about leading change with righteousness.

Lim Liat (c) 18/5/2010