35. Progress

Judgment

晋：康侯用锡马蕃庶，昼日三接。

The powerful prince is honoured with horses in large numbers; in a single day he is received three times. A time of promotion, recognition, rapid progress.

Image

明出地上，晋；君子以自昭明德。

The sun rises over the earth: the image of progress. The noble person brightens their own bright virtue.

Lines

1. Line 1, yin (six)

   初六：晋如摧如，贞吉。罔孚，裕无咎。

   Progressing, but turned back. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one meets with no confidence, one should remain calm: no blame. Early setbacks—stay composed.

2. Line 2, yin (six)

   六二：晋如愁如，贞吉。受兹介福，于其王母。

   Progressing, but in sorrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Then one obtains great happiness from one's ancestress. Support from senior mentors or institutions.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：众允，悔亡。

   All are in accord. Remorse disappears. Promotion endorsed by the team is the most stable.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：晋如鼫鼠，贞厉。

   Progress like a hamster. Perseverance brings danger. Holding a position without real competence.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：悔亡，失得勿恤，往吉无不利。

   Remorse disappears. Take not gain and loss to heart. Undertakings bring good fortune; everything furthers. Let go of gain-and-loss thinking; focus on contribution.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：晋其角，维用伐邑，厉吉无咎，贞吝。

   Making progress with the horns is permissible only to punish one's own city. Danger, good fortune, no blame; perseverance brings humiliation. At the peak, use strength to put your own house in order, not to expand.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of advancement, growth and market expansion: promotions, rising brands, fast market roll-outs, IPOs and investor recognition. 'Brightening one's own virtue': the foundation of ascent is real, visible capability and character.

Psychological lens

Resonates with self-presentation and impostor syndrome ('progress in sorrow'); line 4 is the Peter principle—promotion to the level of incompetence.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Promotion criteria Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Building a culture of recognition Enterprise, Judgment
• Feeling undervalued Enterprise, Line 1, yin (six)
• Breaking tradition in succession Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
• Low confidence Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• Passed over for promotion Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)
• Anxiety over 'financial freedom' narratives Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• The will to win Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• Pressure from competitions and rankings Individuals, Line 4, yang (nine)
• A manuscript rejected Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.