Yarrow / Source Notes / 2026-07-17

Yarrow source note · 2026-07-17

Hexagram 35 Jin: Read the Judgment Before the Advice

A source-first reading note for Hexagram 35, Jin (Progress), with a reference translation, trigram frame, and one reversible observation practice.

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Hexagram 35 · 晋 · Jin

Progress

The lower trigram is 坤 (地), associated in the bundled corpus with 顺; the upper trigram is 离 (火), associated with 丽. Read the lower trigram as the inner or starting field and the upper trigram as the outward field before turning the pattern into advice.

Reference translation

Progress. The prosperous prince is presented with many horses by the Son of Heaven, and in a single day is received thrice in audience. The Tuan says: Progress means advancing, as brightness emerges above the earth. Compliant and clinging to the great light, the yielding advances and moves upward — thus "the prosperous prince is presented with many horses, and in a single day is received thrice in audience." The Image says: Brightness coming forth above the earth: this is Progress. Thus the superior man, of himself, makes bright his shining virtue.

See the original-text and authority layers in the complete catalog entry.

Context from the authority layer

The hexagram Jin means "advance," and this meaning lies in its image of the sun rising above the earth. The sun's ascent is always gradual, rising gently and yielding as it moves upward. The brightness that "yields and yet moves upward" resembles a humble gentleman who possesses the diligent, striving spirit of "illuminating his own bright virtue." The Great Learning says: "The way of great learning lies in illuminating bright virtue, in renewing the people, and in resting in the highest good." The gentleman within Jin is yielding while on the earth, yet advancing as he rises.

Read the structure before the slogan

The lower trigram is 坤 (地), associated in the bundled corpus with 顺; the upper trigram is 离 (火), associated with 丽. Read the lower trigram as the inner or starting field and the upper trigram as the outward field before turning the pattern into advice.

One accountable observation practice

Copy one concrete verb, condition, or image from the reference translation for Hexagram 35. Name one place where it is observable in the situation you are examining. Then choose one small step you can reverse and write the condition that would make you review it.

Common misread to avoid

Do not turn Progress into a personality label, a guaranteed event, or a verdict about another person. The translation and trigram frame are source layers to examine, not an instruction to surrender judgment.

Source boundary

The reference translation and context are drawn from Yarrow's bundled structured Zhouyi authority layer. Yarrow keeps that layer separate from optional modern reflection. This page does not claim that Hexagram 35 was cast for your question.