Etymology of the ideogram Sheng.46

The ideogram chosen to represent hexagram 46 originally depicted a Bushel: a square shape grain measure with a handle giving it the shape of a spoon. There exists another character, graphically close, to specifically designate that instrument (mentioned at the Prefect level of Feng.55). It is the constellation called the Big Dipper, it is there called the Northern Bushel. The difference between the two is that the canonical form of the character Growth, and the very instrument, represent (within and without the Bushel) Cereal Grains. The precision allows one to focus the meaning of the character no more on the object but on the movement that its capacity produces, transforming therefore the name of an ancient measure into a verb action. Very common, this verb designates a General Increasing Process: for example, combined with the Musical Note it means Sharp, but most particularly a slow and progressive elevation movement. Associated to the character Degree it becomes Promotion, the step up to a higher class.

However, in order to understand how this measuring capacity came to designate an elevating movement, one has to consider the operation of measuring within its complete scope and form a cinematic point-of-view: it begins by a Yin movement consisting of pouring the grain from above to below into the bushel. The grain accumulates at the bottom of the container and, gradually, the grain level increases (Yang movement). By so increasing, it becomes visible by forming a cone exceeding the brim of the bushel.

This development is also described in the text of the Great Image, focusing on the double dynamics: Rooting followed by an Elevation, master idea of the hexagram.

If, of the many ideograms depicting Growth, Elevation, Blossoming, this one has been chosen to name this hexagram, it may be because it illustrates all the dialectics of the situation:

It is by a deep rooting within that growth finds the leverage to develop without.



Confucius