Hexagram 34 大壯 - Dà Zhuàng / The Power of the Great

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Trigrams

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• Above: Zhèn, the Arousing, Thunder
• Below: Qián, the Creative, Heaven

The great lines, meaning the light and strong ones, are powerful. Four light lines have entered the hexagram from below and are about to ascend further. The upper trigram is Zhèn, the Arousing; the lower is Qián, the Creative. The Creative is strong, while the Arousing provides movement. The union of movement and strength yields the meaning of the Power of the Great. The hexagram is associated with the second month (March-April).

The Judgment

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The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.

The hexagram indicates a time when inner worth rises sharply and attains power. However, this strength has already passed its midpoint. Therefore, a danger arises: one might rely purely on power without constantly examining what is right, or become bent on action without waiting for the proper time. For this reason, the caution is added that perseverance furthers. True greatness of power does not degenerate into mere brute force, but remains inwardly aligned with the principles of right and justice. When one understands this point - that greatness and justice must be inseparably linked - the true meaning of all universal events in heaven and earth becomes clear.

The Image

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Thunder is high in the heaven: The image of the Power of the Great. Thus the superior man does not tread paths That do not accord with established order.

Thunder, the electrical force, ascends in spring. This movement aligns with the direction of heaven’s own movement. It is therefore an action in harmony with heaven, which generates great power. However, true greatness depends on remaining in harmony with what is right. Therefore, in times of great power, the superior man avoids taking any action that does not accord with the established order.

The Lines

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Nine at the beginning means:

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Power in the toes. Continuing brings misfortune. This is certainly true.

The toes are at the very bottom and are ready to advance. Similarly, great power at a low station tends to force progress through sheer momentum. If one continues in this manner, it will certainly lead to misfortune. Oriental counsel therefore attaches a warning.

Nine in the second place means:

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Perseverance brings good fortune.

The underlying situation is one where the gates of success begin to open. Resistance starts to yield, and one advances powerfully. This is the precise point where overconfidence easily sets in if left unchecked. Hence the oracle indicates that perseverance - namely in maintaining inner balance without aggressively exploiting power - brings good fortune.

Nine in the third place means:

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The inferior man acts through power; the superior man does not act thus. Continuing is dangerous. A goat butts against a hedge And entangles its horns.

Relying blindly on power leads to complications, much like a goat that butts against a hedge and gets its horns entangled. While the inferior man revels in power when he possesses it, the superior man does not act this way. He remains conscious of the danger of pushing forward under all circumstances, and timely renounces the mere display of force.

Nine in the fourth place means:

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Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. The hedge opens; there is no entanglement. The power depends on the axle of a large wagon.

If one works quietly and perseveringly to remove obstacles, success eventually follows¹. The hindrances give way, and the cause for remorse, which stemmed from an excessive use of power, disappears.

This power is not displayed externally, yet it is capable of moving heavy burdens like a large wagon whose strength resides in its axle. The less power is applied outwardly, the more effectively it operates.

Six in the fifth place means:

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Loses the goat with ease. No remorse.

The goat is characterized by external hardness combined with inner weakness. Here, the situation becomes entirely effortless; no resistance remains. At this point, one can discard the defiant, aggressive disposition and will have no cause for regret.

Six at the top means:

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A goat butts against a hedge: It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward. Nothing furthers. If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.

By venturing too far ahead, one reaches a deadlock where it is impossible to move either forward or backward, and any effort only serves to complicate the matter further. Such obstinacy leads to insurmountable difficulties. However, if one recognizes the situation, stops attempting to force a way through, and composes oneself, everything will resolve well over time.

Reference links

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• Hexagram look-up table
• Advanced hexagram correspondence table