26 · 大畜

Hexagram 26, 大畜. Original Chinese judgment: 利貞，不家食吉，利涉大川。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

利貞，不家食吉，利涉大川。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初九：有厲利已。
  2. 九二：輿說輹。
  3. 九三：良馬逐，利艱貞。曰閑輿衛，利有攸往。
  4. 六四：童牛之牿，元吉。
  5. 六五：豶豕之牙，吉。
  6. 上九：何天之衢，亨。

Tuan commentary

大畜，剛健篤實輝光，日新其德，剛上而尚賢。能止健，大正也。不家食吉，養賢也。利涉大川，應乎天也。

维基文库 · 周易 · 大畜

Great Image commentary

天在山中，大畜；君子以多識前言往行，以畜其德。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 有厲利已，不犯災也。
  2. 輿說輹，中无尤也。
  3. 利有攸往，上合志也。
  4. 六四元吉，有喜也。
  5. 六五之吉，有慶也。
  6. 何天之衢，道大行也。

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese

Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.

朱熹《周易本義》

維基文庫 · 周易本義（四庫全書本）卷一

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains Da Xu through Gen stopping Qian’s vigor and the greatness of what is stored. Firm strength in the inner trigram and substantial, clear virtue in the outer trigram accumulate and renew virtue, while honoring the worthy and stopping vigor at the fitting time.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. The first yang line is stopped by the fourth yin line. Continuing brings danger; stopping in time rather than encountering harm is the fitting choice.
  2. The second yang line is also restrained by the fifth yin line, but firm strength at the center can stop voluntarily, like a detached axle halting a carriage, without fault.
  3. The third and top lines are both firm yang. Restraint reaches its limit and becomes shared advance; maintain correctness through difficulty and practice carriage, horse and defensive preparations for beneficial advance.
  4. The fourth yin line establishes protection before an ox’s horns develop, representing timely prevention before a problem emerges, with little effort and the greatest effect.
  5. The fifth yin line faces yang strength already developed, harder to stop than at the beginning. Yielding strength at the honored center grasps the crucial point and restrains effectively, hence auspiciousness.
  6. At the extreme of restraint, the top yang line turns obstruction into unhindered progress, like traveling freely on a great heavenly road. The accumulated way can be widely put into practice.

Plain-language reading

Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.

Judgment introduction

Da Xu describes the extensive accumulation and restraint of vigorous strength. It includes developing virtue and ability, honoring worthy people and knowing when to stop. Being able to restrain strength creates the conditions for using what has been accumulated in larger undertakings.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. When advancing would encounter danger, stop in time rather than deliberately exposing oneself to harm.
  2. Although held back, one can choose to stop, like a carriage whose axle has come loose rather than forcing it onward; thus there is no fault.
  3. Once restraint has reached a certain stage, advance with companions sharing the same way becomes possible. Correctness must still be maintained through difficulty, with preparations practiced in advance.
  4. Protecting a young ox before its horns develop represents prevention when a problem first appears: little effort can have a large effect.
  5. The problem has already developed and is harder to restrain. Grasping the crucial point and applying appropriate restraint can still be auspicious.
  6. At its culmination, restraint gives way to free passage, like traveling on a broad road; the ability accumulated can now be put to use.

Read the source