34 · 大壯
Hexagram 34, 大壯. Original Chinese judgment: 利貞。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
利貞。
Line texts
- 初九：壯于趾，征凶，有孚。
- 九二：貞吉。
- 九三：小人用壯，君子用罔，貞厲。羝羊觸藩，羸其角。
- 九四：貞吉悔亡，藩決不羸，壯于大輿之輹。
- 六五：喪羊于易，无悔。
- 上六：羝羊觸藩，不能退，不能遂，无攸利，艱則吉。
Tuan commentary
大壯，大者壯也。剛以動，故壯。大壯利貞；大者正也。正大而天地之情可見矣！
Great Image commentary
雷在天上，大壯；君子以非禮弗履。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 壯于趾，其孚窮也。
- 九二貞吉，以中也。
- 小人用壯，君子罔也。
- 藩決不羸，尚往也。
- 喪羊于易，位不當也。
- 不能退，不能遂，不詳也。艱則吉，咎不長也。
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》
Judgment exegesis
Zhu Xi explains Da Zhuang through four yang lines flourishing, Qian’s firmness and Zhen’s movement. Strong power may allow unhindered progress, but the essential point is steadfast correctness. Great strength cannot depart from the upright way.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- Firm yang at the lowest first position hastens to advance from the feet in a time of strength. Status, time and position are insufficient; relying on force to advance gives a definite reading of hardship and danger.
- Yang in a yin position in the second line is not correctly placed but holds the center. Use the middle way to seek further correctness; only then is auspiciousness possible.
- The third yang line is excessively firm and not centered. The petty person relies on force; an exemplary person displaying courage and scorning obstacles is equally endangered, like a ram catching both horns in a fence.
- Yang in a yin position in the fourth line avoids extreme firmness. The obstacle opens and the strong axle can advance; maintaining the proper way is auspicious and removes regret.
- Yielding strength at the center in the fifth line cannot resist, like losing the ram unawares. Losing the forceful stance also leaves no regret.
- The top yin line is at the end of strength and extreme movement, like a ram caught in a fence, unable to retreat or advance. Fortunately its yielding nature can bear difficulty and still turn toward auspiciousness.
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 Zhuang describes growing yang strength. Power is not an end in itself: the key is benefit through steadfast correctness. The greater the strength, the more it must accord with the upright way; showing off force is not true greatness.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- Still in a low position, one hastens forward relying on force. Ability and timing are both insufficient, making hardship likely.
- Yang strength holds the center. Although the position is not fully correct, the middle way allows further commitment to correctness and an auspicious outcome.
- Whether a petty person relies directly on force or an exemplary person boasts of courage and underestimates opposition, both resemble a ram whose horns become caught in a fence.
- Without pushing firmness to an extreme, the obstruction ahead opens. Remaining on the proper way permits advance and removes regret.
- Yielding strength in the central position loses the ram, representing no longer retaining a forceful stance; this also leaves no regret.
- Forceful advance reaches its limit, like a ram caught in a fence, unable to go forward or back. Bearing the difficulty appropriately still leaves a possibility of change.