Hexagram 28 of 64
大過
Preponderance of the Great
Dà Guò
Upper Trigram
兌
Lake
Joyous, Open
Lake · Youngest Daughter
Lower Trigram
巽
Wind
Gentle, Penetrating
Wind/Wood · Eldest Daughter
The Judgment
Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success.
The central structure is overloaded — four strong yang lines with weak yin at both ends. A crisis of excess. Yet the joyous lake above and the penetrating wind below suggest that bold, extraordinary action, taken with a tranquil mind, can carry one through.
The Image
The lake rises above the trees — the image of Preponderance of the Great. Thus the superior person, when they stand alone, is unconcerned, and if they have to renounce the world, they are undaunted.
The extraordinary situation calls for extraordinary character. The person who can stand alone without anxiety, who can sacrifice without bitterness, is equal to any excess.
The Six Lines
Line 1
To spread white rushes underneath. No blame.
Extraordinary care in laying the foundation prevents catastrophe. Even small, careful preparations carry great weight in times of excess.
Line 2
A dry poplar sprouts at the root. An older man takes a young wife. Everything furthers.
Unexpected vitality and renewal from below. Unconventional pairings generate new growth. The extraordinary is sometimes the answer.
Line 3
The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. Misfortune.
Pushing the situation further without addressing the structural excess brings collapse.
Line 4
The ridgepole is braced. Good fortune. If there are ulterior motives, it is humiliating.
The crisis is addressed — but only through honest effort, not self-serving manipulation. Motives matter.
Line 5
A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older woman takes a young husband. No blame. No praise.
A temporary solution without lasting renewal. It may look like success but seeds no future.
Line 6
One must go through the water. It rises over one's head. Misfortune. No blame.
Going beyond one's limits in a noble cause — even if it leads to personal loss — carries no blame. The effort was right even if the outcome is tragic.
For contemplation and self-reflection only. Not a substitute for professional advice.