大过 Dà guò Excessive (Great Exceeding) [hexagram 28]

Metal element

颐 Yí [27] Nourishment; Food

Opposite

大过 Dà guò [28] Excessive; Great Exceeding

Inverse

乾 Qián [1] Beginning; Initiating

Mutual

The Decision

Excessive – the main beam sags. All undertakings will be successful.

‘Excessive’ shows greatness in surfeit. ‘The main beam sags’ – because there is weakness at the top and the bottom. The strength in the center is excessive. The action is flexible and satisfying. So as ‘All undertakings will be successful’ take full advantage of this auspicious time.

大过: 栋桡, 利有攸往, 亨. Dà guò: dòng ráo, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, hēng.

彖传: 大过, 大者过也. 栋桡, 本末弱也. 刚过而中, 巽而说行, 利有攸往, 乃亨. 大过之时大矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Dà guò, dà zhě guò yě. dòng ráo, běn mò ruò yě. gāng guò ér zhōng, xùn ér shuō xíng, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, nǎi hēng. dà guò zhī shí dà yǐ zāi!

The Image

Wood underneath Marsh forms ‘Excessive’. The wise stand alone, disengaged from the world with no regrets.

象传: 泽灭木, 大过; 君子以独立不惧, 遁世无闷. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé miè mù, dà guò; jūn zǐ yǐ dú lì bù jù, dùn shì wú mēn.

Line Change 1

夬 Guài [43] Breakthrough; Resolution

Placing white matting on the ground. No blame.

‘Placing white matting on the ground’ – awareness of weakness beneath.

初六: 藉用白茅, 无咎. Chū liù: jiè yòng bái máo, wú jiù.

象传: 藉用白茅, 柔在下也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiè yòng bái máo, róu zài xià yě.

Line Change 2

咸 Xián [31] Persuasion; Influence

A withered willow produces new shoots; an old man marries a young woman. Nothing unfavorable.

‘An old man marries a young woman’ – each gain from each other’s company.

九二: 枯杨生稊, 老夫得其女妻, 无不利. Jiǔ èr: kū yáng shēng tí, lǎo fū dé qí nǚ qī, wú bù lì.

象传: 老夫女妻, 过以相与也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǎo fū nǚ qī, guò yǐ xiàng yǔ yě.

Line Change 3

困 Kùn [47] Exhaustion; Fatigued

The key supporting beam sags. Misfortune.

The misfortune from the sagging of the supporting beam arises because there is insufficient support.

九三: 栋桡, 凶. Jiǔ sān: dòng ráo, xiōng.

象传: 栋桡之凶, 不可以有辅也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dòng ráo zhī xiōng, bù kě yǐ yǒu fǔ yě.

Line Change 4

井 Jǐng [48] The well; Replenish

The key supporting beam is braced. Good fortune but if support from below is used then there will be regret.

‘The key supporting beam is braced’ – brings good fortune because it does not rely on support from below.

九四: 栋隆, 吉; 有它吝. Jiǔ sì: dòng lóng, jí; yǒu tā lìn.

象传: 栋隆之吉, 不桡乎下也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dòng lóng zhī jí, bù ráo hū xià yě.

Line Change 5

恒 Héng [32] Perseverance; Endurance

A decayed willow produces flowers like an old woman marrying a young man. No blame or praise.

‘A decayed willow produces flowers’ but how can it endure? An old woman marrying a young man.

九五: 枯杨生华, 老妇得士夫, 无咎无誉. Jiǔ wǔ: kū yáng shēng huā, lǎo fù dé shì fū, wú jiù wú yù.

象传: 枯杨生华, 何可久也. 老妇士夫, 亦可丑也. Xiàng zhuàn: Kū yáng shēng huā, hé kě jiǔ yě. lǎo fù shì fū, yì kě chǒu yě.

Line Change 6

姤 Gòu [44] Encountering; Coming to meet

Wading boldly through the river, totally submerged. There is misfortune but no blame.

Misfortune from ‘Wading boldly through the river’ but this does not deserve blame.

上六: 过涉灭顶, 凶, 无咎. Shàng liù: guò shè miè dǐng, xiōng, wú jiù.

象传: 过涉之凶, 不可咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Guò shè zhī xiōng, bù kě jiù yě.