大畜 Dà xù Great development (Nurturing the Great) [hexagram 26]
Mountain over Heaven
Earth element
Lunar month: 8 ; Host or Controlling line : 6
大畜: 利贞, 不家食吉, 利涉大川. Dà xù: lì zhēn, bù jiā shí jí, lì shèdà chuān.
Under the conditions of Da Xu it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (If its subject do not seek to) enjoy his revenues in his own family (without taking service at court), there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous for him to cross the great stream.
象传: 大畜, 刚健笃实辉光, 日新其德, 刚上而尚贤. 能止健, 大正也. 不家食吉, 养贤也. 利涉大川, 应乎天也. Tuàn zhuàn: Xiàng zhuàn: Dà xù, gāng jiàn dǔ shí huī guāng, rì xīn qí dé, gāng shàng ér shàng xián. néng zhǐ jiàn, dà zhèng yě. bù jiā shí jí, yǎng xián yě. lì shèdà chuān, yīng hū tiān yě.In (the trigrams composing) Da Xu we have (the attributes) of the greatest strength and of substantial solidity, which emit a brilliant light; and indicate a daily renewal of his virtue (by the subject of it). The strong line is in the highest place, and suggests the value set on talents and virtue; there is power (in the upper trigram) to keep the strongest in restraint: - all this shows ‘the great correctness’ (required in the hexagram). ‘The good fortune attached to the subject’s not seeking to enjoy his revenues in his own family‘ shows how talents and virtue are nourished. ’It will be advantageous to cross the great stream:‘ - (the fifth line, representing the ruler,) is responded to by (the second, the central line of Qian, representing) Heaven.
象传: 天在山中, 大畜; 君子以多识前言往行, 以畜其德. Xiàng zhuàn: Tiān zài shān zhōng, dà xù; jūn zǐ yǐ duō shí qián yán wǎng xíng, yǐ xù qí dé.(The trigram representing) a mountain, and in the midst of it that (representing) heaven, form Da Xu. The superior man, in accordance with this, stores largely in his memory the words and deeds of former men, to discharge the accumulation of his virtue.
初九: 有厉利已. Chū jiǔ: yǒu lì lì yǐ.
The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject in a position of peril. It will be advantageous for him to stop his advance.
象传: 有厉利已, 不犯灾也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yǒu lì lì yǐ, bù fàn zāi yě.'He is in a position of peril; it will be advantageous for him to stop his advance:' - he should not rashly expose himself to calamity.
九二: 舆说輹. Jiǔ èr: yú shuō fù.
The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows a carriage with the strap under it removed.
象传: 舆说輹, 中无尤也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yú shuō fù, zhōng wú yóu yě.'(He is as) a carriage from which the strap under it has been removed:' - being in the central position, he will incur no blame.
九三: 良马逐, 利艰贞. 曰闲舆卫, 利有攸往. Jiǔ sān: liáng mǎ zhú, lì jiān zhēn. yuē xián yú wèi, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject urging his way with good horses. It will be advantageous for him to realize the difficulty (of his course), and to be firm and correct, exercising himself daily with his chariot and methods of defense; then there will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance.
象传: 利有攸往, 上合志也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lì yǒu yōu wǎng, shàng hé zhì yě.'There will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance:' - (the subject of) the topmost line is of the same mind with him.
六四: 童牛之牿, 元吉. Liù sì: tóng niú zhī gù, yuán jí.
The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows the young bull, (and yet) having the piece of wood over his horns. There will be great good fortune.
象传: 六四元吉, 有喜也. Xiàng zhuàn: Liù sì yuán jí, yǒu xǐ yě.'The great good fortune indicated by the fourth ‘six’, (divided),' shows that there is occasion for joy.
六五: 豮豕之牙, 吉. Liù wǔ: fén shǐ zhī yá, jí.The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows the teeth of a castrated hog. There will be good fortune.
象传: 六五之吉, 有庆也. Xiàng zhuàn: Liù wǔ zhī jí, yǒu qìng yě.'The good fortune indicated by the fifth ‘six’, (divided),' shows that there is occasion for congratulation.
上九: 何天之衢, 亨. Shàng jiǔ: hé tiān zhī qú, hēng.The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject (as) in command of the firmament of heaven. There will be progress.
象传: 何天之衢, 道大行也. Xiàng zhuàn: Hé tiān zhī qú, dào dà xíng yě.'In command of the firmament of heaven:' - the way is grandly open for movement.