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#28

Preponderance of the Great

大過 — Dà Guò
Upper trigram: Lake (Duì) · Lower trigram: Wind (Xùn)

Overall meaning

Hexagram Preponderance of the Great symbolizes excess and a burden too heavy. Upper trigram is Lake, lower is Wind/Wood — the image of a ridgepole bending under too much weight. This is the hexagram of extreme situations, when load exceeds capacity and a courageous decision is required.

Judgment text (Thoán từ)

Preponderance of the Great: the ridgepole sags to the breaking point — it furthers one to have somewhere to go, success. Pass through crisis by bold action.

Line texts (6 lines)

  1. 1
    First Six: To spread white rushes underneath — no blame. Prepare carefully before acting; even small things, no carelessness.
  2. 2
    Second Nine: A dry poplar sprouts at the root, an older man takes a young wife — nothing that does not further. Renewed vitality in a seemingly exhausted situation — wonderful and good.
  3. 3
    Third Nine: The ridgepole sags to the breaking point — misfortune. Burden exceeds capacity — rigid and unable to adapt, will collapse.
  4. 4
    Fourth Nine: The ridgepole is braced — good fortune. With other lines, humiliation. Timely support found — good fortune.
  5. 5
    Fifth Nine: A withered poplar puts forth flowers, an older woman takes a young husband — no blame, no praise. Unusual situation but not wrong — only not lasting.
  6. 6
    Top Six: Going across the great water and submerging the head — misfortune, no blame. Action exceeds limits, leads to failure — misfortune but accepted because of full effort.

Applications by topic

Marriage
The relationship is under extreme pressure. Reduce the burden and find balance. Be brave to change or end what is no longer healthy.
Career
Carrying too many responsibilities or working in too harsh conditions. Reprioritize and reallocate. Sometimes refusal is necessary to avoid overload.
Wealth
Carrying debt or investment beyond capacity. Cut deeply and restructure. Bold action to escape danger.
Health
The body is under extreme pressure. Rest immediately. Watch heart and nervous system. Don't push the body further.
Lawsuit
Extreme situation requires strong decision. Weigh choices, including withdrawing from the case if losses are too great.

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