Hexagram 14: Possession in Great Measure

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Li (Fire) · Lower trigram: Qian (Heaven)

Judgment

Sublime success.

Image

Fire above heaven: great possession. The noble one curbs evil, promotes good, and follows heaven's beneficent mandate.

Meaning of Hexagram Possession in Great Measure

Possession in Great Measure (大有) is hexagram #14 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Li (Fire) and lower trigram Qian (Heaven). It represents great abundance achieved through humility and clear-sighted leadership. When this hexagram is cast, the querent should meditate on the judgment and image to grasp what the Yi is saying about the current situation.

The Six Lines Explained

First Line (Nine at the Beginning)

"Wu jiao hai, fei jiu; jian ze wu jiu — No relationship with what is harmful; no blame; remain conscious of difficulty and you stay without blame"

No harm has been done, so no blame; but one must behave as if still in hardship to stay faultless. Advice for those newly come into wealth and position: stay humble and careful from the start so as not to attract resentment.

Second Line (Nine in the Second Place)

"Da che yi zai, you you wang, wu jiu — A great wagon for loading; one may undertake something; no blame"

A great wagon that can carry heavy loads may go anywhere without blame. The strongest line of the hexagram: capable yet balanced and modest, trusted by those above, and so successful in whatever it undertakes.

Third Line (Nine in the Third Place)

"Gong yong xiang yu tian zi, xiao ren fu ke — A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven; a petty man cannot do this"

A duke feasts the Son of Heaven; a petty man is not equal to it. High rank and great wealth here demand virtue and freedom from arrogance to be worthy of the honour.

Fourth Line (Nine in the Fourth Place)

"Fei qi peng, wu jiu — He makes a difference between himself and his neighbour; no blame"

Do not flaunt abundance and there will be no blame. Advice on modesty and restraint when close to the highest power: ostentation invites disaster.

Fifth Line (Six in the Fifth Place)

"Jue fu jiao ru, wei ru, ji — He whose truth is accessible yet dignified has good fortune"

Meeting others with sincerity while retaining dignity brings good fortune. The ruling line (the sole yin in the honoured place) wins the allegiance of all five yang lines through sincerity combined with necessary authority.

Top Line (Nine at the Top)

"Zi tian you zhi, ji, wu bu li — He is blessed by heaven; good fortune; nothing that does not further"

Blessed by heaven: good fortune, nothing without benefit. At the very peak of abundance this line still bows to virtue (line 5) and remains unarrogant — and so both heaven and people support it.

The Transformed Hexagram

The inner trigram is Qian (Heaven), the outer is Li (Fire) — the inverse of hexagram 13, Fellowship. If the fifth line (the only yin line and ruler) moves, the outer trigram becomes Qian and the hexagram turns into 1, The Creative. Identify the exact moving line for the correct transformation.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

One of the most auspicious of the 64 hexagrams — a season of abundance and major success. Stay modest (lines 4 and 6) to keep the gains, and avoid arrogance after achievement.

Love & Relationships

A rich, favourable period for the relationship — but keep sincerity and modesty (line 5) instead of display, so the happiness lasts.

Health

The image of fire shining in heaven indicates strong vitality; still, practise restraint in daily life (line 4) and avoid excess.

Wealth

Very strong for finances — a symbol of wealth and plenty. Remain modest and do not flaunt riches (line 4), so as to avoid needless risk.

Frequently Asked Questions about Possession in Great Measure

What does hexagram Da You (Possession in Great Measure) mean?

Da You means “great possession”: wealth, abundance, plentiful assets and blessings. It is regarded as one of the most auspicious of the 64 hexagrams.

Why is Da You considered rare among the auspicious hexagrams?

Because all six lines range from blameless to excellent — none is truly bad, which is rare among the 64 (even Qian and Tai have an unfavourable top line).

What is the central lesson of Da You?

That abundance must be paired with modesty and sincerity. Flaunting success invites its loss; humility preserves prosperity over the long run.