Hexagram 26: The Taming Power of the Great

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Gen (Mountain) · Lower trigram: Qian (Heaven)

Judgment

Favorable to persevere. Fortunate not to eat only at home (i.e., to serve beyond oneself); favorable to cross the great river.

Image

Heaven within the mountain: great taming. The noble one studies the words and deeds of the past to build his virtue.

Meaning of Hexagram The Taming Power of the Great

The Taming Power of the Great (大畜) is hexagram #26 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Gen (Mountain) and lower trigram Qian (Heaven). It represents great strength restrained and stored, building substantial capacity. 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)

"You li, li yi — There is danger; it is fitting to stop"

Danger is present; it is advantageous to halt. This strong yang line wishes to advance but is checked — better to stop in time and avoid danger.

Second Line (Nine in the Second Place)

"Yu tuo fu — The axle-straps are removed from the carriage"

Like a carriage with its axle-straps taken off. This line restrains itself deliberately rather than being forced to stop — a wisdom that comes from holding the central place.

Third Line (Nine in the Third Place)

"Liang ma zhu, li jian zhen. Ri xian yu wei, li you you wang — Fine horses racing together; perseverance in difficulty brings advantage; daily practice in defence, then advancing is favourable"

Like two fine horses racing side by side; one must diligently keep to the right path and train and prepare daily before advancing is truly advantageous. This line has strong allies but needs training and thorough preparation, not merely enthusiasm.

Fourth Line (Six in the Fourth Place)

"Tong niu zhi gu, yuan ji — A young bull's horn-board; great good fortune"

Like a young bull just growing horns, with a board fitted at once to restrain them — very good. A lesson in stopping a problem while it is still small and manageable, before it costs great effort.

Fifth Line (Six in the Fifth Place)

"Fen shi zhi ya, ji — The tusks of a gelded boar; good fortune"

Like castrating a boar to remove its fierce tusks — good fortune. A lesson in resolving a problem at its root rather than merely treating the surface, for a lasting effect.

Top Line (Nine at the Top)

"He tian zhi qu, heng — The highway of heaven; smooth progress"

Open like the highway of heaven — smooth progress. The final line: once the phase of restraint has passed and every obstacle is resolved, the way ahead opens wide.

The Transformed Hexagram

The inner trigram is Qian (Heaven), the outer is Gen (Mountain). If a line moves, the hexagram transforms accordingly. Identify the exact moving line for the correct transformation.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

This hexagram speaks of accumulating great virtue and ability, but only after passing through a stage of restraint before reaching free progress. Be patient, prepare thoroughly (line 3), and resolve problems at the root (lines 4 and 5).

Love & Relationships

Obstacles and restraint may appear early in a relationship. Be patient and address small issues right away (line 4) before they grow into major conflict.

Health

The lesson of “stopping at the root” fits well with disease prevention — address minor health issues as soon as they appear, before they become serious.

Wealth

A period of accumulating major wealth, but it takes time and patience, with early constraints (lines 1 and 2). Prepare thoroughly before expanding investment (line 3).

Frequently Asked Questions about The Taming Power of the Great

What does hexagram Da Xu (Great Taming) mean?

Da Xu means “great accumulation” — both accumulating great virtue and ability, and restraining or checking. It describes the process of building great capacity, usually through a phase of restraint and trial.

Why does the Judgment speak of “accumulating” while the line texts speak of “restraining”?

This is a distinctive feature of the hexagram — the overall meaning (accumulating great virtue) is expressed concretely, line by line, as restraint and check, implying that great accumulation usually requires first passing through limits and trials.

What is the meaning of the “stop it at the root” lesson in this hexagram?

Lines 4 and 5 both stress dealing with a problem while it is small, or resolving it at the root, rather than only reacting once it has grown serious — an important principle in risk management and sustainable growth.