大畜 Great Taming

Also known as Taming Power of the Great

Great creative force, held and concentrated by a strong outer form. The figure favours accumulation before expenditure: study, discipline, the building of capacity.

great accumulation · discipline · stored power

The Story

A prince, instead of hunting, spent his youth in the library reading the chronicles of every dynasty. His courtiers thought him weak. When he became king, he moved his court before the famine, built granaries before the war, married his daughter to a neighboring prince before the rivalry turned deadly. "How did you know?" they asked. "I read old books," he said. "All of these things have happened before." The great power is not force; it is pressure that has been stored — by study, discipline, patience — until the moment when a gentle push moves what brute strength never could.

Youth In The Library panel 1 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Youth In The Library

Old Patterns panel 2 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Old Patterns

Court Moved Before Famine panel 3 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Court Moved Before Famine

Granaries Before War panel 4 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Granaries Before War

Marriage Before Rivalry panel 5 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Marriage Before Rivalry

Gentle Push panel 6 for Hexagram 26, Great Taming. — Gentle Push

The Judgment

Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.

The Image

Heaven within the mountain: the image of the taming power of the great. Thus the superior person acquaints themselves with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen their character.

Interpretation

Great creative force, held and concentrated by a strong outer form. The figure favours accumulation before expenditure: study, discipline, the building of capacity. In time, the dam breaks open into achievement. Leaving home for worthy service is favoured.

Trigrams

Upper · Outer

艮

Gèn · Mountain

keeping still, stopping, stability

Lower · Inner

乾

Qián · Heaven

the creative, strong, active

The Six Lines

First (Bottom) Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist. Early warning; stop and regroup.
Second The axle-trees are taken from the wagon. Take the vehicle out of service rather than use it wrongly; voluntary restraint.
Third A good horse that follows others. Awareness of danger, with perseverance, furthers. Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily. In training with good company; keep the skills sharp.
Fourth The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune. Restraint applied before the power is mature; prevention.
Fifth The tusk of a gelded boar. Good fortune. Neutralising a dangerous force at its root rather than fighting it head-on.
Sixth (Top) One attains the way of heaven. Success. The accumulated force finds its free path; a time of expansion.