Hexagram 14 of 64 · King Wen order
大有Possession in Great Measure
Dà Yǒu · ䷍ · above: Fire ☲ 離 Lí · below: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián
Represents a time of great abundance and the responsibility to use that power for the common good.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
元亨。
Tâ Yû indicates that, (under the circumstances which it implies), there will be great progress and success.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. In Ta Yu the weak (line) has the place of honour, is grandly central, and (the strong lines) above and below respond to it. Hence comes its name of Ta Yu (Having what is Great).
2. The attributes (of its component trigrams) are strength and vigour with elegance and brightness. (The ruling line in it) responds to (the ruling line in the symbol of) heaven, and (consequently) its action is (all) at the proper times. In this way (it is said to) indicate great progress and success.
The Image 象
火在天上，大有；君子以遏惡揚善，順天休命。
(The trigram for) heaven and (that of) fire above it form Tâ Yû The superior man, in accordance with this, represses what is evil and gives distinction to what is good, in sympathy with the excellent Heaven-conferred (nature).
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
無交害，匪咎，艱則無咎。
In the first NINE, undivided, there is no approach to what is injurious, and there is no error. Let there be a realisation of the difficulty (and danger of the position), and there will be no error (to the end).
Small Image: This first NINE, (undivided),of Ta Yu shows no approach to what is injurious.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 50, The Caldron.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
大車以載，有攸往，無咎。
In the second NINE, undivided, we have a large waggon with its load. In whatever direction advance is made, there will be no error.
Small Image: 'A large waggon with its load' refers to the (virtue) accumulated (in the subject of the line), so that he will suffer no loss (in the conduct of affairs).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 30, The Clinging, Fire.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
公用亨于天子，小人弗克。
The third NINE, undivided, shows us a feudal prince presenting his offerings to the Son of Heaven. A small man would be unequal (to such a duty).
Small Image: 'A feudal prince presents his offerings to the son of Heaven:'—a small man (in such a position) does (himself) harm.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 38, Opposition.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
匪其彭，無咎。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject keeping his great resources under restraint. There will be no error.
Small Image: 'He keeps his great resources under restraint:'—his wisdom discriminates clearly (what he ought to do).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 26, The Taming Power of the Great.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
厥孚交如，威如；吉。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows the sincerity of its subject reciprocated by that of all the others (represented in the hexagram). Let him display a proper majesty, and there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'His sincerity is reciprocated by all the others:'—his sincerity serves to stir and call out what is in their minds. 'The good fortune springing from a display of proper majesty' shows how they might (otherwise) feel too easy, and make no preparation (to serve him).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 1, The Creative.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
自天佑之，吉無不利。
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject with help accorded to him from Heaven. There will be good fortune, advantage in every respect.
Small Image: 'The good fortune attached to the topmost line of Ta Yu' arises from the help of Heaven.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 34, The Power of the Great.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦8. Holding Together 比
every line changedInverse 綜卦13. Fellowship with Men 同人
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.