Hexagram 28 of 64 · King Wen order
大過Preponderance of the Great
Dà Guò · ䷛ · above: Lake ☱ 兌 Duì · below: Wind ☴ 巽 Xùn
A state of extreme tension where extraordinary measures are required to prevent collapse.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
棟橈，利有攸往，亨。
Tâ Kwo suggests to us a beam that is weak. There will be advantage in moving (under its conditions) in any direction whatever; there will be 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. Ta Kwo shows the great ones (= the undivided lines) in excess.
2. In 'the beam that is weak' we see weakness both in the lowest and the topmost (lines).
3. The strong lines are in excess, but (two of them) are in the central positions. The action (of the hexagram is represented by the symbols of) flexibility and satisfaction. (Hence it is said), 'There will be advantage in moving in any direction whatever; yea, there will be success. '
4. Great indeed is (the work to be done in) this very extraordinary time.
The Image 象
澤滅木，大過；君子以獨立不懼，遯世無悶。
(The trigram representing) trees hidden beneath that for the waters of a marsh forms Tâ Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands up alone and has no fear, and keeps retired from the world without regret.
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 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
藉用白茅，無咎。
The first SIX, divided, shows one placing mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground. There will be no error.
Small Image: 'He places mats of the white mao grass under things set on the ground:'—he feels his weakness and his being in the lowest place, (and uses extraordinary care).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 43, Break-through.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
枯楊生稊，老夫得其女妻，無不利。
The second NINE, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing shoots, or an old husband in possession of his young wife. There will be advantage in every way.
Small Image: 'An old husband and a young wife:'—such association is extraordinary.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 31, Influence.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
棟橈，凶。
The third NINE, undivided, shows a beam that is weak. There will be evil.
Small Image: 'The evil connected with the beam that is weak' arises from this, that no help can be given (to the condition thus represented).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 47, Oppression.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
棟隆，吉；有它吝。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows a beam curving upwards. There will be good fortune. If (the subject of it) looks for other (help but that of line one), there will be cause for regret.
Small Image: 'The good fortune connected with the beam curving upwards' arises from this, that it does not bend towards what is below.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 48, The Well.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
枯楊生華，老婦得士夫，無咎無譽。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing flowers, or an old wife in possession of her young husband. There will be occasion neither for blame nor for praise.
Small Image: 'A decayed willow produces flowers:'—but how can this secure its long continuance? 'An old wife and a young husband:'—this also is a thing to be ashamed of.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 32, Duration.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
過涉滅頂，凶，無咎。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject with extraordinary (boldness) wading through a stream, till the water hides the crown of his head. There will be evil, but no ground for blame.
Small Image: 'Evil follows wading with (extraordinary) boldness (through the stream):'—but (the act) affords no ground for blame.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 44, Coming to Meet.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦27. The Corners of the Mouth 頤
every line changed
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.