Hexagram 34 of 64 · King Wen order
大壯The Power of the Great
Dà Zhuàng · ䷡ · above: Thunder ☳ 震 Zhèn · below: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián
Great strength that must be tempered by responsibility and adherence to what is right.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
利貞。
Tâ Kwang indicates that (under the conditions which it symbolises) it will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
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 Kwang we see that which is great becoming strong. We have the (trigram) denoting strength directing that which denotes movement, and hence (the whole) is expressive of vigour.
2. 'Ta Kwang indicates that it will be advantageous to be firm and correct:'—that which is great (should be) correct. Given correctness and greatness (in their highest degree), and the character and tendencies of heaven and earth can be seen.
The Image 象
雷在天上，大壯；君子以非禮弗履。
(The trigram representing) heaven and above it that for thunder form Tâ Kwang. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not take a step which is not according to propriety.
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)
壯于趾，征凶，有孚。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject manifesting his strength in his toes. But advance will lead to evil,—most certainly.
Small Image: 'He manifests his vigour in his toes:'—this will certainly lead to exhaustion.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 32, Duration.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
貞吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The second NINE, (undivided), shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune:'—this is due to its being in the centre, (and its subject exemplifying the due mean).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 55, Abundance.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
小人用壯，君子用罔，貞厲。羝羊觸藩，羸其角。
The third NINE, undivided, shows, in the case of a small man, one using all his strength; and in the case of a superior man, one whose rule is not to do so. Even with firm correctness the position would be perilous. (The exercise of strength in it might be compared to the case of) a ram butting against a fence, and getting his horns entangled.
Small Image: 'The small man uses all his strength; in the case of the superior man it is his rule not to do so.'
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 54, The Marrying Maiden.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
貞吉悔亡，藩決不羸，壯于大輿之輹。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows (a case in which) firm correctness leads to good fortune, and occasion for repentance disappears. (We see) the fence opened without the horns being entangled. The strength is like that in the wheel‐spokes of a large waggon.
Small Image: 'The fence is opened and the horns are not entangled:'—(the subject of the line) still advances.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 11, Peace.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
喪羊于易，無悔。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one who loses his ram(‐like strength) in the ease of his position. (But) there will be no occasion for repentance.
Small Image: 'He loses his ram and hardly perceives it:'—he is not in his appropriate place.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 43, Break-through.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
羝羊觸藩，不能退，不能遂，無攸利，艱則吉。
The sixth SIX, divided, shows (one who may be compared to) the ram butting against the fence, and unable either to retreat, or to advance as he would fain do. There will not be advantage in any respect; but if he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'He is unable either to retreat or to advance:'—this is owing to his want of care. 'If he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune:'—his error will not be prolonged.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 14, Possession in Great Measure.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦20. Contemplation 觀
every line changedInverse 綜卦33. Retreat 遯
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.