Hexagram 26
The Taming Power of the Great
大畜 (Dà Xù)
Mountain over Heaven
The image is Heaven (creative power, energy) contained within the Mountain (firmness, stillness). This powerful symbol represents the accumulation and cultivation of immense potential. It is not about suppression, but about conscious, firm restraint that builds and stores energy, knowledge, and virtue. Like a dam holding back a great river to generate power, this hexagram signifies a time of holding back, gathering strength, and preparing for a future great undertaking.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
Success comes through persevering in this period of restraint. "Not eating at home" is a key phrase, meaning that the power and virtue you are accumulating are not meant for selfish, private enjoyment. They are meant to be used for a greater good in the public sphere. When you have amassed sufficient strength through this disciplined practice, you will have the capacity to take on major, difficult challenges ("cross the great water") and succeed.
The Image (象传)
This provides the method for accumulation. True power is not just physical or financial; it is strength of character. To build this inner fortitude, one should study the wisdom of the past—learning from history, philosophy, and the examples of great individuals. This knowledge becomes a reservoir of strength, guiding one's actions and building a firm, reliable character capable of handling great responsibility.
Interpretation & Guidance
When you receive Hexagram 26, you are advised to pause and build. This is not a time for bold, outward action, but for focused, inward cultivation. Your potential is immense, but it is not yet ready to be unleashed. Restrain your impulses, conserve your resources, and dedicate yourself to strengthening your foundations. This could mean saving money, studying a new skill, refining a plan, or working on your own character. Every act of discipline and patience now is an investment in a future great success. Reject trivial distractions and focus on what truly builds long-term power and worth.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Nine at the Beginning (初九)
Bottom line - Yang
"Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist."
At the very beginning, your forward momentum is met with immediate danger. The correct response is to stop. Forcing the issue now will lead to harm. Heed the warning and practice restraint from the outset.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"The axletrees are taken from the wagon."
You are stopped by an external force that you cannot overcome. The vehicle for progress is disabled. There is nothing to do but accept this restraint. Struggling against it is futile and will only exhaust your energy.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"A good horse that follows others. It furthers one to be mindful of difficulties and to be persevering. Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily."
The way forward begins to open. The danger recedes, and you can advance. However, this is a time for disciplined progress, not a mad dash. The advice is to remain vigilant and continue to practice and prepare daily, honing your skills even as you move forward.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune."
This describes a wise, proactive form of restraint. By applying a control mechanism (the headboard) before the bull's power is fully grown, you prevent trouble before it starts. This foresight and early, gentle taming lead to great success.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"The tusk of a gelded boar. Good fortune."
This is a clever method of restraint. Instead of confronting the aggressive power directly (the tusks), you remove the source of its aggression (by gelding the boar). It is an indirect yet highly effective way of taming a powerful force, leading to a fortunate outcome.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"One attains the way of heaven. Success."
The long period of restraint and accumulation is finally over. The path is completely open. The power and virtue you have so patiently cultivated can now be put to use, and you will achieve the highest level of success. Your actions are in perfect harmony with the cosmos.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
In love, this hexagram advises patience and the building of a deep foundation. This is not a time for passionate, impulsive gestures, but for accumulating trust, understanding, and shared experience. If you are in a relationship, this is a call to restrain conflict and instead focus on strengthening the core of your partnership. Invest time in deep conversation and mutual support. For those who are single, the message is to focus on self-cultivation. Instead of actively searching for a partner, work on becoming the best version of yourself. Accumulate interests, wisdom, and emotional maturity. This inner work builds a powerful attractive force that will draw a worthy partner to you when the time is right. It can also signify a need to restrain powerful emotions or desires for the sake of long-term harmony. This disciplined patience builds a love that is strong and enduring.
Career & Business (事业)
This is the quintessential hexagram for strategic patience in business. You have a great idea or a powerful project, but now is the time for holding it back, refining it, and accumulating the resources for a flawless launch later. This is the "stealth mode" phase. Use this period to build capital, conduct thorough market research, develop a robust business plan, strengthen your team's skills, and perfect your product or service. Resisting the pressure to launch prematurely is your greatest challenge and your greatest asset. By taming the impulse for immediate results, you are building a force that will be unstoppable when it is finally released. The "great water" you will cross later could be a major market expansion, a disruptive product launch, or a significant competitive challenge, and you will be fully prepared to succeed.
Health & Wellness (健康)
For health, this hexagram signifies a time for building a deep reservoir of vitality. It is about accumulating wellness through consistent, disciplined habits rather than seeking quick fixes. This is the time to commit to a steady exercise routine to build strength, to practice mindfulness to accumulate mental clarity, and to adopt a nourishing diet to build a strong physical foundation. If you are recovering from an illness or burnout, this hexagram is a powerful sign to embrace deep, restorative rest. Do not rush back to your full schedule. Every day of rest is a day you are "taming" the impulse to do too much and "accumulating" the energy required for a full and lasting recovery. You are building your inner strength, which will protect you from future health challenges.
Financial Matters (财运)
This is a highly auspicious hexagram for wealth building, but it demands a specific strategy: save and invest, do not spend and speculate. It is a call to exercise powerful financial discipline. Restrain impulsive spending, create a strict budget, and channel your resources into long-term, stable investments. This is a time to accumulate capital. Every dollar saved is adding to the power of your future financial freedom. The "not eating at home" principle can also apply here: perhaps you are accumulating capital not just for yourself, but to fund a family legacy, a business, or a philanthropic cause. This period of disciplined accumulation will give you the power to make major financial moves later, such as buying property or starting a company, with a high probability of success.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
This hexagram is a direct instruction on how to build a powerful character. Personal growth here comes from the disciplined accumulation of knowledge and virtue. As the Image text advises, immerse yourself in study. Read the great works of philosophy and literature, study history, learn from the biographies of people you admire. This process tames your raw, impulsive nature and transforms it into wisdom and strength. It's about building a strong inner framework of principles that will hold firm under pressure. This is a time to take a challenging course, learn a difficult skill, or commit to a daily spiritual or intellectual practice. You are restraining the desire for easy distraction and accumulating the inner substance that leads to mastery and a life of purpose. The power you build now is the foundation of your future self.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The time is for holding back. Patience and discipline are your key allies. Focus on building and accumulating, not spending or launching. Strengthen your foundations, whether they are financial, intellectual, or emotional. The power you are gathering is immense, but it must be cultivated, not squandered. Prepare diligently for a future great undertaking. When the period of restraint is over (as indicated by the top line), you will be able to move forward with overwhelming force and achieve great success.
