Hexagram 28
Preponderance of the Great
大過 (Dà Guò)
Lake over Wind/Wood
The structure of this hexagram is one of extraordinary pressure: four strong yang lines are contained between two weak yin lines at the top and bottom. It is like a great roof beam that is too heavy for its supports, sagging and near the breaking point. The image is of a lake that has risen above the trees, signifying a flood or overwhelming situation. This hexagram represents a critical, unstable moment that demands immediate, decisive, and extraordinary action. It is a time of crisis and great testing.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The situation is at a critical stage of instability. The structure cannot hold. Yet, paradoxically, the hexagram promises success. This is because the crisis itself forces a necessary change. Success is contingent on "having somewhere to go"—having a clear purpose and direction. You must act boldly and decisively to resolve the pressure. Passivity or hesitation will lead to collapse. The moment demands a courageous leap into a new state of being.
The Image (象传)
In times of overwhelming crisis, the person of character finds strength within. They do not depend on external support or popular opinion. Their resolve is such that they can stand alone, even if it means going against the current or giving up worldly comforts and connections. Their courage is not recklessness, but a deep-seated fearlessness that comes from a clear conscience and a firm grasp of their principles.
Interpretation & Guidance
When you receive Hexagram 28, you are in an exceptional situation under extreme pressure. A structure in your life—be it a relationship, a job, a project, or a belief system—is overloaded and cannot be sustained in its current form. This is a call to immediate and extraordinary action. Normal, incremental adjustments are not enough. You must identify the source of the pressure and take bold steps to relieve it. This may involve a difficult transition, a radical change, or a courageous sacrifice. This is a defining moment. How you act now will have profound consequences. It is a test of your courage, integrity, and resolve.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"To place the mat of white rushes under things. No blame."
You sense the coming pressure and take careful, preventative measures at the very beginning. By acting with extreme caution and providing support where it is weakest, you avoid blame and mitigate potential disaster.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"A withered poplar puts forth sprouts. An older man gets a young wife. Everything is favorable."
In an extraordinary situation, an unusual solution brings unexpected renewal. This is a time where unconventional pairings or alliances can succeed and bring new life to a situation that seemed to be ending. It works against the odds.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. Misfortune."
This is the heart of the crisis. The pressure is at its absolute maximum. Any attempt to push forward or add more weight at this point will cause a complete collapse. This is a warning of imminent danger and misfortune if one acts stubbornly.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"The ridgepole is propped up. Good fortune. If there are other motives, it is humiliating."
Support is found, and the structure is stabilized. This brings good fortune. However, this support must be given and received with pure intentions. If there are ulterior, selfish motives involved, the situation will become shameful.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older woman takes a young husband. No blame, no praise."
Another unconventional situation arises. While it brings a sterile kind of stability (flowers but no fruit), it is a strange state of affairs. It is not praised as a great success, but it is not blamed either, as it is a way of enduring the extraordinary time.
Top Six (上六)
Top line - Yin
"One must wade through the water; it goes over one's head. Misfortune. But no blame."
This represents selfless, heroic courage in the face of an impossible situation. You plunge into the flood to save others, knowing it will likely lead to your own downfall. While this brings misfortune from a worldly perspective, the act is so noble and courageous that it is beyond blame.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This hexagram indicates a relationship at a critical breaking point. The pressure, whether from internal conflicts or external stresses, has become unbearable. The current structure cannot last. This is a make-or-break moment that requires extraordinary honesty and courageous action. Minor adjustments and avoiding the issues will no longer work. You must both decide if you have a shared purpose ("somewhere to go") that is worth fighting for. This might mean making a radical change, such as entering intensive couples therapy, making a profound sacrifice for your partner, or even initiating a separation to relieve the pressure and see if the foundation is truly sound. It is a terrifying moment, but it is also one of immense potential. A relationship that survives this trial will be forged into something incredibly strong and resilient. One that doesn't was not meant to endure, and breaking it is a necessary, albeit painful, action.
Career & Business (事业)
In a career context, this points to an unsustainable situation of extreme overload. You may be in a job that is crushing you, a project that is destined to fail under its own weight, or a company facing a severe crisis. The "sagging ridgepole" is a clear sign that business-as-usual will lead to collapse. This is the moment for bold leadership and decisive, unconventional action. It might mean radically restructuring a department, pivoting the entire company's strategy, or walking away from a project that is draining all resources. For you personally, it may be the moment you must courageously resign from a toxic or overwhelming job, even without another one lined up, to save yourself. It requires the fearlessness described in the Image: to stand alone and be undaunted by the consequences, because you know the current path leads to certain ruin. This is a test of your professional courage and strategic foresight.
Health & Wellness (健康)
This is a serious warning sign regarding your health. Your body or mind is under an extreme and unsustainable level of stress, and a breakdown is imminent. This is the culmination of long-term overload, burnout, or neglect. It could manifest as a severe illness, a physical injury from overexertion, or a significant mental health crisis. The message is urgent: extraordinary intervention is required immediately. Half-measures like a weekend of rest are not enough. This calls for a radical overhaul of your lifestyle. You must identify the primary source of the "weight"—be it a job, a relationship, or a harmful habit—and take decisive action to remove it. This could mean taking an extended medical leave, entering a treatment program, or making fundamental changes to your diet, sleep, and stress management. It is a time to take courageous, self-preserving action, even if it feels drastic.
Financial Matters (财运)
Financially, this hexagram points to a situation of critical instability. You may be overloaded with debt, involved in a venture that is hemorrhaging money, or facing a market collapse that threatens your entire portfolio. The existing financial structure is at its breaking point. This is not a time to hope things will get better on their own. You must take immediate and extraordinary action. This might involve difficult choices like selling a major asset to clear debt, declaring bankruptcy to achieve a reset, or abandoning a long-held investment that is now a liability. It requires a clear-eyed assessment of the situation and the courage to perform financial "surgery." The goal is to relieve the overwhelming pressure to prevent a total collapse, thereby creating a new, more stable foundation from which to rebuild.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
This hexagram represents a profound spiritual or psychological crisis—a "dark night of the soul." Your ego structure, your worldview, and the very foundations of your identity are sagging under an unbearable weight. The person you thought you were can no longer withstand the pressures of your reality. This is a terrifying but profoundly transformative experience. Growth comes not from trying to patch up the old identity, but from having the courage to let it break. It requires you to "stand alone, unconcerned," finding a new source of strength deep within your core being, independent of your external roles or achievements. By courageously navigating this collapse, you allow a more authentic, resilient, and purposeful self to emerge. This is not just a change; it is a complete metamorphosis, a breakthrough born from a breakdown.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The time for action is now. The situation is urgent and cannot be ignored. Waiting will lead to collapse. You must act boldly and decisively. Before you act, be clear on your purpose ("have somewhere to go"). What new structure are you trying to create? What is the goal of this drastic action? Once your aim is clear, move without hesitation. This is a moment of great risk, but also of great opportunity. By bravely facing the crisis, you can resolve the pressure and transition to a new and more viable state of being.
