Yijing CompassI Ching reading
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Hexagram 26 · King Wen sequence

Contained Power

大畜 · dà xù

Modern reflection

Cultivate and contain great energy until it can serve well.

Lower trigram: 乾 Heaven
Upper trigram: 艮 Mountain

Historical source

Under the conditions of Tâ Khû it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (If its subject do not seek to) enjoy his revenues in his own family (without taking service at court), there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous for him to cross the great stream.

(The trigram representing) a mountain, and in the midst of it that (representing) heaven, form Tâ Khû. The superior man, in accordance with this, stores largely in his memory the words and deeds of former men, to subserve the accumulation of his virtue.

James Legge, 1882, public domain. Historical wording is shown for source transparency, not as a guaranteed prediction.

Changing-line passages

  1. Line 1The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject in a position of peril. It will be advantageous for him to stop his advance.
  2. Line 2The second NINE, undivided, shows a carriage with the strap under it removed.
  3. Line 3The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject urging his way with good horses. It will be advantageous for him to realise the difficulty (of his course), and to be firm and correct, exercising himself daily in his charioteering and methods of defence; then there will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance.
  4. Line 4The fourth six, divided, shows the young bull, (and yet) having the piece of wood over his horns. There will be great good fortune.
  5. Line 5The fifth six, divided, shows the teeth of a castrated hog. There will be good fortune.
  6. Line 6The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject (as) in command of the firmament of heaven. There will be progress.

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