Hexagram 26 · 大畜 · Dà Chù
Great Taming
- Element:
- Mountain over Heaven
- Key themes:
- restraint, accumulation, discipline, patience, strength
Image
Heaven contained within a mountain, symbolizing the accumulation and restraint of great energy.
Overall message
Hexagram 26 represents the concept of great taming and accumulation. It emphasizes the importance of restraint, discipline, and patience in building strength and resources. Success comes from wise accumulation, careful planning, and the judicious use of energy.
Exercise restraint and discipline to accumulate strength and resources. Success comes from patience, careful planning, and the wise use of accumulated energy.
Classical text (Legge, 1882)
Judgment. 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.
Image. (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.
From James Legge's translation of the I Ching (Sacred Books of the East, vol. XVI, 1882). Public domain.
The six lines
Line 6 · Completion of Taming
The period of great taming is complete. Reflect on the journey and prepare for action.
Reflect on the lessons learned. Use your accumulated strength to take decisive action.
Line 5 · Leadership in Restraint
Strong leadership guides the accumulation and use of resources.
Lead with wisdom and discipline. Ensure that resources are used for the greater good.
Line 4 · Wise Accumulation
Resources and strength are accumulated wisely. Use them judiciously.
Use your accumulated resources wisely. Avoid waste and excess.
Line 3 · Overcoming Challenges
Challenges arise, but they can be overcome with persistence.
Stay determined and resilient. Use discipline to overcome obstacles.
Line 2 · Building Strength
Strength is gradually accumulated through disciplined efforts.
Stay focused and disciplined. Your efforts will build a strong foundation.
Line 1 · Initial Restraint
The beginning of a period of restraint. Focus on small, steady efforts.
Be patient and disciplined. Start with small, manageable steps.
Related hexagrams
Opposite: If every line of this hexagram were inverted (yang to yin and vice versa), you would have Hexagram 45 · 萃 · Cuì. This is the hexagram's structural counterpart — the situation it could become if every dynamic flipped.
Nuclear: The hexagram hidden inside this one, built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5, is Hexagram 54 · 归妹 · Guī Mèi. The nuclear hexagram describes the inner pattern that produced this situation — what is going on underneath.
If only one line of this hexagram changed in your cast, you would arrive at:
- Line 1 changing → Hexagram 18 · 蛊 · Gǔ
- Line 2 changing → Hexagram 22 · 贲 · Bì
- Line 3 changing → Hexagram 41 · 损 · Sǔn
- Line 4 changing → Hexagram 14 · 大有 · Dà Yǒu
- Line 5 changing → Hexagram 9 · 小畜 · Xiǎo Chù
- Line 6 changing → Hexagram 11 · 泰 · Tài