大过 Dà guò Excessive (Great Exceeding) [hexagram 28]
Lake over Wind/Wood
Metal element
Lunar month: 10 ; Host or Controlling line : 4
大过: 栋桡, 利有攸往, 亨. Dà guò: dòng ráo, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, hēng.
Da Guo suggests to us a beam that is weak. There will be advantage in moving (under its conditions) in any direction whatever; there will be success.
彖传: 大过, 大者过也. 栋桡, 本末弱也. 刚过而中, 巽而说行, 利有攸往, 乃亨. 大过之时大矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Dà guò, dà zhě guò yě. dòng ráo, běn mò ruò yě. gāng guò ér zhōng, xùn ér shuō xíng, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, nǎi hēng. dà guò zhī shí dà yǐ zāi!Da Guo shows the great ones (the undivided lines) in excess. In ‘the beam that is weak’ we see weakness both in the lowest and the topmost (lines). The strong lines are in excess, but (two of them) are in the central positions. The action (of the hexagram is represented by the symbols of) flexibility and satisfaction. (Hence it is said), ‘There will be advantage in moving in any direction whatever; yea, there will be success’. Great indeed is (the work to be done in) this very extraordinary time.
象传: 泽灭木, 大过; 君子以独立不惧, 遁世无闷. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé miè mù, dà guò; jūn zǐ yǐ dú lì bù jù, dùn shì wú mēn.(The trigram representing) trees hidden beneath that for the waters of a marsh forms Da Guo. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands up alone and has no fear, and keeps retired from the world without regret.
初六: 藉用白茅, 无咎. Chū liù: jiè yòng bái máo, wú jiù.
The first ‘six’, divided, shows one placing mats of the white mao grass under things set on the ground. There will be no error.
象传: 藉用白茅, 柔在下也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiè yòng bái máo, róu zài xià yě.‘He places mats of the white mao grass under things set on the ground:’ - he feels his weakness and his being in the lowest place, (and uses extraordinary care).
九二: 枯杨生稊, 老夫得其女妻, 无不利. Jiǔ èr: kū yáng shēng tí, lǎo fū dé qí nǚ qī, wú bù lì.
The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing shoots, or an old husband in possession of his young wife. There will be advantage in every way.
象传: 老夫女妻, 过以相与也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǎo fū nǚ qī, guò yǐ xiàng yǔ yě.‘An old husband and a young wife:’ - such association is extraordinary.
九三: 栋桡, 凶. Jiǔ sān: dòng ráo, xiōng.
The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows a beam that is weak. There will be evil.
象传: 栋桡之凶, 不可以有辅也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dòng ráo zhī xiōng, bù kě yǐ yǒu fǔ yě.'The evil connected with the beam that is weak' arises from this, that no help can be given (to the condition thus represented).
九四: 栋隆, 吉; 有它吝. Jiǔ sì: dòng lóng, jí; yǒu tā lìn.The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows a beam curving upwards. There will be good fortune. If (the subject of it) looks for other (help but that of line one), there will be cause for regret.
象传: 栋隆之吉, 不桡乎下也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dòng lóng zhī jí, bù ráo hū xià yě.‘The good fortune connected with the beam curving upwards’ arises from this, that it does not bend towards what is below.
九五: 枯杨生华, 老妇得士夫, 无咎无誉. Jiǔ wǔ: kū yáng shēng huā, lǎo fù dé shì fū, wú jiù wú yù.The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing flowers, or an old wife in possession of her young husband. There will be occasion neither for blame nor for praise.
象传: 枯杨生华, 何可久也. 老妇士夫, 亦可丑也. Xiàng zhuàn: Kū yáng shēng huā, hé kě jiǔ yě. lǎo fù shì fū, yì kě chǒu yě.‘A decayed willow produces flowers:’ - but how can this secure its long continuance? ‘An old wife and a young husband:’ - this also is a thing to be ashamed of.
上六: 过涉灭顶, 凶, 无咎. Shàng liù: guò shè miè dǐng, xiōng, wú jiù.The topmost ‘six’, divided, shows its subject with extraordinary (boldness) wading through a stream, till the water hides the crown of his head. There will be evil, but no ground for blame.
象传: 过涉之凶, 不可咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Guò shè zhī xiōng, bù kě jiù yě.‘Evil follows wading with (extraordinary) boldness (through the stream):’ - but (the act) affords no ground for blame.