Hexagram 26 of 64
Great Taming
da xu · 大畜
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 26, Great Taming, is summarized by the Judgment: The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune.
- ◈Its structure is Mountain above Heaven; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: accumulation, restraint, strength, wisdom.
By the Numbers
- #26
- King Wen Order
- Great Taming in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Mountain above Heaven.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 26, Dà Chù (大畜), is the hexagram of Great Accumulation — the storage of immense power and knowledge, held in reserve until the right moment. Composed of Gèn (☶ Mountain) above and Qián (☰ Heaven) below: heaven's creative force is contained within the mountain — vast energy stored, not yet released.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初九 · 有厉利已
Danger — it is favorable to stop
- L2
九二 · 舆说辐
The carriage loses its spoke — stopped
- L3
九三 · 良马逐
Fine horses racing — perseverance
- L4
六四 · 童牛之牿
The yoke on a young ox — prevention
- L5
六五 · 豶豕之牙
The tusks of a gelded boar — neutralized
- L6
上九 · 何天之衢
The great highway of heaven
Deep Reading
Storing heaven inside the mountain
Da Chu shows Heaven's creative force held within Mountain. The point is not weakness, but storage. Great power, skill, money, or knowledge becomes useful only when it has been disciplined long enough to serve more than impulse.
- •The first line says danger makes stopping useful.
- •The second line's loosened wheel spoke prevents reckless motion.
- •The third line allows pursuit only after discipline and training.
- •The Image connects accumulation with studying earlier words and deeds.
Restraint before release
The fourth and fifth lines use animal images to show early restraint and neutralized danger. A young ox is guided before it becomes hard to manage; the boar's tusks no longer dominate the situation. By the top line, restraint has opened into the highway of Heaven.
- •Early prevention is less costly than late confrontation.
- •Neutralizing a force can be wiser than destroying it.
- •Not eating at home suggests stored value should eventually serve a wider field.
- •Crossing the great water belongs to mature accumulation, not premature ambition.
Reading Da Chu in a live question
- Stored resources or expertise
- Keep building the reserve, but clarify what wider purpose it will serve. Accumulation without use can become hoarding.
- Power that needs restraint
- Guide the force early while it is still manageable. Prevention is part of wise strength.
- Major venture
- A large crossing is supported only when preparation is real. Test discipline, timing, and responsibility before release.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- This reading follows the Zhouyi Da Chu Judgment, Image, and line statements, especially not eating at home, crossing the great water, stored Heaven, early restraint, and the highway of Heaven.
- Zhouyi: Da Chu Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Da Chu speaks symbolically about preparation, restraint, and accumulated capacity. It should not be read as a guarantee that a large venture will succeed.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Yes. Accumulate strength — the time for a great effort comes.
Upper Trigram
Mountain
Lower Trigram
Heaven
The Judgment (King Wen)
The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune.
The Image
Heaven within the mountain: the image of the Taming Power of the Great.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 26 (Great Taming)?
The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 26?
Hexagram 26 acts with the upper trigram Mountain and the lower trigram Heaven.
What are the core themes of Great Taming?
The core themes and meanings include: accumulation, restraint, strength, wisdom.