Hexagram 28 · ䷛
Preponderance of the Great indicates the ridgepole sags to breaking. Yet it furthers one to have somewhere to go and brings success.
Judgment
Preponderance of the Great indicates the ridgepole sags to breaking. Yet it furthers one to have somewhere to go and brings success.
Image
The lake rising above the trees represents Preponderance of the Great. The noble person stands alone without fear and withdraws without regret.
Lines
Spreading white rushes underneath for protection brings no blame through proper preparation. A withered poplar flowering briefly, or an older woman taking a husband, brings neither...
Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success.
Preponderance of the Great indicates the ridgepole sags to breaking. Yet it furthers one to have somewhere to go and brings success.
Preponderance of the Great. The great is in a preponderant place. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point because the firm is represented by two weak lines at top and bottom. The yielding finds place and thereby is joyous; the firm is in the center and thereby is able to interact. Thus 'it furthers one to have somewhere to go' and 'success.'
Preponderance of the Great shows greatness exceeding normal bounds. The ridgepole sags because firmness is surrounded by weakness above and below. The yielding finds proper place and is joyous; the firm is central and can interact. Thus progress and success are possible.
The lake rises above the trees: the image of Preponderance of the Great. The noble person stands alone without fear and withdraws from the world without regret.
The lake rising above the trees represents Preponderance of the Great. The noble person stands alone without fear and withdraws without regret.
To spread white rushes underneath. No blame.
Spreading white rushes underneath for protection brings no blame through proper preparation.
Small Image
To spread white rushes underneath shows the yielding who finds place below.
Spreading white rushes underneath shows the yielding properly placed below.
A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older woman takes a husband. No blame. No praise.
A withered poplar flowering briefly, or an older woman taking a husband, brings neither blame nor praise.
Small Image
A withered poplar puts forth flowers. How could this last long? An older woman taking a husband. It is a disgrace to the undertaking.
A withered poplar flowering cannot last long. An older woman taking a husband brings disgrace.
The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. Misfortune.
The ridgepole sagging to breaking brings misfortune through excess burden.
Small Image
The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. One cannot support it from the ends.
The sagging ridgepole cannot be supported from the ends alone.
The ridgepole is braced. Good fortune. If there are ulterior motives, it is humiliating.
Bracing the ridgepole brings good fortune. But if motives are impure, humiliation follows.
Small Image
The ridgepole is braced. It does not sag downward. If there are ulterior motives, it is humiliating, because the yielding is in an unsuitable place.
Bracing the ridgepole prevents downward sag. Ulterior motives bring humiliation when the yielding is misplaced.
A withered poplar puts forth sprouts. An older man takes a young wife. Nothing unfavorable.
A withered poplar putting forth new sprouts, or an older man with a young wife, brings nothing unfavorable.
Small Image
A withered poplar puts forth sprouts. The older man obtains a wife. The strong achieves support below.
A withered poplar sprouting shows the older man finding support through the strong below.
One must go through the water. It goes over one's head. Misfortune. No blame.
Going through water that goes over one's head brings misfortune, but no blame attaches when the situation is unavoidable.
Small Image
One must go through the water. It goes over one's head. Misfortune. No blame. One could not have done it differently.
Water going over one's head brings misfortune but no blame when circumstances permit no alternative.
What does Ta Kuo / Preponderance of the Great mean in the I Ching?
Preponderance of the Great indicates the ridgepole sags to breaking. Yet it furthers one to have somewhere to go and brings success.
How should I study Hexagram 28 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Spreading white rushes underneath for protection brings no blame through proper preparation. A withered poplar flowering briefly, or an older woman taking a husband, brings neither...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Preponderance of the Great shows greatness exceeding normal bounds. The ridgepole sags because firmness is surrounded by weakness above and below. The yielding finds proper place and is joyous; the firm is central and ca...
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.