Hexagram 28 of 64
Great Preponderance大過
The lake floods the trees. The noble person stands alone without fear and withdraws from the world without gloom.
- Upper
- Lake
- Lower
- Wind
- Order
- 28 / 64
棟橈，利有攸往，亨。
Judgment: The ridgepole sags. It helps to go forward. Success.
澤滅木，大過。君子以獨立不懼，遯世无悶。
Image: The lake floods the trees. The noble person stands alone without fear and withdraws from the world without gloom.
In plain words
The situation: The load is too heavy, beyond what is normal.
What you can do: Act out of the ordinary, and find a way to ease it.
For culture and reflection only. Our own plain summary, not a translation.
The six lines
- 上六過涉滅頂，凶，无咎。Wading too deep, water over the head. Misfortune, but no fault.In shortWading too deep puts you under; it is unfavorable, but a risk taken for good reason is no shame.
- 九五枯楊生華，老婦得其士夫，无咎无譽。A withered willow flowers. An old woman takes a young husband. No fault and no praise.In shortA dry willow flowers; it looks nice but will not last, with no harm and no real gain.
- 九四棟隆，吉。有它吝。The ridgepole is braced. Good fortune. If there is anything else, regret.In shortThe beam holds up and this works; but if you get pulled in other directions, you will hit snags.
- 九三棟橈，凶。The ridgepole sags. Misfortune.In shortThe main beam is bending; forcing it is unfavorable, so ease the load and share it.
- 九二枯楊生稊，老夫得其女妻，无不利。A withered willow puts out shoots. An old man takes a young wife. Nothing fails.In shortNew shoots grow from a dry willow; an unlikely turn appears, and nothing stands against you.
- 初六藉用白茅，无咎。Lay white rushes underneath. No fault.In shortBe careful and prepare thoroughly; there is no problem with that.
Sources Zhou Yi. English by TaoDial.