26. The Taming Power of the Great (大畜)

Line 4

If this line changes it transforms into 14. Possession in Great Measure (大有)

Modern reading

Six at the Fourth Place emphasizes preventive restraint applied at the very root of growth, represented by a headboard fitted to a young bull. Classical tradition considers early intervention the most efficient way to avert systemic friction before it gathers force.

Ask your AI about this page

Your question (optional)

Links prefill your prompt without sending it — you stay in control. If a link fails, copy the prompt below.

ChatGPT Claude Grok Gemini Perplexity DeepSeek Qwen

Prompt preview

I Ching / BaZi reading request (from eastalmanac.com).
Page: Hexagram 26 大畜 — Line 4.
Interpret through classical principles in two layers: 1) Structural Evidence: identify key line dynamics, changing line pivot, or element balance. 2) Actionable Verdict: direct answer to the inquiry in plain language, followed by 2–3 concrete next steps (action-verb first) and mindful cautions. Grounded wisdom for self-reflection. Source page:
https://eastalmanac.com/yijing/26/4

I Ching casting

As a yielding line correctly placed at the base of the mountain trigram Gen, Six at the Fourth Place gently restrains the ascending yang below before aggressive momentum can crystallize.

The classical reading views this proactive containment as fundamentally auspicious because it averts conflict without exhausting resources. True mastery lies in shaping energy while it is still pliable rather than suppressing it after it turns unruly.

Intervening with gentle boundaries at the inception of a matter delivers the smoothest long-term success.

Career

Professional structures benefit greatly when potential bottlenecks, compliance oversights, or interpersonal frictions are addressed at their earliest manifestation.

Traditional interpretation commends establishing clear operating boundaries before minor ambiguities escalate into costly crises. Guiding team dynamics with subtle rules preserves goodwill while keeping operational vectors aligned.

Catching problems in their infancy saves immense time and preserves organizational harmony.

Love & relationships

Intimate partnerships flourish when subtle emotional friction or differing expectations are clarified gently before resentment sets in. Classical commentary counsels that proactive, kind boundary-setting shields the bond from future volcanic disagreements.

Addressing small misalignments openly creates a container where both partners feel secure and respected. Tending to minor concerns today protects the tenderness of your relationship tomorrow.

Wealth

Sound resource management relies on instituting automated guardrails and strict spending protocols before expenditure leaks multiply. The classical view favors systemic preventive checks over emergency remediations after capital has already been misallocated.

Establishing definitive limits on speculative exposure ensures that financial foundations remain uncompromised. Setting firm spending boundaries early shields your overall material stability from avoidable drain.

References

Original text

Line statement

4. The fourth line, divided, shows the young bull, (and yet) having the piece of wood over his horns. There will be great good fortune.

Small Image

‘The great good fortune indicated by the fourth six, (divided),’ shows that there is occasion for joy.

Classical commentary

Zhouyi BenyiLine statement

'Gu' (牿) is pronounced with the fanqie gu-du. A young ox (tong) refers to one whose horns have not yet grown. A 'gu' is a crossbar affixed to the horns of an ox to prevent it from goring, what the Book of Songs calls the 'fuheng' (crosspiece).

Restraining it before its horns have grown requires little effort, bringing supreme goodness and good fortune; hence its image and divination are such. The Record of Learning states: 'Prohibiting before things occur is called foresight'—this is precisely the meaning.

'Fen' (豶) is pronounced with the fanqie fu-yun.

When yang has already advanced, restraining it is not as easy as at the beginning; however, dwelling in the Central Position with yielding nature and occupying the position of honor, one grasps the opportune moment and can subdue it.

Hence its image is like this; though the divination is auspicious, it does not say 'supreme.'

Yichuan YizhuanLine statement

In terms of position, the Fourth line corresponds below with the Initial line, restraining the Initial line.

Nine at the Beginning occupies the lowest place as the faint beginning of yang; restraining it while it is faint makes it easy to control, like placing a headboard on a young bull—this is supreme goodness and good fortune.

Speaking generally of the way of restraint, the Fourth line belongs to the Keeping Still (Mountain) trigram, occupies a high position, and is correct; thus with correct virtue it occupies the position of a great minister and undertakes the responsibility of restraint.

The duty of a great minister is to restrain the evil desires of the ruler above, and to restrain the wicked people of the world below. Stopping human evil at its inception is easy; forbidding it once it has flourished leads to obstinacy and is difficult to overcome.

Therefore, if the evil of the ruler becomes severe, even a sage attempting to remedy it cannot avoid friction and opposition; if the evil of those below becomes severe, even a sage attempting to govern it cannot avoid execution and punishment.

Nothing compares to stopping it at the beginning, like placing a headboard on a young bull, which brings supreme good fortune.

The nature of an ox is to butt with its horns, so a headboard is used to control it; if one places a headboard on a calf just beginning to sprout horns so that its butting instinct never erupts, it is effortless and harmless.

This illustrates how Six in the Fourth Place can restrain the evils of both above and below before they arise, bringing supreme goodness and good fortune.

Yichuan YizhuanSmall Image

If one stops the evil of the world only after it has flourished, then those above will be exhausted by prohibitions, and those below will be harmed by punishments and executions.

Therefore, restraining and stopping it before it grows beyond its faint inception brings supreme goodness and good fortune; without toil and without harm, it is truly cause for joy.

Six in the Fourth Place restraining Nine at the Beginning is just such a case, and restraining those above is the same.

Zhouyi ZhuLine statement

Dwelling at the beginning of Keeping Still (Mountain) and treading in its proper place, it can halt the strength of Nine at the Beginning. It resists without using horns; using yielding to halt unyieldingness, the unyielding dares not violate it.

Suppressing the initial sharpness to put an end to fierce contention, how could it be beneficial only to oneself? It will indeed bring joy.

Zhouyi ZhengyiLine statement

The Correct Meaning says: As for 'the headboard of a young bull,' dwelling at the start of Keeping Still (Mountain) and treading in its proper place, it can suppress the unyielding strength of Nine at the Beginning.

Resisting Nine at the Beginning does not require the use of horns, hence using the headboard of a young bull to halt it at its start.

As for 'supreme good fortune,' yielding halts the unyielding, and the unyielding dares not encroach; putting an end to fierce struggle is the reason for great good fortune and joy. Therefore the Image says: 'Supreme good fortune brings joy.'