䷡ Da Zhuang dà zhuàng
Core Meaning
The Da Zhuang hexagram reveals the wisdom of strength and moderation. True power is not about reckless charge, but about vigorous and controlled action. Like thunder in the sky, mighty yet adhering to propriety—this is the realm of Da Zhuang. The hexagram warns: at the beginning, one should not rely on strength and act rashly; 'strength in the toes, to advance means misfortune,' as a weak foundation with forced progress will lead to failure. In the middle, one must uphold righteousness to gain good fortune; 'Nine in the second place: perseverance brings good fortune,' upholding the middle path and righteousness can last. Avoid abusing power; inferior people using strength are like a ram butting a fence, creating trouble for themselves. When the position is right and actions are firm, things flow smoothly; 'when the fence breaks, it is not entangled,' breaking through obstacles. Softness can overcome hardness; 'losing a ram in Yi' means yielding in a position of respect brings no remorse. Excessive rigidity inevitably breaks; 'can neither retreat nor advance' leads to being stuck and ultimately defeated. The wisdom of Da Zhuang lies in: being strong yet polite, grand yet moderate, vigorous, and upright. In today's competitive society, the wisdom of Da Zhuang is even more needed: having strength but following rules, having power but knowing moderation.
The Judgment
Li Zhen.
Interpretation:
The Da Zhuang hexagram symbolizes great strength and vigor. It is beneficial to persevere in righteousness. Great power must be used in the correct direction; only by being strong and adhering to propriety can long-lasting strength be maintained.
The Image
Thunder in Heaven: Da Zhuang. The superior person does not tread where propriety does not allow.
Structure
The Da Zhuang hexagram has Qian (Heaven) below and Zhen (Thunder) above, forming the image of Thunder over Heaven, signifying Da Zhuang. Startling thunder echoes through the sky, reverberating across the universe, with Yang energy at its peak – this is the atmosphere of 'Da Zhuang'. The lower trigram Qian represents strength and vigor, and the upper trigram Zhen represents movement. Vigorous yet capable of action, hence its strength. The four solid Yang lines in the hexagram are strong, with Yang energy rising, like the sun at its zenith. Da Zhuang is not about reckless impulsiveness, but about strength and propriety. 'Righteous and great, the feelings of Heaven and Earth are visible.' Only with uprightness and integrity can one be truly powerful. The hexagram warns: great strength can easily lead to excessive rigidity, like a ram butting a fence, getting its horns entangled. True strength is vigorous but not violent, grand yet with moderation; 'not treading where propriety does not allow' is the key to lasting success.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial Nine: Strength in the toes. To advance means misfortune. There is sincerity.
Nine in the second place: Perseverance brings good fortune.
Nine in the third place: The inferior person uses strength. The superior person uses no strength. Perseverance brings danger. A ram butts a fence and gets its horns entangled.
Nine in the fourth place: Perseverance brings good fortune; remorse vanishes. When the fence breaks, it is not entangled. Strength in the axle-straps of a great carriage.
Six in the fifth place: Losing a ram in Yi. No remorse.
Top Six: A ram butts a fence. It can neither retreat nor advance. No advantage whatsoever. Difficulty brings good fortune.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
During a period of strong career growth, special caution is needed; 'do not tread where propriety does not allow' is fundamental. Being strong does not mean you can ignore rules; on the contrary, the stronger you are, the more you must adhere to propriety and law. 'Strength in the toes, to advance means misfortune' warns against blind expansion when the foundation is not solid. 'Nine in the second place: perseverance brings good fortune' tells us that following the central path and the right way leads to lasting success. Most importantly, avoid the mindset of an inferior person; 'the inferior person uses strength' to bully, like a ram butting a fence, seemingly brave but actually trapping itself. The superior person should 'use no strength,' having power but not abusing it. 'Nine in the fourth place: perseverance brings good fortune; remorse vanishes,' when the position is correct, effort will naturally remove obstacles. In a high position, one must be cautious; 'losing a ram, no remorse' means appropriate concessions can be harmless. Avoid stubbornness, getting stuck between advancing and retreating, as even the strongest will fail.
❤️ Relationships
Strength in a relationship must be measured, not arbitrary. 'Do not tread where propriety does not allow;' no matter how much you love someone, you must respect their boundaries. 'Strength in the toes, to advance means misfortune;' being too assertive at the beginning will scare the other person away. 'Nine in the second place: perseverance brings good fortune;' in a relationship, follow the middle path, neither too weak nor too strong. 'The inferior person uses strength' to control the other person, like a ram butting a fence, an act that traps oneself. The superior person should know how to restrain themselves appropriately; 'use no strength' means not using force. Once the relationship is stable, you can take appropriate initiative; 'when the fence breaks, it is not entangled' means moving forward smoothly. However, those in a dominant position must know how to concede; 'losing a ram, no remorse,' losing some control can actually improve the relationship. The biggest fear is being unyielding, 'neither retreat nor advance,' as僵持(deadlock) benefits no one.
🎯 Decision Making
When making decisions, avoid brute force. Having strength is good, but it must be 'beneficial and correct'; use it in the right direction. Do not rush to expand as soon as you see some success; 'strength in the toes, to advance means misfortune' if the foundation is not solid. Exert effort from an upright position; 'Nine in the second place: perseverance brings good fortune,' choose the right time and direction. Avoid the stubbornness of an inferior person; 'the inferior person uses strength' will inevitably get stuck. Even if powerful, the superior person should be cautious; 'do not tread where propriety does not allow' to maintain boundaries. When the time is ripe and the position is correct, act decisively; 'when the fence breaks, it is not entangled,' smooth sailing. Sometimes, it is necessary to show weakness or concede; 'losing a ram, no remorse' is not weakness but wisdom. The biggest mistake is being persistently unyielding, leading to being stuck between advancing and retreating; 'difficulty brings good fortune' advises patient waiting for the right moment.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest warning of Da Zhuang is that excessive rigidity is easily broken. 'Strength in the toes, to advance means misfortune,' rash action relying on strength when the foundation is unstable will inevitably fail. 'The inferior person uses strength' is most dangerous; abusing power is like a ram butting a fence, seemingly brave but actually trapping oneself, unable to advance or retreat. The outcome of 'getting its horns entangled' warns that being unyielding will lead to self-imprisonment. Even when strong, one must 'not tread where propriety does not allow'; strength without rules will not last. Be wary of: being arrogant due to some strength, bullying others and invoking backlash, being inflexibly rigid, and being caught between advancing and retreating. True strength is 'righteous and great,' vigorous and upright, having power but adhering to propriety. Remember: inferior people using strength lead to self-destruction; superior people using no strength achieve lasting success.
Applicable Scenarios
The Da Zhuang hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Da Zhuang hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: