I Ching Hexagram 14 - Great Possession
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 14 "Great Possession"
大有 - Dà Yǒu
Hỏa Thiên Đại Hữu
Great Possession
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☰ Qian, Heaven
Other Titles: Possession in Great Measure, Wealth, The Symbol of Great Possession, Sovereignty, Great Having, Great Possessing, The Great Possessor, Great Wealth, Abundance, Having What is Great.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Possession in Great Measure. Supreme success.
Legge: Wealth means great progress and success.
Blofeld: He who possesses much -- supreme success!
Liu: Great Possessions. Great Success.
Shaughnessy: The Great Possession: Prime receipt.
Cleary (1): In great possession are creation and development.
Cleary (2): Great possession is great success.
Wu: Great Wealth is primordial and pervasive.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Fire in heaven above: the image of Possession in Great Measure. Thus the superior man curbs evil and furthers good, and thereby obeys the benevolent will of heaven.
Legge: Fire over Heaven -- the image of Wealth. The superior man represses evil and nurtures virtue in accordance with the benevolent will of heaven.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire in the heavens. [When the trigram for heaven is above, whatever is below may be separated from it; when it is below, it indicates fusion or intermixture with what is above. The significance here is that the splendor of a very great man lights up the heavens.] The Superior Man suppresses those who are evil and upholds the virtuous. Most gladly he accords with heaven and carries out its commands.
Liu: Fire over heaven symbolizes Great Possessions. The superior man suppresses evil and honors virtue, and thus follows the will of heaven and waits upon destiny.
Cleary (1): Fire is in the sky; great possession. Thus does the superior person stop evil and promote good, obeying heaven and accepting its order.
Cleary (2): … Leaders obey nature and accept its order by stopping the bad and promoting the good.
Wu: Fire above and heaven below form Great Wealth. Thus the jun zi suppresses the evil and promotes the good; he abides by the will of heaven to enrich his life.
Line 1
初九: 无交害, 匪咎; 艱則无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: No relationship with what is harmful. There is no blame in this. If one remains conscious of difficulty, one remains without blame.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows that there is no approach to what is injurious, and there is no error. Let there be a realization of the difficulty and danger of the position, and there will be no error to the end.
Blofeld: Having no contact with evil, he is blameless; therefore, even if he is involved in trouble, he remains without fault.
Liu: Avoidance of the harmful brings no blame. Awareness of difficulty -- also no blame. [This line indicates sadness and confusion but also that one can avoid them by being cautious.]
Shaughnessy: There is no exchanging of harm that is not trouble; if in difficulty then there will be no trouble.
Cleary (1): If there is no association with what is harmful, one is not blameworthy. If you struggle, there will be no fault.
Cleary (2): As long as there is none of the harm that comes from association, this is not blameworthy. If one struggles, there will be no blame.
Wu: His disadvantage is having no association, but it is not an error of his doing. If he is aware of his difficult position, he will be blameless.
Line 2
九二: 大車以載, 有攸往, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A big wagon for loading. One may undertake something. No blame.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows a large wagon with its load. In whatever direction advance is made, there will be no error.
Blofeld: There are large supply wagons. [Apparently we need not fear failure through lack of resources.] If there is some desired goal (or destination), setting out (to attain it) will involve no error.
Liu: Loading the big wagon. Undertaking without blame. [One can expect to achieve his undertaking and acquire property.]
Shaughnessy: The great cart is used to carry; there is someplace to go; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Using a great car for transport, when there is a place to go there is no fault.
Cleary (2): Using a large car for transport, there is a place to go, etc.
Wu: To haul in a cart to a certain destination is without fault.
Line 3
九三: 公用亨于天子, 小人弗克．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. A petty man cannot do this.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows us a feudal prince presenting his offerings to the Son of Heaven. An inferior man would be unequal to such a duty.
Blofeld: A prince may win rewards from his emperor, but this is beyond an ordinary man's power.
Liu: A duke makes an offering to the emperor. The inferior man is unable to do this.
Shaughnessy: The duke uses aromatic grass to the Son of Heaven; the little man is not capable of it.
Cleary (1): The work of barons serves the son of heaven. Petty people are incapable of this.
Cleary (2): Impartial action gets through to the ruler. Small people, etc.
Wu: A duke has the honor of dining with the king. The little man is unworthy of the honor.
Line 4
九四: 匪其彭, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He makes a difference between himself and his neighbor. No blame.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows its subject keeping his great resources under restraint. There will be no error.
Blofeld: Pride is not involved -- no error!
Liu: He distinguishes between himself and his friends. This brings no blame.
Shaughnessy: It is not his fullness ; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Repudiate self-aggrandizement and there is no fault.
Cleary (2): Negating self-inflation, there is no blame.
Wu: He who keeps his strength under restraint will not be humiliated.
Line 5
六五: 厥孚交如, 威如, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified, has good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows the sincerity of its subject reciprocated by that of all the others represented in the hexagram. Let her display a proper majesty, and there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: His sense of confidence enables him to be sociable and well respected. A dignified bearing is an asset (literally, good fortune).
Liu: One is confident, sociable, and dignified. Good fortune. [Proud or aggressive actions will cause trouble. One should not be hasty but wait for the proper opportunity to act.]
Shaughnessy: His return is crossed-like, stooped-like; in the end it is auspicious.
Cleary (1): The trust is mutual. Power is auspicious.
Cleary (2): … It is fortunate to be awesome.
Wu: His sincerity matches the confidence the people place in him. His majesty matches the authority the people accord him. This will be auspicious.
Line 6
上九: 自天祐之, 吉, 无不利．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. Nothing that does not further.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject with help accorded to him from Heaven. There will be good fortune, advantage in every respect.
Blofeld: Those under heaven's protection enjoy good fortune and success in everything. [The top line of a very favorable hexagram is sometimes taken to symbolize heaven. Whoever receives (this line) may expect utmost success.]
Liu: One is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. Benefit in everything.
Shaughnessy: From heaven blessing it; auspicious; there is nothing not beneficial.
Cleary (1): Help from heaven is auspicious, unfailingly beneficial.
Cleary (2): Good fortune that is a blessing from heaven is beneficial to all.
Wu: With blessings from heaven, there will be good fortune and nothing disadvantageous.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 14 - This is a period of outstanding success, achievement, wealth, and prosperity. You are able to combine clarity of mind and inner strength to achieve your goals.
Being kind to others will reap bigger harvest. Being humble to others will draw heaven’s blessings.
Your actions are in accordance with the present moment. Everything will go your way as people trust you even when you make unexpected decisions.
