Hexagram 28: Great Exceeding
Excess, extraordinary times
| Chinese | 大過 (Dà Guò) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☱ Lake — The Joyous (Metal) |
| Lower trigram | ☴ Wind — The Gentle (Wood) |
| Keywords | excess, extraordinary, transition, independence |
| Opposite | Hexagram 27: Nourishment |
| Inverted | Itself — the figure is symmetric |
What does Hexagram 28 (Great Exceeding) mean?
Great Exceeding 大過 (Dà Guò) is hexagram 28 of the I Ching, formed by Lake (The Joyous) over Wind (The Gentle). Its theme is excess, extraordinary times, with key ideas of excess, extraordinary, transition, independence. The Judgment reads: “Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point.”
The Judgment of Great Exceeding
Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point.
The Image of Great Exceeding
The lake rises above the trees.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 28
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Six at the beginning
“To spread white rushes underneath. No blame.”
Laying careful groundwork before any action prevents damage when conditions are under stress. Extra care at the foundation is wise.
Nine in the second place
“A dry poplar sprouts at the root. An older man takes a young wife. Everything furthers.”
New growth from a mature foundation is a sign of resilience. Unconventional but vital renewal carries forward what seemed exhausted.
Nine in the third place
“The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. Misfortune.”
Excess has gone too far; the structure cannot hold. Continuing to load what is already at its limit invites collapse.
Nine in the fourth place
“The ridgepole is braced. Good fortune. If there are ulterior motives, it is humiliating.”
Timely reinforcement stabilises the crisis — but only if done for the right reasons. Self-interest in crisis management undermines the result.
Nine in the fifth place
“A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older woman takes a husband. No blame, no praise.”
Late-season flowering is possible but produces no lasting fruit. A rally near the end changes little; it is neither good nor bad.
Six at the top
“One must go through the water. It goes over one's head. Misfortune. No blame.”
Attempting to cross what is beyond one's strength brings disaster, yet the intention was right. Courage in the face of overreach earns no blame, even in failure.
Will Great Exceeding answer your question?
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