Hexagram 34: Great Power
Great strength and momentum
| Chinese | 大壯 (Dà Zhuàng) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Lower trigram | ☰ Heaven — The Creative (Metal) |
| Keywords | power, strength, momentum, righteousness |
| Opposite | Hexagram 20: Contemplation |
| Inverted | Hexagram 33: Retreat |
What does Hexagram 34 (Great Power) mean?
Great Power 大壯 (Dà Zhuàng) is hexagram 34 of the I Ching, formed by Thunder (The Arousing) over Heaven (The Creative). Its theme is great strength and momentum, with key ideas of power, strength, momentum, righteousness. The Judgment reads: “The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.”
The Judgment of Great Power
The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.
The Image of Great Power
Thunder in heaven above.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 34
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“Power in the toes. Continuing brings misfortune. This is certainly true.”
Strength expressed impulsively at the very start — before skill and judgment develop — leads nowhere good. Restrain raw power.
Nine in the second place
“Perseverance brings good fortune.”
Holding to the right course with accumulated strength brings success. The second position of strength is centred and sure.
Nine in the third place
“The inferior man works through power. The superior man does not act thus. To continue is dangerous. A goat butts against a hedge and gets its horns entangled.”
Brute force may temporarily prevail but entangles the user. The wise do not rely on strength alone; persistence in forcing leads to being caught fast.
Nine in the fourth place
“Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. The hedge opens; there is no entanglement. Power depends upon the axle of a big cart.”
The obstacle dissolves when power is applied with patience rather than force. True great power moves smoothly, like a well-loaded cart on a clear road.
Six in the fifth place
“Loses the goat with ease. No remorse.”
Releasing the stubborn impulse — the goat that butts against things — without regret is a sign of genuine maturity of power.
Six at the top
“A goat butts against a hedge. It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward. Nothing serves to further. If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.”
Power that has overreached is trapped. Neither advancing nor retreating is possible. Honestly acknowledging the impasse is the first step toward resolution.
Will Great Power answer your question?
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