26. Ta Ch'u / The Taming Power of the Great

Top: Mountain | Bottom: Heaven

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The Creative is tamed by Kên, Keeping Still. This produces great power, a situation in contrast to

that of the ninth hexagram, Hsiao Ch'u, THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL, in which the

Creative is tamed by the Gentle alone. There one weak line must tame five strong lines, but here

four strong lines are restrained by two weak lines; in addition to a minister, there is a prince, and

the restraining power therefore is afar stronger. The hexagram has a threefold meaning,

expressing different aspects of the concept "Holding firm." Heaven within the mountain gives the

idea of holding firm in the sense of holding together; the trigram Kên which holds the trigram

ch'ien still, gives the idea of holding firm in the sense of holding back; the third idea is that of

holding firm in the sense of caring for and nourishing. This last is suggested by the fact that a

strong line at the top, which is the ruler of the hexagram, is honored and tended as a sage. The

third of these meanings also attaches specifically to this strong line at the top, which represents

the sage.

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THE JUDGMENT

Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the

great water.

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To hold firmly to great creative powers and store them up, as set forth in this hexagram, there is

need of a strong, clear-headed man who is honored by the ruler. The trigram Ch'ein points to

strong creative power; Kên indicates firmness and truth. Both point to light and clarity and to the

daily renewal of character. Only through such daily self-renewal can a man continue at the height

of his powers. Force of habit helps to keep order in quiet times; but in periods when there is a

great storing up of energy, everything depends on the power of the personality. However, since

the worthy are honored, as in the case of the strong personality entrusted with leadership by the

ruler, it is an advantage not to eat at home but rather to earn one's bread by entering upon public

office. Such a man is in harmony with heaven; therefore even great and difficult undertakings,

such as crossing the great water, succeed.

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THE IMAGE

Heaven within the mountain: Thus the superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of

antiquity and many deeds of the past in order to strengthen his character thereby.

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Heaven within the mountain points to hidden treasures. In the words and deeds of the past there

lies hidden a treasure that men may use to strengthen and elevate their own characters. The way

to study the past is not to confine oneself to mere knowledge of history but, through application

of this knowledge, to give actuality to the past.

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THE LINES

 

Nine at the beginning means:

Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist.

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A man wishes to make vigorous advance, but circumstances present an obstacle. He sees himself

held back firmly. If he should attempt to fore an advance, it would lead him into misfortune.

Therefore it is better for him to compose himself and to wait until an outlet is offered for release

of his stored-up energies.

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Nine in the second place means:

The axletrees are taken from the wagon.

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Here advance is checked just as in the third line of THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL

9. However, in the later the restraining force is slight; thus a conflict arises between the

propulsive and the restraining movement, as a result of which the spokes fall out of the wagon

wheels, while here the restraining force is absolutely superior; hence no struggle takes place. One

submits and removes the axletrees from the wagon -in other words, contents himself with

waiting. In this way energy accumulates for a vigorous advance later on.

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Nine in the third place means:

A good horse that follows others. Awareness of danger, with perseverance, furthers.

Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily. It furthers one to have somewhere to go.

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The way opens; the hindrance has been cleared away. A man is in contact with a strong will

acting in the same direction as his own, and goes forward like one good horse following another.

But danger still threatens, and he must remain aware of it, or he will be robbed of his firmness.

Thus he must acquire skill on the one hand in what will take him forward, and on the other in

what will protect him against unforeseen attacks. It is good in such a pass to have a goal toward

which to strive.

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Six in the fourth place means:

The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune.

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This line and the one following it are the two that tame the forward-pushing lower lines. Before a

bull's horns grow out, a headboard is fastened to its forehead, so that later when the horns appear

they cannot do harm. A good way to restrain wild force is to forestall it. By so doing one

achieves an easy and great success.

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Six in the fifth place means:

The tusk of a gelded boar. Good fortune.

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Here the restraining of the impetuous forward drive is achieved in an indirect way. A boar's tusk

is in itself dangerous, but if the boar's nature is altered, the tusk is no longer a menace. Thus also

where men are concerned, wild force should not be combated directly; instead, its roots should

be eradicated.

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Nine at the top means:

One attains the way of heaven. Success.

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The time of obstruction is past. The energy long dammed up by inhibition forces its way out and

achieves great success. This refers to a man who is honored by the ruler and whose principles

now prevail and shape the world.