Philosophy
易經
I Ching
XXVIII . 大過 The Tâ Hexagram
Tâ Kwo suggests to us a beam that is weak. There will be advantage in moving (under its conditions) in any direction whatever; there will be success.
1. The first SIX, divided, shows one placing mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground. There will be no error.
2. The second NINE, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing shoots, or an old husband in possession of his young wife. There will be advantage in every way.
3. The third NINE, undivided, shows a beam that is weak. There will be evil.
4. The fourth NINE, undivided, shows a beam curving upwards. There will be good fortune. If (the subject of it) looks for other (help but that of line one), there will be cause for regret.
5. The fifth NINE, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing flowers, or an old wife in possession of her young husband. There will be occasion neither for blame nor for praise.
6. The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject with extraordinary (boldness) wading through a stream, till the water hides the crown of his head. There will be evil, but no ground for blame.
大过 – Da Guo
栋桡，利有攸往，亨。
彖曰：大过，大者过也。
栋桡，本末弱也。
{刚过而中，巽而说行，利有攸往，乃亨。
大过之时义大矣哉！
象曰：泽灭木，大过；君子以独立不惧，遯1世无闷。
初六：藉用白茅，无咎。
象曰：藉用白茅，柔在下也。
九二：枯杨生稊2，老夫得其女妻，无不利。
象曰：老夫女妻，过以相与也。
九三：栋桡，凶。
象曰：栋桡之凶，不可以有辅也。
九四：栋隆，吉；有它吝。
象曰：栋隆之吉，不桡乎下也。
九五：枯杨生华，老妇得士夫，无咎无誉。
象曰：枯杨生华，何可久也。
老妇士夫，亦可丑也。
上六：过涉灭顶，凶，无咎。
象曰：过涉之凶，不可咎也。
1: 遯 = 辶 + ` + 豚
2: 稊 = 禾 + 弟
Appendix 1
1. Tâ Kwo shows the great ones (= the undivided lines) in excess.
2. In 'the beam that is weak' we see weakness both in the lowest and the topmost (lines).
3. The strong lines are in excess, but (two of them) are in the central positions. The action (of the hexagram is represented by the symbols of) flexibility and satisfaction. (Hence it is said), 'There will be advantage in moving in any direction whatever; yea, there will be success. '
4. Great indeed is (the work to be done in) this very extraordinary time.
Appendix 2
(The trigram representing) trees hidden beneath that for the waters of a marsh forms Tâ Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands up alone and has no fear, and keeps retired from the world without regret.
1. 'He places mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground:'—he feels his weakness and his being in the lowest place, (and uses extraordinary care).
2. 'An old husband and a young wife:'—such association is extraordinary.
3. 'The evil connected with the beam that is weak' arises from this, that no help can be given (to the condition thus represented).
4. 'The good fortune connected with the beam curving upwards' arises from this, that it does not bend towards what is below.
5. 'A decayed willow produces flowers:'—but how can this secure its long continuance? 'An old wife and a young husband:'—this also is a thing to be ashamed of.
6. 'Evil follows wading with (extraordinary) boldness (through the stream):'—but (the act) affords no ground for blame.
Footnotes
XXVIII Very extraordinary times require very extraordinary gifts in the conduct of affairs in them. This is the text on which king Wăn and his son discourse after their fashion in this hexagram. What goes, in their view, to constitute anything extraordinary is its greatness and difficulty. There need not be about it what is not right.
Looking at the figure we see two weak lines at the top and bottom, and four strong lines between them, giving us the idea of a great beam unable to sustain its own weight. But the second and fifth lines are both strong and in the centre; and from this and the attributes of the component trigrams a good auspice is obtained.
Line 1 being weak, and at the bottom of the figure, and of the trigram Sun, which denotes flexibility and humility, its subject is distinguished by his carefulness, as in the matter mentioned; and there is a good auspice.
Line 2 has no proper correlate above. Hence he inclines to the weak 1 below him; and we have the symbolism of the line. An old husband with a young wife will yet have children; the action of the subject of 2 will be successful.
Line 3 is strong, and in an odd place. Its subject is confident in his own strength, but his correlate in 6 is weak. Alone, he is unequal to the extraordinary strain on him, and has for his symbol the weak beam.
Line 4 is near 5, the ruler's place. On its subject devolves the duty of meeting the extraordinary exigency of the time; but he is strong; and, the line being in an even place, his strength is tempered. He will be equal to his task. Should he look out for the help of the subject of 1, that would affect him with another element of weakness; and his action would give cause for regret.
Line 5 is strong and central. Its subject should be equal to achieve extraordinary merit. But he has no proper correlate below, and as 2 inclined to 1, so does this to 6. But here the willow only produces flowers, not shoots;—its decay will soon reappear. An old wife will have no children. If the subject of the line is not to be condemned as that of 3, his action does not deserve praise.
The subject of 6 pursues his daring course, with a view to satisfy the extraordinary exigency of the time, and benefit all under the sky. He is unequal to the task, and sinks beneath it; but his motive modifies the judgment on his conduct.
App-1-1:XXVIII Paragraph 3. In the Great Symbolism 'wood' appears as the natural object symbolised by Sun, and not 'wind,' which we find more commonly. The attribute of 'flexibility,' however, is the quality of Sun, whether used of wind or of wood.
Paragraph 4. Such a time, it is said, was that of Yâo and Shun, of Thang the Successful, and of king Wû. What these heroes did, however, was all called for by the exigency of their times, and not by whim or principle of their own, which they wished to make prominent.
App-2-1:XXVIII Khăng-žze says on the Great Symbolism:—'The waters of a marsh moisten and nourish the trees. When here it is said that they destroy and extinguish the trees, their action is very extraordinary.' This explanation is very far-fetched; and so is what the same scholar says on the application of it. I need not give it here, nor have I found, or myself made out, any other more easy and natural.
Paragraph 2. 'Such an association is extraordinary:'—the characters also imply, perhaps, that it is successful.
Paragraph 3. The beam being broken, any attempt to sustain it will have no effect in supporting the roof.
Paragraph 5. The shoots produced in line 2 will grow into a new and vigorous tree. The flowers here will soon decay, and the withered trunk continue the same. For what will a young man marry an old woman? There will be no children;—it can only be from some mercenary object.