Hexagram 14, Dà Yǒu (Great Possession): Line 4

大有卦九四 · 火天大有 · 中文版

九四:匪其彭,无咎。

The line (Legge)

The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject keeping his great resources under restraint. There will be no error.

Small Image commentary

'He keeps his great resources under restraint:' - his wisdom discriminates clearly (what he ought to do).

象曰:匪其彭,无咎,明辨晰也。

In plain words

Not relying on one's abundance: no fault. The fourth line is close to the ruler in the fifth place and is strong and rich itself, which can make it overbearing; because it restrains itself, there is no fault. The Small Image says this is clear discernment.

Applying it to your situation

If you are riding high, this line suggests toning it down a little. What display could you do without right now?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the fourth place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. Its partner is line 1; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Dà Yǒu changes into Hexagram 26 Dà Chù (Great Taming). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·大有之大畜.

The hexagram

Hexagram 14 Dà Yǒu (Great Possession). The Judgment: Da You indicates that, (under the circumstances which it implies), there will be great progress and success.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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