Possession in Great Measure
Fire (離 Lí) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 14, 大有 (Dà Yǒu), represents Possession in Great Measure.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 14 (大有 Dà Yǒu). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/da-you). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
大有：元亨。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Great success.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
火在天上,大有。君子以遏恶扬善,顺天休命。
James Legge: (The trigram for) heaven and (that of) fire above it form Ta Yu The superior man, in accordance with this, represses what is evil and gives distinction to what is good, in sympathy with the excellent Heaven-conferred (nature).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：无交害，匪咎，艱則无咎。
James Legge: In the first NINE, undivided, there is no approach to what is injurious, and there is no error. Let there be a realisation of the difficulty (and danger of the position), and there will be no error (to the end).
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：大車以載，有攸往，无咎。
James Legge: In the second NINE, undivided, we have a large waggon with its load. In whatever direction advance is made, there will be no error.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：公用亨于天子，小人弗克。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows us a feudal prince presenting his offerings to the Son of Heaven. A small man would be unequal (to such a duty).
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：匪其彭，无咎。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject keeping his great resources under restraint. There will be no error.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：厥孚交如，威如；吉。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows the sincerity of its subject reciprocated by that of all the others (represented in the hexagram). Let him display a proper majesty, and there will be good fortune.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：自天祐之，吉无不利。
James Legge: The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject with help accorded to him from Heaven. There will be good fortune, advantage in every respect.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Possession in Great Measure can prompt a careful question about abundance: what does holding a lot make possible, and what does it obligate? The figure links greatness with restraint rather than display — read here as the text's own framing of abundance, not as a promise of wealth, an investment view, or a comment on anyone's assets.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing on this page predicts financial outcomes. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 14 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.