Hexagram 26: The Taming Power of the Great (大畜 Dà Chù) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 26 (大畜 The Taming Power of the Great)?

I Ching Hexagram 26, 大畜 (Dà Chù), represents The Taming Power of the Great. It is formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 26 mean?

The Image states: 'Heaven within the mountain: the image of the Taming Power of the Great. Thus the superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 26 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how The Taming Power of the Great manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 26 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 26 (The Taming Power of the Great) follows Hexagram 25 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

大畜

Dà Chù — Hexagram 26

The Taming Power of the Great

Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 26, 大畜 (Dà Chù), represents The Taming Power of the Great. Formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below, this hexagram teaches about the taming power of the great. The core message: The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 26 is formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.

— I Ching, The Taming Power of the Great

The Image

Heaven within the mountain: the image of the Taming Power of the Great. Thus the superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist.

Line 2: Line 2: The axletrees are taken from the wagon.

Line 3: Line 3: 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.

Line 4: Line 4: The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune.

Line 5: Line 5: The tusk of a gelded boar. Good fortune.

Line 6: Line 6: One attains the way of heaven. Success.

Modern Application

Hexagram 26 is the complement of Hexagram 9 (Taming Power of the Small). Here the great (mountain) restrains the even greater (heaven). The image is of a treasury of accumulated wisdom — the mountain holding heaven within itself like a storehouse of past knowledge. The hexagram teaches that great power requires great discipline. The superior person tames their own strength through study of history, tradition, and the wisdom of the past. In modern terms, the Taming Power of the Great applies to managing extraordinary talent, channeling ambition productively, and the discipline required to turn potential into lasting achievement.

Related Guides

Chinese Philosophy Complete Guide

All major schools of Chinese thought

Taoism for Beginners

A practical guide to Taoist philosophy

Confucianism for Beginners

A practical guide to Confucian philosophy

Buddhism for Beginners

A practical guide to Buddhist philosophy

Stoicism for Beginners

A practical guide to start practicing Stoicism