The Power of the Great
Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 34, 大壯 (Dà Zhuàng), represents The Power of the Great.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 34 (大壯 Dà Zhuàng). 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-zhuang). 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)
大壯：利貞。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Steadfastness is fruitful.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
雷在天上,大壮。君子以非礼弗履。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) heaven and above it that for thunder form Ta Kwang. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not take a step which is not according to propriety.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：壯于趾，征凶，有孚。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject manifesting his strength in his toes. But advance will lead to evil,—most certainly.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：貞吉。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：小人用壯，君子用罔，貞厲。羝羊觸藩，羸其角。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows, in the case of a small man, one using all his strength; and in the case of a superior man, one whose rule is not to do so. Even with firm correctness the position would be perilous. (The exercise of strength in it might be compared to the case of) a ram butting against a fence, and getting his horns entangled.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：貞吉悔亡，藩決不羸，壯于大輿之輹。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows (a case in which) firm correctness leads to good fortune, and occasion for repentance disappears. (We see) the fence opened without the horns being entangled. The strength is like that in the wheel-spokes of a large waggon.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：喪羊于易，无悔。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows one who loses his ram(-like strength) in the ease of his position. (But) there will be no occasion for repentance.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：羝羊觸藩，不能退，不能遂，无攸利，艱則吉。
James Legge: The sixth SIX, divided, shows (one who may be compared to) the ram butting against the fence, and unable either to retreat, or to advance as he would fain do. There will not be advantage in any respect; but if he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune.
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.
The Power of the Great can prompt a careful question about force: what is this strength actually for, and where does using it become butting? The figure's ram image reads here as the text's own caution inside a season of strength.
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.
This reflection predicts neither triumph nor injury. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 34 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.