Da You · Great Possession

Judgment and Plain-Language Notes

Da You: Supreme success.

Commentary on the Judgment: “Great Possession: the yielding gains the honored position, great and central, with those above and below responding. Its virtue is firm and vigorous, cultured and clear; it responds to Heaven and acts with the times. Therefore, supreme success.” Commentary on the Image: “Fire above Heaven: Great Possession. The noble person restrains evil and promotes good, following Heaven's gracious mandate.” (Zhouyi, Commentaries on the Judgment and the Image; public domain)

Da You has Li above and Qian below: fire above Heaven symbolizes discernment joined with substantial strength, able to carry greater resources and responsibility. The judgment's “supreme success” gives a clear direction, but the lines repeatedly warn against complacency, boasting, and monopoly. How you use, share, and regulate what you possess matters more than simply acquiring more. Abundance also requires honesty, proportion, and ongoing review.

The judgment explicitly states “supreme success,” and its commentary explains progress through strength, clarity, and action aligned with Heaven and the times. The text's overall direction is very positive, hence the rating: Highest Favorability. The third and fourth nines still require generosity of spirit and self-restraint. This summarizes the text's direction, not a promise of wealth or achievement.

Do: Review resources, make allocation principles public, and let results benefit the people involved. Avoid: Flaunting advantages, excessive possession, or responsibilities beyond your ability.

Understand This Hexagram Through Its Structure

Li above, Qian below: the only broken line rises to the fifth position, supported by the whole Qian trigram below.

• Identify Da You's upper and lower trigrams.
• Explain how Da You differs from Tong Ren.
• Explain why “great” refers to quantity rather than physical size.

Da You has Qian below and Li above, exactly reversing Tong Ren. Its only broken line is the fifth, the center of the upper trigram. The lower three lines are all solid: a substantial foundation with a yielding position above.

Five solid lines underpin a yielding line centered above, describing a structure of possessing much: the foundation is strong, while the leading position does not govern through force against force. “Great” concerns quantity rather than physical size. More possessions also mean more to safeguard, which is why traditional discussion follows this hexagram with reminders rather than congratulations.

Teaching example, not a prediction: A department has resources and staff in place, and its manager works through delegation rather than constant supervision. Da You describes this structure; it does not promise that the department will perform well.

The Six Lines: Original Text and Reflection

Nine at the beginning: No involvement with harm; no fault. Awareness of hardship brings no blame.

Commentary on the Image: “The first nine of Great Possession has no involvement with harm.” At the beginning of possession, harmful factors have not yet become entangled, but hardship should still prompt vigilance. “No blame” does not permit reckless behavior. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

At the beginning of possession, harmful factors have not yet become entangled, but hardship should still prompt vigilance. “No blame” does not permit reckless behavior.

When resources or opportunities first arrive, identify risks and establish basic rules. Do not relax checks because the beginning goes smoothly.

What boundaries can keep newly acquired resources from becoming burdens?

Nine in the second place: A great wagon for carrying. There is somewhere to go. No blame.

Commentary on the Image: “A great wagon carries; what is stored within does not fail.” A wagon able to carry heavy loads symbolizes sufficient capacity and a sound foundation for responsibility. Even when moving forward, match the load to your ability. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

A wagon able to carry heavy loads symbolizes sufficient capacity and a sound foundation for responsibility. Even when moving forward, match the load to your ability.

Before accepting a new task, check that time, staffing, and resources are sufficient. Moving when you have capacity is safer than always taking on more.

Can your current arrangements truly carry the workload of the next stage?

Nine in the third place: A duke presents offerings to the Son of Heaven. A petty person cannot do so.

Commentary on the Image: “The duke presents offerings to the Son of Heaven; a petty person would bring harm.” A lord's offering to the emperor symbolizes using one's resources for public order. Someone concerned only with private gain cannot bear this responsibility. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

A lord's offering to the emperor symbolizes using one's resources for public order. Someone concerned only with private gain cannot bear this responsibility.

When you receive more resources within a team, explain how they serve shared goals. Do not treat your position and achievements as wholly personal property.

Which resources under your control should serve the common interest rather than remain solely at your disposal?

Nine in the fourth place: Do not make a display of abundance. No blame.

Commentary on the Image: “Not displaying abundance brings no blame, because distinctions are clear.” Amid prosperity, do not define yourself by grandeur. Even capable people should avoid showing off, rivalry, and overexpansion. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

Amid prosperity, do not define yourself by grandeur. Even capable people should avoid showing off, rivalry, and overexpansion.

When achievements receive recognition, let the facts speak and retain spare capacity. You do not need to make everything bigger to prove yourself.

Is your increased investment driven by need, or by comparison with others?

Six in the fifth place: Sincerity in mutual exchange, with dignity. Good fortune.

Commentary on the Image: “Sincerity in exchange means trust awakens purpose. Good fortune in dignity comes from ease without defensive preparation.” Relate honestly while maintaining appropriate dignity and boundaries, demonstrating gentle leadership that retains its principles. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

Relate honestly while maintaining appropriate dignity and boundaries, demonstrating gentle leadership that retains its principles.

Goodwill and rules can coexist. Explain commitments, responsibilities, and limits clearly, without turning friendliness into unconditional agreement.

Do people both feel your sincerity and clearly understand your boundaries?

Nine at the top: Heaven itself gives support. Good fortune; nothing is unfavorable.

Commentary on the Image: “Good fortune at the top of Great Possession comes from Heaven's support.” This line uses heavenly aid and good fortune to express the ideal result of following the Way, keeping faith, and honoring the worthy. Read it with the ethical requirements of earlier lines, rather than as unconditional protection. (Zhouyi, Commentary on the Image; public domain)

This line uses heavenly aid and good fortune to express the ideal result of following the Way, keeping faith, and honoring the worthy. Read it with the ethical requirements of earlier lines, rather than as unconditional protection.

After achieving results, continue appreciating support, listening to capable people, and fulfilling responsibilities. Favorable conditions do not mean you can never make a mistake.

How do you respond to others' support and avoid overlooking reminders when things go well?

Try It Yourself

Exchange the trigrams and see which hexagram returns and where the broken line lands.

This page has a hands-on exercise. It is built into the Traditional Chinese page: open the interactive exercise.

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