Hexagram 26, Dà Chù (Great Taming): Line 3

大畜卦九三 · 山天大畜 · 中文版

九三:良马逐,利艰贞,吉。日闲舆卫,利有攸往。

The line (Legge)

The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject urging his way with good horses. It will be advantageous for him to realise the difficulty (of his course), and to be firm and correct, exercising himself daily in his charioteering and methods of defence; then there will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance.

Small Image commentary

'There will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance:' - (the subject of) the topmost line is of the same mind with him.

象曰:利有攸往,上合志也。

In plain words

Good horses gallop in pursuit; it is favourable to be steadfast in hardship: good fortune. Practising daily with chariot and defence, it is favourable to go somewhere. The third line and the top line are both yang and share the same aims, so it can advance, but it must still practise every day. The Small Image says its aims match the one above.

Applying it to your situation

If you can finally stride ahead, this line suggests still practising the basics every day. What do you keep practising daily?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the third place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 6; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Dà Chù changes into Hexagram 41 Sǔn (Decrease). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·大畜之损.

The hexagram

Hexagram 26 Dà Chù (Great Taming). The Judgment: Under the conditions of Da Xu it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (If its subject do not seek to) enjoy his revenues in his own family (without taking service at court), there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous for him to cross the great stream.

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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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