14. Possession in Great Measure

Judgment

大有：元亨。

Supreme success—a time of abundance and achievement.

Image

火在天上，大有；君子以遏恶扬善，顺天休命。

Fire in heaven above: the image of possession in great measure. The noble person curbs evil and furthers good, obeying the benevolent will of heaven.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：无交害，匪咎，艰则无咎。

   No relationship with what is harmful; there is no blame in this. If one remains conscious of difficulty, no blame. Early in abundance, avoid temptation.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：大车以载，有攸往，无咎。

   A big wagon for loading; one may undertake something—no blame. You have the capacity to carry larger ventures.

3. Line 3, yang (nine)

   九三：公用亨于天子，小人弗克。

   A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven; a petty person cannot do this. Wealth serves a higher, public purpose.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：匪其彭，无咎。

   He makes a difference between himself and his neighbour: no blame. Modesty protects the wealthy.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：厥孚交如，威如，吉。

   He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified, has good fortune. Generosity with principle.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：自天祐之，吉无不利。

   He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune; nothing that does not further. When virtue matches position, support follows.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of abundance, resource allocation and the responsibility of wealth: capital allocation in cash-rich phases, governance after an IPO, family wealth, corporate responsibility. Core: curb harm, further good—use abundance to do the right thing.

Psychological lens

Resonates with hedonic adaptation and the psychology of money: satisfaction depends on how wealth is used (research on prosocial spending, Dunn et al.).

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• A star performer and the team Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Going upmarket or mass-market Enterprise, Line 2, yang (nine)
• The urge to spend when cash-rich Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Anti-corruption and bribery risk Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Sustainability as competitive advantage Enterprise, Judgment
• Profit vs. purpose Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
• Keeping up with others Individuals, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Money and happiness Individuals, Judgment
• An unexpected windfall Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Buy or rent? Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)
• Dividing an inheritance Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• Passing wealth to the next generation Individuals, Line 6, yang (nine)
• The meaning of wealth Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.