26. The Taming Power of the Great

Judgment

大畜：利贞，不家食吉，利涉大川。

Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Accumulated capability should serve a larger stage.

Image

天在山中，大畜；君子以多识前言往行，以畜其德。

Heaven within the mountain: the image of great accumulation. The noble person acquaints themself with many sayings of antiquity and deeds of the past, to strengthen their character.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：有厉利已。

   Danger is at hand; it furthers to desist. When conditions are not ripe, pausing is the best investment.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：舆说輹。

   The axletrees are taken from the wagon. Stop voluntarily; gather strength.

3. Line 3, yang (nine)

   九三：良马逐，利艰贞。曰闲舆卫，利有攸往。

   A good horse that follows others. Awareness of danger with perseverance furthers. Practise chariot driving and armed defence daily. Rehearse before going fast.

4. Line 4, yin (six)

   六四：童牛之牿，元吉。

   The headboard of a young bull: great good fortune. Constrain problems while they are small.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：豶豕之牙，吉。

   The tusk of a gelded boar: good fortune. Remove the source of aggression instead of confronting it.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：何天之衢，亨。

   One attains the way of heaven: success. Accumulation complete, the road opens.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of capability building, knowledge management and capital accumulation: R&D, talent pipelines, brand equity, strategic reserves. 'Acquainting oneself with the deeds of the past' is organisational learning. Lines 4 and 5 are classic risk principles: constrain at the source.

Psychological lens

Resonates with deliberate practice and long-termism; line 4 is prevention-first behavioural design, line 5 removes triggers instead of relying on willpower.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Excess inventory Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• R&D spend without visible return Enterprise, Judgment
• A major capital-expenditure decision Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
• Breaking a bad habit Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• Worrying that learning is useless Individuals, Judgment
• Taking a sabbatical Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)
• The mindset for retirement preparation Individuals, Judgment
• Pushing through exhaustion? Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Whether to pursue a master's or PhD Individuals, Judgment
• Writing a memoir or family history Individuals, Judgment

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