26 大畜 Large Accumulation – Strong Disciplined Character
This hexagram has a Mountain trigram on top of the Heaven trigram. It is a mountain containing the large strength and power of Heaven within. The meaning of the words 大畜 is great accumulation. Accumulation could be of resources and also of character strength. The mountain represents stability and stop. This hexagram means holding firm (not to be moved or defeated), holding back (not to move) until the right time, or holding just to accumulate more resources to strike when one is ready. When it acts, we know that it will be mighty because of the release of large accumulated strength.
Description:
- 利贞: good for perseverance in integrity and purity
- 不家食吉: leaving home to make a living has good fortune
- 利涉大川: it is good for crossing the great river – starting a big project.
Textual Commentary:
彖曰：大畜，刚健笃实辉光，日新其德，刚上而尚贤。 能止健，大正也。不家食吉，养 贤也。 利涉大川，应乎天也。
It is strong and solid giving out light. Its character strength continues to grow day and day. The top is strong and gives priority to seeking good talents. It can hold firmly because it is upright and fair. It does not stay at home and live with the family. This is good fortune because it is gathering and developing talents. Crossing great rivers and doing great things are responses to the will of Heaven.
Pictorial Commentary:
象曰：天在山中，大畜；君子以多识前言往行，以畜其德。
The Heaven is inside the Mountain is 大畜 Great Accumulation. Wise men (virtuous men) accumulate much knowledge, teachings, and practices of the past. Practicing them to develop one’s moral character.
Moral Teachings:
- Stability comes from Strength within. How can one not be easily swayed by the events and fads of the day? It is by accumulating moral strength and resources. A person with moral strength will have wise judgment and be able to have peace and calm in the face of crisis and pressure. So we are to build up our moral strength.
- Daily Development. Strength is developed little by little and day by day. Continuity and incremental growth are the key and random large effort.
- Learn the Timeless Principles of Life. How do we build up our strength? The pictorial commentary tells us to learn from the knowledge and teachings of past sages. Learn from the great men of the past who had the track records to show us. In this present digital and high-tech world, we have the tendency to think that the latest and the newest are good. This may not be so. Fads come and go. There are principles of life that don’t change with time. Learn these timeless principles.
- Venture out to learn. Don’t just stay at home and live with the family. We should venture out to try out and learn. See the world and experience the diverse cultures and challenges of new things. Bring foreign talents into the corporation.
- Get Talents. We are also encouraged to seek out talented people. Our ability to accomplish big projects is not restricted to ourselves alone. We need to form a group of talented people sharing a common mission. Talents breed talents.
- The development comes from practicing. The best form of learning is doing – putting what we learned into practice. Only then, by doing, can we say we have truly mastered the topic. Our moral character is shaped by our practice and strengthened by adversity and trials. Hence we can see the need for the earlier teaching of venturing out.
Stage 1 Being Nine: Facing danger in front, one stops to benefit oneself. 初九：有厉利已。
The pictorial commentary adds that one stops to prevent entering into disaster. 象曰：有 厉利已，不犯灾也。
When we are advancing, such as a start-up business or a new project, calling a stop or quitting in the process, even when one foresees the danger, is not easy. This is because we are emotionally involved and we are influenced by the amount of investments and effort already committed. We are blind-sighted and hope to re-coup the investment or sunk costs. We could bear the truth that all are gone. We know this is the experience of the gambler who despite losing still wants to borrow more money to go back to gambling hoping to recover back. A venture capitalist, an outsider, will always make sure that his new investments are not good money chasing after losing deals. But if we clearly see the danger in front, it is important that we call a stop first and bear the loss. We need to recoup and wait for the opportunity to move ahead. It is no shame to call a stop to admit our errors or wrong assumptions. It is better to face reality and admit one error than to save face and incur a greater loss. The ability to stop, admit error, and even lose face takes someone with a strong character to do.
Stage 2 Second Nine: The axles break away from the carriage. 九二：舆说辐。
The pictorial commentary further explains that this stoppage brings no harm. It is the right thing to do. 象曰：舆说辐，中无尤也。
We should stop at stage 1. Here reveals that the struggles between the forces, go vs stop, resulted in the separation of the axles from the carriage and caused the whole thing to stop. The forces could be external from our friends or internal within ourselves. The stoppage is the right thing to do and so despite the struggle, it still ends well. We can also say that while it was a hard decision to make, nevertheless, the right decision was made.
Stage 3 Third Nine: The fine horses chasing one another. Good to persevere in these hard times. Make use of the time to develop a defense (literally driving the chariots) daily. It is good to have somewhere to go. 九三：良马逐，利艰贞。曰闲舆卫，利有攸往。
The pictorial commentary explains that the top shared the same mission and hence it is good to move ahead. 象曰：利有攸往，上合志也。
When the time is tough and movement is not yet. It is a good time to continue to develop oneself. There are signs that the opportunity is opening up. Stopping in I-Ching is not about lack of activity but about conserving energy and getting ready. We have learned about waiting in I-Ching Part 10 5需 Needs – Wait for the Right. It is busy inside the corporation and no action on the outside.
Stage 4 Fourth Six: The head-block (the wood on the bull horns to prevent them from hurting others) on a young bull. It is a great fortune. 六四：童豕之牿，元吉。
The pictorial commentary says this is great fortune because there is a great celebration. 象曰：六四元吉，有喜也。
To restrain a young bull from hurting people, a restraining block is used. With the proper restrain or control of behavior, the corporation can move cautiously to gain success.
Stage 5 Fifth Six: Castrated boar’s teeth. Good fortune. 六五：豶豕之牙，吉。
The pictorial commentary says this is good fortune because there is a celebration. 象曰：六五之吉，有庆也。
The restrain has changed from an external head-block to a change in nature though externally applied to the body. The castrated boar’s nature has changed due to the castration. It is no longer wild.
Stage 6 Top Nine: Like the streets of the sky, one can go anywhere. Smooth flow. 上九：何天之衢，亨。
The pictorial commentary adds that the ways are broad. 象曰：何天之衢，道大行也。
The moral character has developed into such a high stage that we can do anything freely and it will be following the ways of heaven. This is like stage 6 of Confucius where he said that at age 70, he could follow his heart’s desires without transgressing what was right.
Summary:
- Stability and self-control (restrain) come from the moral strength within.
- Our moral character is shaped by our practice and strengthened by adversity and trials.
- Character development takes place day by day over the long term.
- We learn the timeless principles of life from the ancient sages.
- Putting learning into practical living builds strength.
- Venture out to learn.
- Get Talents and not just think ‘Only I can do it’.
The stage lines give additional details. It reveals the strength of restrain and it is slowly developed from external to internal. Great projects can only be taken by people with great moral strength.
- Stop because of danger.
- Stop with inward struggle.
- Stop getting ready.
- Restrain by an external force.
- Restrain by nature.
- Need no restrain. Do as one pleases because one has internalized the ways of heaven.
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