Line 1 Yin
Lay down white grass as a mat; careful, yielding preparation supports the burden.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 28 · Dà Guò
Great Excess
An extraordinary load calls for examining support and capacity.
☱ Above: Dui · Lake☴ Below: Xun · Wind
Meaning
The lake rises over the trees and the roof beam bends: the middle is strong but its ends weak. Exceptional action may be needed, yet courage does not erase capacity limits.
FOR REFLECTION
Are you merely trying harder, or actually improving what carries the load?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yang
A dry willow sends out shoots, an old man gains a young wife: fresh vitality renews.
Line 3 Yang
The roof beam sags; its load has reached a dangerous limit.
Line 4 Yang
The beam is raised securely; an unnecessary further involvement spoils the improvement.
Line 5 Yang
A dry willow flowers, an old woman gains a young husband: a revival may be brief.
Line 6 Yin
Wading too far puts the head underwater; absence of blame does not prevent harm.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 大過James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 28
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.