Possession in Great Measure
大有
Upper: 离/火 | Lower: 乾/天
Overview
Da You (Possession in Great Measure) is the 14th hexagram of the I Ching, composed of Li (fire) above and Qian (heaven) below, symbolizing fire blazing high in the sky, illuminating all things beneath. Li as fire and sun hangs in the heavens, shining in all directions, bathing everything in its radiance—this is the image of 'great possession': vast holdings and abundant prosperity. Da You and Tong Ren are inverse hexagrams; Tong Ren unites people, while Da You represents the abundant harvest that follows unity. The single yin line at the fifth position occupies the place of honor with yielding centrality, and all five yang lines below and above rally to it—like a wise sovereign on the throne with all worthy ministers gathered around. The core spirit of Da You is 'gathering wealth through virtue'—true great possession comes not from plunder and monopoly but from attracting the world's resources and talents through luminous moral character.
Judgment
Possession in Great Measure. Supreme success.
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Get Possession in Great Measure ReadingJudgment Commentary
The judgment 'Possession in Great Measure. Supreme success' contains only four characters yet conveys boundless grandeur. 'Supreme success' represents the highest level of smooth achievement. The Commentary explains: 'In Great Possession, the yielding obtains the honored position, great and central, and those above and below respond to it—this is called Great Possession. Its virtue is strong and bright, responsive to heaven and timely in action, hence supreme success.' The yin line at the fifth position occupies the place of honor, centered and correct, softness dwelling in firmness, with all five yang lines responding—this is the supreme art of 'governing strength through gentleness.' 'Strong and bright' means inwardly powerful (Qian) yet outwardly luminous (Li), possessing both capability and virtue. 'Responsive to heaven and timely in action' means following heaven's way and acting at the right moment. Da You teaches that the greatest success comes not from forceful conquest but from moral inspiration. When a person's character shines brightly enough, the world's resources and talents naturally gravitate toward them.
Image
Fire in heaven above: the image of Possession in Great Measure. Thus the superior man curbs evil and furthers good, and thereby obeys the benevolent will of heaven.
Image Commentary
The Image states 'Fire in heaven above: the image of Possession in Great Measure. Thus the superior man curbs evil and furthers good, and thereby obeys the benevolent will of heaven.' This depicts the magnificent scene of the sun blazing high in the sky. Fire in heaven illuminates everything without exception, leaving no place for evil to hide—this is Da You's instruction to the noble person. 'Curbing evil and furthering good' means suppressing wickedness and promoting virtue, the primary responsibility of those who hold great power and influence. 'Obeying the benevolent will of heaven' means following heaven's gracious intent. Those who possess great wealth and power should shine like the sun—impartially illuminating all things, using power not for private gain but to suppress evil and promote justice. This aligns remarkably with modern concepts of corporate social responsibility: the greater the wealth, the greater the responsibility. True 'great possession' is not merely material abundance but spiritual luminosity.
Interpretation
Da You symbolizes great possession and abundance. Fire shines high in heaven, illuminating all. A yielding line in the place of honor receives support from all, bringing supreme success.
Line Texts
Nine at the beginning: No relationship with what is harmful; there is no blame in this. If one remains conscious of difficulty, one remains without blame.
Avoid harmful associations. Remaining aware of difficulties keeps one free of blame.
The first nine, 'No relationship with what is harmful; there is no blame in this. If one remains conscious of difficulty, one remains without blame,' describes the cautious attitude at the beginning of great possession. 'No relationship with what is harmful' means avoiding harmful associations and maintaining integrity; 'no blame' means being inherently faultless; 'conscious of difficulty' means maintaining a mindset of diligent effort to avoid blame. The first nine sits at the bottom of Da You; though the overall hexagram is highly auspicious, one must not be careless at the start. When first acquiring wealth and achievement, one is most vulnerable to temptation and traps. This line teaches that the very beginning of abundance demands the greatest vigilance and simplicity.
Nine in the second place: A big wagon for loading. One may undertake something. No blame.
A great wagon for loading. One may set forth. Capable of bearing heavy responsibility.
The second nine, 'A big wagon for loading. One may undertake something. No blame,' uses the image of a great wagon carrying goods to depict someone with ample talent capable of bearing heavy responsibility. The 'big wagon' symbolizes vast capacity and carrying power. The second nine is centered and correctly positioned, strong yet balanced, like a sturdy wagon that can carry heavy loads while moving steadily forward. 'One may undertake something' means that with sufficient preparation and ability, one can confidently pursue great endeavors. This line teaches that in times of great possession, the most important thing is having the capacity to handle abundance.
Nine in the third place: A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. A petty man cannot do this.
A prince offers his wealth to the Son of Heaven. A petty man is incapable of such generosity.
The third nine, 'A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. A petty man cannot do this,' describes the noble act of presenting wealth to the sovereign. The third nine sits at the top of the lower trigram, having accumulated considerable wealth and merit, and now chooses to dedicate these achievements to a higher cause—this is the concrete expression of Da You's spirit of 'curbing evil and furthering good.' 'A petty man cannot do this' means small-minded people are incapable of such generosity—they can only hoard wealth, unable to share or contribute. This line reveals Da You's core value: true great possession is not about holding but about giving.
Nine in the fourth place: He makes a difference between himself and his neighbor. No blame.
He does not flaunt his abundance. Modesty brings no blame.
The fourth nine, 'He makes a difference between himself and his neighbor. No blame'—here the meaning is not flaunting one's prosperity—possessing much yet remaining unassuming and modest. The fourth nine sits at the beginning of the upper trigram, adjacent to the honored fifth position, holding high rank and great power yet choosing restraint and discretion. This line reveals the most important wisdom for times of great possession: the more one has, the more one must maintain humble modesty. Flaunting wealth invites disaster; arrogance and excess lead to ruin—this is an eternal lesson. True richness is inner fulfillment, not outward display.
Six in the fifth place: He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified, has good fortune.
One whose sincerity is approachable yet dignified has good fortune.
The fifth six, 'He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified, has good fortune,' is Da You's core line and the hexagram's only yin line. 'Truth that is accessible' means engaging others with sincerity; 'yet dignified' means simultaneously maintaining authority and gravitas. The fifth six occupies the honored position with yielding grace, uniting hearts not through force but through sincerity, while never losing a leader's dignity and presence. This is the ideal leadership style—approachable yet authoritative, humble yet commanding. 'Good fortune' confirms that this leadership approach inevitably brings auspicious results.
Nine at the top: He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. Nothing that does not further.
Blessed by heaven. Good fortune in everything undertaken.
The top nine, 'He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. Nothing that does not further,' is Da You's most glorious conclusion and one of the most auspicious line texts in the entire I Ching. 'Blessed by heaven' means receiving heaven's protection—this is not superstition but the manifestation of the law of cause and effect. Confucius explained in the Xici Commentary: 'To bless means to help. Heaven helps those who are devoted; people help those who are sincere. One who walks in sincerity and thinks of devotion, and furthermore honors the worthy—therefore heaven blesses him, bringing good fortune and nothing unfurthered.' This line teaches that the greatest good fortune is not random luck but the inevitable result of long-accumulated good deeds and virtue.
Modern Application
Da You represents a state of abundance and fulfillment. The relationship is filled with trust and warmth, with both partners feeling cherished. The fifth six's 'sincerity that is accessible yet dignified' advises maintaining appropriate respect and space within intimacy for lasting love.【Wealth】Da You is one of the most
auspicious hexagrams, portending generous income and returns. Yet 'he does not flaunt his abundance' warns against showing off wealth, and 'a prince offers to the Son of Heaven' encourages using wealth for public benefit. The wealthier one becomes, the more important it is to give back to society.【Health】Da You corresponds to the heart and head (Li represents fire and heart; Qian represents the head). Pay attention to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. During busy career periods, rest is essential—avoid overwork that inflames the heart fire
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Possession in Great Measure. Supreme success.
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Da You symbolizes great possession and abundance. Fire shines high in heaven, illuminating all. A yielding line in the place of honor receives support from all, bringing supreme success.
Get AI Reading →Historical Story
The most famous historical story of Da You is Emperor Taizong of Tang and his creation of the 'Reign of Zhenguan.' After ascending the throne, Li Shimin governed with the spirit of the fifth six—'sincerity that is accessible yet dignified'—engaging ministers with genuine trust while maintaining imperial authority. He recruited brilliant talents: Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and other renowned ministers served at his side, mirroring Da You's pattern of five yang lines rallying around one yin. During the Zhenguan era, national power flourished, foreign nations paid tribute, and the people prospered—a perfect embodiment of 'Great Possession: Supreme Success.' Li Shimin mastered the art of 'curbing evil and furthering good,' establishing the remonstrance system and encouraging frank counsel, winning the hearts of all through luminous governance. Another story involves Fan Li, who after helping King Goujian achieve victory, retired to become a merchant, amassing and dispersing great fortunes three times over—embodying the transcendent wisdom of possessing greatly without clinging to possession.
Related Trigrams
大有卦的错卦为比卦（第8卦），大有为众人归附于明君，比为众人亲附于领袖，一以德聚，一以情聚；综卦为同人卦（第13卦），先团结众人（同人），后获得丰收（大有）。互卦为夬卦（第43卦），暗示丰盛之中需要果断决策以防止阴邪侵蚀。
References
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Further Reading
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