dà guòAlso known as “Preponderance of the Great” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Tâ Kwo” (Legge)
great excesscritical massextraordinary times
In plain words
The lake drowning the trees: the ridgepole bends under too much weight. An extraordinary situation, strong in the middle and weak at the ends — something must give way or be done.
The attitude it asks for
Act decisively but gently to relieve the load; extraordinary times excuse extraordinary measures, not recklessness.
Tâ Kwo suggests to us a beam that is weak. There will be advantage in moving (under its conditions) in any direction whatever; there will be success.
Commentary on the Judgment
大過，大者過也。棟橈，本末弱也。剛過而中，巽而說行，利有攸往，乃亨。大過之時大矣哉！
Tâ Kwo shows the great ones (= the undivided lines) in excess.
In 'the beam that is weak' we see weakness both in the lowest and the topmost (lines).
The strong lines are in excess, but (two of them) are in the central positions. The action (of the hexagram is represented by the symbols of) flexibility and satisfaction. (Hence it is said), 'There will be advantage in moving in any direction whatever; yea, there will be success.'
Great indeed is (the work to be done in) this very extraordinary time.
The Image
澤滅木，大過；君子以獨立不懼，遯世无悶。
(The trigram representing) trees hidden beneath that for the waters of a marsh forms Tâ Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands up alone and has no fear, and keeps retired from the world without regret.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
過涉滅頂，凶，无咎。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with extraordinary (boldness) wading through a stream, till the water hides the crown of his head. There will be evil, but no ground for blame.
Its symbolism
過涉之凶，不可咎也。
'Evil follows wading with (extraordinary) boldness (through the stream):'—but (the act) affords no ground for blame.
The fifth line, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing flowers, or an old wife in possession of her young husband. There will be occasion neither for blame nor for praise.
Its symbolism
枯楊生華，何可久也。老婦士夫，亦可醜也。
'A decayed willow produces flowers:'—but how can this secure its long continuance? 'An old wife and a young husband:'—this also is a thing to be ashamed of.
The fourth line, undivided, shows a beam curving upwards. There will be good fortune. If (the subject of it) looks for other (help but that of line one), there will be cause for regret.
Its symbolism
棟隆之吉，不橈乎下也。
'The good fortune connected with the beam curving upwards' arises from this, that it does not bend towards what is below.
The second line, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing shoots, or an old husband in possession of his young wife. There will be advantage in every way.
Its symbolism
老夫女妻，過以相與也。
'An old husband and a young wife:'—such association is extraordinary.
The first line, divided, shows one placing mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground. There will be no error.
Its symbolism
藉用白茅，柔在下也。
'He places mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground:'—he feels his weakness and his being in the lowest place, (and uses extraordinary care).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 28, Great Excess, mean?
The lake drowning the trees: the ridgepole bends under too much weight. An extraordinary situation, strong in the middle and weak at the ends — something must give way or be done.
Which trigrams form Great Excess?
兌 above 巽 — lake over wind. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 乾 Heaven.
What happens when a line of Great Excess changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Great Excess in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - — — — — - - is Great Excess. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.