The Art of Accumulating Great Character
Hexagram 26 (Ta Ch'u/The Taming Power of the Great) answers a vital question: What makes a person (or a nation) truly powerful? The answer is Accumulation—not merely of material wealth, but of deep virtue, talent, and inner strength.
The hexagram uses a series of vivid metaphors to teach the art of self-control. It describes a journey that transforms raw energy into refined power. At the beginning, one must have the patience to hold back, burying one's head in study rather than rushing into danger. As strength grows, the metaphor shifts to a "Fine Horse"—capable of great speed, yet valuable only because it is disciplined.
The true secret of Ta Ch'u lies in how we handle our primitive impulses. The text advises us to apply the "Headboard to the Young Bull" (preventing the horns from growing dangerous) and to neutralize the "Tusk of the Boar" (sublimating aggressive rage). This teaches us to check bad habits early and to transform wild energy into constructive force.
By restraining the evil and nurturing the good at the source, we prepare ourselves for the ultimate reward. When the accumulation is complete, the path opens up to the "Highway of Heaven" (何天之衢). This is the state of unobstructed success, where one's vast potential is finally unleashed to serve the world.
