34. THE POWER OF THE GREAT
Ta Chuang
The Judgement
THE POWER OF THE GREAT. Perseverance furthers.
The Image
Thunder in heaven above: The image of THE POWER OF THE GREAT. Thus the superior man does not tread upon paths That do not accord with established order.
The Lines
Six at the top: A ram butts against a hedge. It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward. Nothing serves to further. If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.
The Image says: 'It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward.' This is not auspicious. 'If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.' The blame will not last long.
Six in the fifth place: Loses the goat with ease. No remorse.
The Image says: 'Loses the goat with ease,' because the place is not the right one.
Nine in the fourth place: Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. The hedge opens; there is no entanglement. Power depends upon the axle of a big cart.
The Image says: 'The hedge opens; there is no entanglement.' One goes forward.
Nine in the third place: The inferior man uses power. The superior man does not use it. To be persevering is dangerous. A ram butts against a hedge and gets its horns entangled.
The Image says: 'The inferior man uses power.' The superior man does not.
Nine in the second place: Perseverance brings good fortune.
The Image says: 'Perseverance brings good fortune,' because it is in the middle.
Nine at the beginning: Power in the toes. To advance brings misfortune. This is certainly true.
The Image says: 'Power in the toes.' This certainty comes to an end.