I Ching Hexagram 14
Great Possessing / Possession in Great Measure
Possession in Great Measure: sublime success!
The two primary hexagrams show that strength and clarity unite. Possession in Great Measure is determined by fate and corresponds to the time. How is it possible that the weak line has the strength to hold fast and possess the strong? Through its selfless modesty. The time is favorable. Strength within, and clarity and cultivation without. The strength expresses itself finely and under restraint. This gives sublime success and wealth.
Fire on high in the sky: the image of Possession in Great Measure. Thus the noble one checks evil and furthers the good and so obeys the good will of heaven.
The sun high in the sky, which shines upon all earthly things, is the image of possession on a great scale. But such a possession must be rightly administered. The sun brings both evil and good to light. The human being must combat and check evil, must further and favor the good. Only in this way does one correspond to the good will of God, who wills only the good and not evil.
The fire high in the sky shines far, so that all things come into light and into appearance. The weak fifth line stands in an honored place, and all the strong lines correspond to it. Whoever, in a high place, is modest and mild has everything fall to them.
A nine at the beginning means: No relation to what is harmful: this is no blame. If one remains mindful of the difficulty, one remains without blame.
Great possession that is still in its beginning stage and has not yet experienced any challenge is without blame, for there has been as yet no opportunity to make mistakes. But many difficulties still remain to be overcome. Only by remaining mindful of these difficulties does one become truly free within of the possibility of arrogance and wastefulness, and has in principle overcome every blame.
A nine in the second place means: A great wagon for loading. One may undertake something. No blame.
Great possession consists not only in the quantity of goods at one's disposal, but above all in their mobility and usefulness. Then one may use them for undertakings and remain free of embarrassment and mistakes. By the great wagon, which one can load heavily and with which one can travel far, are understood capable helpers who stand at one's side, equal to their task. To such people one can entrust great responsibility, which is necessary in important undertakings.
A nine in the third place means: A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. A petty person cannot do this.
It is the concern of a broadhearted, liberal person not to regard their possession as their exclusive personal property, but to place it at the disposal of the sovereign, that is, of the general community. In this way they place themself in the right attitude toward possession, which can never be lasting as private property. A narrowhearted person is of course not capable of this. For them, great possession turns to harm, since instead of sacrificing they want to keep.
A nine in the fourth place means: They make a distinction between themself and their neighbor. No blame.
Here a position is characterized that stands between wealthy and powerful neighbors. This brings danger. Here one must look neither right nor left; one must remain free of envy and of the attempt to emulate others. Thus one remains free of error.
A six in the fifth place means: Whose truth is accessible and yet worthy has good fortune.
The situation is very favorable. Without outer compulsion, merely through unsought sincerity, one wins people over so that they too are devoted to one in sincere truth. But in the time of Possession in Great Measure, mildness alone is not enough. Otherwise presumption could easily arise. This arising of presumption must be held in check by dignity; then good fortune is certain.
A nine at the top means: From heaven he is blessed, good fortune! Nothing that is not furthering.
In the fullness of possession and power one remains modest and honors the sage who stands outside the bustle of the world. Thereby one places oneself under the blessing influence of heaven, and all goes well.
Confucius says of this line: "To bless means to help. Heaven helps the one who is devoted; people help the one who is truthful. Whoever walks in truthfulness and is devoted in their thinking, and furthermore holds the worthy in esteem, will be blessed by heaven. They find good fortune, and there is nothing that is not furthering."