Reading
The house beam sags under the weight an excess of greatness—moving in any direction, there will be development.
Whatever ventured has the possibility of success, but the supporting beam of the house bends. It is best when weak lines are on the inside, with strong on the outside—hexagram 28 is the opposite. Without change, the whole structure could crumble under the pressure. The timing is extraordinary—use emptiness in fullness for the highest effect. Not knowing what is enough, and the house will fall.
Indulgently pursuing the strong yang energy, seeking external desires and delights and self-satisfaction, the beam could fracture. The Sun is the center of the hexagram—see things as they are, looking to what's important to the situation, and do not force things.
With an excess of strong lines, here, weak lines must provide the support. With enough ying energy, proceed with flexibility, being easygoing and adaptable, and development will be unhindered. This is gentle penetration. Stand tall, solitary, without fear, if need be, retiring from the world without blame or regret, and you will be like the Great People. All conditions are temporary.
Translation Reference
Judgment
Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point.
It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
The great has preponderance. The load is too great for the supporting forces. The ridgepole, on which the whole roof rests, sags because its supporting ends are too weak for the load. It is a time and situation that requires extraordinary measures in order to be overcome, because it is itself an exceptional time. Therefore one must be intent on finding a transition as quickly as possible, on acting: this promises success. For although the strong is in preponderance, it is still in the middle, that is, at the inner center of gravity, so that no revolution is to be feared. With violent measures, to be sure, nothing is achieved. One must untie the knot by gently penetrating the sense of the situation (as is suggested by the attribute of the inner hexagram Sun); then the transition to other conditions will succeed. Great superiority is needed; therefore the time of Preponderance of the Great is a great time.
Image
The lake rises above the trees:
the image of Preponderance of the Great.
Thus the noble one, when they stand alone, is unconcerned,
and when they must renounce the world, undaunted.
Extraordinary times of Preponderance of the Great are like a flood in which the lake rises above the trees. But such states pass. In the individual hexagrams is given the right attitude in such exceptional times. The image of Sun is the tree that stands firm even when it is solitary, and the attribute of Tui is the cheerfulness that remains undaunted even when it must renounce the world.
Commentary
The hexagram consists of four strong lines within and two weak lines without. When the strong are without and the weak within, it is good and there is no preponderance, nothing extraordinary is present. Here the reverse is the case. The hexagram represents a beam that is thick and heavy in the middle but too weak at the ends. This is no lasting condition. It must be changed, it must pass, otherwise misfortune threatens.
Changing Lines
Line 1: The white rushes are set under things.
Feel your weakness, and react appropriately—like setting down a soft blanket before placing something fragile, use exceptional care and prudence to avoid error.
Commentary
When one wants to begin something in extraordinary times, one must exercise extraordinary caution, just as one carefully places white rushes underneath something heavy that is to be placed on the ground, so that nothing breaks. This caution may seem exaggerated, but it is no fault. All extraordinary undertakings can succeed only with utmost caution in their beginnings and foundations.
Line 2: The old willow grows new shoots.
Just as how it's soft water that makes old willows strong, conditions may seem unusual, but there is advantage and vitality here. In balancing strength with the ability to yield, firmness met with flexibility, all associations are extraordinary—the high and the low can work together to great success.
Commentary
The wood stands at the water; hence the image of an old poplar that sprouts at the root. This is an extraordinary revival of the growth process. The same extraordinary situation arises when an older man takes a young girl as a wife who suits him. In spite of the extraordinary nature of the situation, all goes well. Viewed politically, the sense is that in extraordinary times it is favorable to hold with those below, for here the possibility of renewal is given.
Line 3: The beam is weak—there will be evil.
Evil is connected to the weak foundation of the hexagram—these are the condition if one insists on charging forward heedlessly, avoiding the support of good people. Know when to withdraw before the house beam snaps.
Commentary
Here a personality is depicted who in times of Preponderance of the Great wants to force their way through violently. They take no advice from others, and therefore the others too are not ready to support them. Thereby the load grows, and bending or breaking follows. In dangerous times, willful pressing ahead only hastens the collapse.
Line 4: The beam is braced, bending back upwards to better fortune.
Finding good help is advantageous, but if you seek personal gain by exploiting the goodwill of others, you will be humiliated. The strong lines are firm, so follow with yielding—too small, too flexible, and the strength of the house will deteriorate.
Commentary
Through friendly relations with those below, a responsible man succeeds in mastering the situation. But if he were to abuse his relations for the sake of gaining power and success for himself personally, instead of caring only for the rescue of the whole, this would be humiliating.
Line 5: The decayed willow flowers.
When tired, there is no need for concern, or regret, though it is unlikely there will be advantage. When the tree is old, it's flowering may only hasten it's end; luxury and self-satisfaction injures the real with the false—when the belly is filled, empty the mind, and rest without blame. Apply inner strength with balance, and do not disparage those who have aided you.
Commentary
A withered poplar that puts forth flowers exhausts its strength thereby and only comes closer to its end. An older woman takes a husband once more. But no renewal takes place. Everything remains sterile. Only peculiarity remains, even if everything goes respectably. Politically it is suggested that if in uncertain times one gives up the connection with those below and holds only to one's relations to the higher classes, a condition is created that is not lasting.
Line 6: Wading the stream with incredible boldness.
Attempting to ford the current, until the waters cover the crown of your head, this is extraordinary energy. This will end in evil, but without blame for the effort. Act arbitrarily, in ignorance, and the destruction could be great. Go too far, and lose good fortune. Return to prudence if possible, but, by your own heart, there may be things more important than your own well-being.
Commentary
Here is depicted the situation that the extraordinary has risen to the highest. One is courageous and wants under all circumstances to master one's task. Thereby one comes into danger. The water goes over one. That is the misfortune. But to give up one's life for the sake of carrying through the good and the right brings no blame. There are more important things than life.