Reading
Judgment
The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.
The hexagram points to a time in which inner worth rises powerfully and comes to power. But the strength has already exceeded the middle. Therefore the danger lies near that one relies on one's power without asking at every moment what is right; that one is bent on motion without waiting for the right time. Therefore the sentence is added that perseverance is favorable. For this is precisely truly great power, that it does not degenerate into mere violence, but remains inwardly bound to the principles of right and justice. If one understands this point, that greatness and justice must be inseparably bound, one understands the true meaning of all world events in heaven and on earth.
Image
Thunder is on high in the sky:
the image of the Power of the Great.
Thus the noble one does not tread on ways
that do not correspond to order.
Thunder, the electric force, rises upward in spring. This motion is in accord with the direction of motion of heaven. It is therefore a motion in agreement with heaven, which produces great power. But true greatness rests on being in accord with what is right. Therefore the noble one, in times of great power, takes care not to do anything that is not in accord with what corresponds to order.
Commentary
The great, that is, the light, strong lines, are powerful. Four light lines have entered the hexagram from below and are about to rise further. The upper trigram is Chen, the Arousing; the lower, Ch'ien, the Creative. The Creative is strong, the Arousing is moving. The union of motion and strength gives the meaning of the Power of the Great. The hexagram is assigned to the second month (March-April).
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
Power in the toes.
To continue brings misfortune.
This is certainly true.
Commentary
The toes are at the bottom and are ready to press forward. Thus great power in a lowly place is inclined to force progress by violence. But if one continues thus, it would certainly lead to misfortune. Therefore a warning is added as counsel.
Line 2
A nine in the second place means:
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Commentary
The presupposed situation is that the gates of success are beginning to open. Resistance begins to yield. One advances powerfully. This is the point at which hubris all too easily sets in, which cannot be restrained. Therefore the oracle, that perseverance, namely in inner equilibrium, without exaggerated exercise of power, brings good fortune.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means:
The petty one works through power; the noble one does not do so.
To continue is dangerous.
A he-goat butts against a hedge
and tangles its horns.
Commentary
Relying on power leads to entanglements, as a buck that butts against a hedge entangles its horns. While the petty one, when in possession of power, revels in it, the noble one does not act so. They are aware, under all circumstances, of the danger of continuing and therefore renounce mere display of power in good time.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Remorse vanishes.
The hedge opens; there is no entanglement.
Power rests on the axle of a great wagon.
Commentary
If one works on perseveringly and quietly at the removal of resistances, one eventually succeeds. The hindrances yield, and the occasion for remorse, which rests on an exaggerated application of power, vanishes.
Power does not show itself outwardly, but it has the effect of moving heavy loads forward, like a great wagon whose strength rests on its axle. The less one applies power outwardly, the more strongly it works.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
He loses the goat with ease.
No remorse.
Commentary
The buck is distinguished by outer hardness with inner weakness. Now the situation is such that everything is quite easy; no resistance is present anymore. Here one may lay aside the combative, obstinate nature and will not have to regret it.
Line 6
A six at the top means:
A goat butts against a hedge:
it cannot go back, it cannot go forward.
Nothing is furthering.
If one notices the difficulty, that brings good fortune.
Commentary
If one ventures too far forward, one comes to a dead point where one can go neither forward nor backward, and everything only serves to make the matter even more entangled. With such stubbornness one falls into insurmountable difficulties. If one recognizes the situation and does not want to continue, but calms down, then with time everything will become good again.