Hexagram 26 Da Xu - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Great Accumulation
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 26 Da Xu - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Great Accumulation
Da Xu's six lines tell the complete story of genuine great accumulation — from the timely restraint that averts danger at the beginning, through the progressive taming of genuine creative force, to the supreme moment when heaven's highway opens and the great undertaking becomes possible.
Line 1 — Nine at the Bottom: Danger Averted
Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist.
The first line of Da Xu describes the timely restraint that averts danger. The person who recognizes the danger at the beginning of the great accumulation — who desists from premature action before the great accumulation is sufficient — finds that the timely restraint averts the danger.
- Stage: The beginning of great accumulation — timely restraint averts danger
- Action: Desist from premature action; allow the great accumulation to develop
- Wisdom: It furthers one to desist — timely restraint averts danger
Line 2 — Nine in the Second Place: The Axletrees Are Removed
The axletrees are removed from the wagon.
The wagon cannot move without its axletrees; the person of Line 2 has had the axletrees of premature action removed — the genuine creative force has been restrained before it can rush forward prematurely. The genuine wisdom of Line 2 is the wisdom of genuine restraint: the person whose axletrees have been removed finds that the great accumulation can develop without the danger of premature action.
- Stage: The restraint of genuine creative force — the axletrees removed
- Action: Accept the restraint of genuine creative force; allow the great accumulation to develop
- Wisdom: The axletrees removed — genuine restraint allows the great accumulation to develop
Line 3 — Nine in the Third Place: A Good Horse Follows Another
A good horse that follows others. Awareness of danger, with perseverance, furthers. Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily. It furthers one to have somewhere to go.
The third line of Da Xu describes the active accumulation of genuine skill. The person of Line 3 is a good horse — a person of genuine creative force — who follows others in the patient accumulation of genuine skill. Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily: the daily practice of genuine skill is the foundation of the great accumulation.
- Stage: The active accumulation of genuine skill — daily practice
- Action: Practice daily; accumulate genuine skill through patient, sustained practice
- Wisdom: It furthers one to have somewhere to go — the great accumulation of genuine skill
Line 4 — Six in the Fourth Place: The Headboard of a Young Bull
The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune.
The headboard is placed on the young bull before its horns have grown — the preventive taming that restrains the genuine creative force before it becomes dangerous. Great good fortune: the person who tames the genuine creative force before it becomes dangerous finds great good fortune.
- Stage: The preventive taming — the headboard of a young bull
- Action: Tame the genuine creative force before it becomes dangerous; preventive restraint
- Wisdom: Great good fortune — preventive taming finds great good fortune
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: The Tusks of a Gelded Boar
The tusks of a gelded boar. Good fortune.
The gelded boar still has its tusks — the genuine creative force has not been destroyed but has been indirectly tamed through the removal of its most dangerous element. The person who tames the genuine creative force indirectly, through the removal of its most dangerous element rather than through direct confrontation, finds good fortune.
- Stage: The indirect taming — the tusks of a gelded boar
- Action: Tame the genuine creative force indirectly; remove the most dangerous element
- Wisdom: Good fortune — indirect taming finds good fortune
Line 6 — Nine at the Top: Heaven's Highway Opens
One attains the way of heaven. Success.
The supreme line of Da Xu — the moment when the great accumulation is complete and heaven's highway opens. The person who has completed the great accumulation of genuine inner virtue — who has tamed the genuine creative force through patient, sustained practice — attains the way of heaven. Success: the great accumulation is complete; the great undertaking is now possible.
- Stage: The completion of great accumulation — heaven's highway opens
- Action: Complete the great accumulation; the great undertaking is now possible
- Wisdom: Success — one attains the way of heaven
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: Danger averted — timely restraint; it furthers one to desist
- Line 2: Axletrees removed — restraint of genuine creative force; genuine restraint
- Line 3: Good horse follows — daily practice of genuine skill; it furthers to have somewhere to go
- Line 4: Headboard of young bull — preventive taming; great good fortune
- Line 5: Tusks of gelded boar — indirect taming; good fortune
- Line 6: Heaven's highway opens — great accumulation complete; success
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Da Xu in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Da Xu in Confucian, Taoist, and Classical Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Long-Term Accumulation, Patient Mastery, Delayed Gratification
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Deliberate Practice Science, Mastery Research, Long-Term Thinking
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