Great Exceeding (Dà Guò)

Judgment

大过：栋桡，利有攸往，亨。

Plain Meaning：The ridgepole sags: extraordinary times demand extraordinary action—going forward brings success.

Image (Great Commentary)

泽灭木，大过；君子以独立不惧，遁世无闷。

Line Texts

• 初六藉用白茅，无咎。

  White rushes spread beneath—utmost care; no blame.

• 九二枯杨生稊，老夫得其女妻，无不利。

  A withered poplar sprouts; an old man takes a young wife—nothing that does not further.

• 九三栋桡，凶。

  The ridgepole sags to breaking—misfortune.

• 九四栋隆，吉；有它吝。

  The ridgepole braced—fortune; ulterior motives bring humiliation.

• 九五枯杨生华，老妇得其士夫，无咎无誉。

  A withered poplar blooms; an old woman takes a young husband—no blame, no praise.

• 上六过涉灭顶，凶，无咎。

  Wading until the water covers the head—misfortune, yet no blame in the sacrifice.

Symbolism

The lake submerging the trees: extraordinary pressure and duty.

Life Lesson

Stand alone without fear in a crisis, but reinforce—don’t snap from rigidity.

Modern Application

In overload, act decisively and shore up support to avert collapse.

Words of Caution

Bearing too much without support ends in breakage.