Hexagram 14 Dà Yǒu (大有): Possession of Great Things, Meaning and Six Lines
Fourteenth hexagram of the I Ching: Heaven beneath Fire, abundance well managed. Judgement, six lines, moving lines and a careful reading of Possession of Great Things.
Key points
| Number | 14 of 64 (King Wen order) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 大有 (Dà Yǒu) |
| Approximate pronunciation | dah yoh |
| Name (French tradition followed here) | Da You, Possession of Great Things |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Qian, Heaven |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Li, Fire |
| Lines, from bottom to top | yang / yang / yang / yang / yin / yang |
| Twin hexagram | No. 13, Tong Ren, Fellowship |
Hexagram 14: Dà Yǒu (大有), name and composition
Hexagram 14 is the counterpart of the previous one. Its name means “great possession”: great holdings, great abundance. It describes what one does with wealth, talent or influence when one has a great deal of it.
Hexagram no. 14 is written 大有 and transliterated Dà Yǒu in pinyin; it is pronounced approximately “dah yoh”. It is made of two trigrams stacked one above the other: below, inside, Qian (Heaven); above, outside, Li (Fire). The overall image is therefore Fire above Heaven.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yang (solid), yang (solid), yang (solid), yang (solid), yin (broken), yang (solid). In King Wen’s order it forms a pair with hexagram 13 (Tong Ren, Fellowship), which is the same figure turned upside down.
The judgement in brief
The judgement is as brief as possible: great success. The commentators specify that this abundance lasts only if it is well kept.
General meaning
Fire is above Heaven: the sun shines high and everything is lit. A single yin line, the fifth, occupies the place of the ruler, surrounded by yang lines that trust it. The abundance is therefore that of someone who receives and knows how to welcome, not of someone who appropriates. The text insists on modesty: wealth without arrogance, open to others.
The lines show how not to be spoiled by abundance: avoiding harmful contacts, putting one’s resources at the service of a greater good, not flaunting, remaining sincere. The hexagram is not a call to get rich; it is an invitation to manage with clear sight what one already has.
The six lines, one by one
The lines are counted from bottom to top. Here, summarised in our own words, is the image the ancient text attaches to each one; the last column gives the hexagram obtained if that line alone is moving.
| Line | Nature | Summarised image | If it is moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yang (solid) | No harmful contact for now: staying cautious, even without any apparent fault, avoids trouble. | No. 50 (Ding) |
| 2 | yang (solid) | A large carriage to carry everything: one can go far with what one has, without fault. | No. 30 (Li) |
| 3 | yang (solid) | Putting one’s resources at the service of a common good: what the person who keeps everything for themselves cannot do. | No. 38 (Kui) |
| 4 | yang (solid) | Not flaunting one’s power: no fault. (The meaning of this line is debated.) | No. 26 (Da Chu) |
| 5 | yin (broken) | A sincerity that shines, with dignity: good fortune. | No. 1 (Qian) |
| 6 | yang (solid) | Help that seems to come from heaven: everything is favourable. | No. 34 (Da Zhuang) |
The moving lines
A moving line is a line that the casting marks as unstable: one reads its own text, then it turns into its opposite, which gives a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. A moving yang line is called “nine”, a moving yin line “six”. Without a moving line, one keeps to the general judgement.
For Da You, a moving line describes your relationship to abundance: caution at the start, the capacity to carry, sharing, discretion, a radiant sincerity, and the recognition of help received.
A modern reading, with caution
Today, Da You is often read in connection with a success, an inheritance or a moment of plenty. A careful reading sees in it above all a reminder of clear sight: knowing what one possesses, what one does with it and for whom. It offers no financial advice. The hexagram does not announce any gain; it speaks of how to hold on to what already exists.
Questions for reflection
- What do I really possess, in talents, relationships and resources?
- What is this abundance useful for, beyond myself?
- Am I flaunting what I have rather than sharing it?
- What help have I received without acknowledging it?
Mistakes to avoid
- Reading in it an announcement of money or luck: the text speaks of management, not of a lottery.
- Being blinded by abundance, as the prince of the third line guards against.
- Flaunting one’s success.
- Forgetting the sincerity that holds relationships together.
Names, translations and a reminder
The name “Da You, Possession of Great Things” follows one tradition of translation among others. Other translations speak of Great Possession, Abundance or Great Holding; “Possession of Great Things” is the form used in several translations. Compare two translations if you can.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, consulted as a tool for reflection, never as a prediction; it does not replace medical, legal, financial or safety advice. This page summarises the text in our own words.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 14 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of great abundance. It speaks of how to hold on to what one possesses, with modesty, sincerity and a sense of sharing.
Does Da You announce wealth?
No. The I Ching is not a tool for financial prediction. The hexagram describes an attitude to adopt in the face of abundance, not an event to come.
What is the link with hexagram 13?
They are twins: 13 speaks of the community that gathers, 14 of the wealth that results from that union and must be managed with humility.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 14?
Qian (Heaven) below, inside, and Li (Fire) above, outside.
What is the twin hexagram of number 14?
Number 13, Tong Ren, Fellowship: in King Wen’s order hexagrams come in pairs, the second being the same figure turned upside down.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.