Hexagram 26 of the I Ching: Da Chu, The Taming Power of the Great (大畜)
Da Chu, The Taming Power of the Great: Heaven held back beneath the Mountain. An image of great force that is restrained, nourished and trained before it is released.
Key points
| Number | 26 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Da Chu (大畜) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “da choo” |
| Lower trigram | ☰ Qian, Heaven |
| Upper trigram | ☶ Gen, Mountain |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yang, yang, yang, yin, yin, yang |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 45, Cui, Gathering Together |
| Other names | Great Accumulation, Great Nurturing, Great Restraint |
Hexagram 26 at a glance
Da Chu (大畜) is the 26th hexagram of the I Ching. “Da” means “great”; “chu” refers to raising animals, to restraint and to the accumulation of reserves. Hence the varied translations: “The Taming Power of the Great”, “The Great Accumulation” or “The Great Nurturing”.
Heaven, the creative force, is here held back by the Mountain, which stops and gathers. The image is that of a great potential that is not squandered.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called inner or lower, is Qian (Heaven); the upper one, called outer or upper, is Gen (Mountain). The bottom stands for the base of the situation, the top for its context or outcome. Heaven is enclosed within the Mountain: the vastest energy held within the most stable mass. The commentary on the image draws a lesson of study from this: one accumulates by learning the words and deeds of the past.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yang, yang, yang, yin, yin, yang. In King Wen’s sequence, this hexagram pairs with No. 25, Wu Wang, Innocence. Its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 45, Cui, Gathering Together, and its reverse (read from top to bottom) is No. 25, Wu Wang, Innocence. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 54, Gui Mei, The Marrying Maiden.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment recommends perseverance and says that it is favourable not to “eat at home”: that is, to go out and feed others, or to be supported by the community rather than remain withdrawn. It adds that one may cross the great river, an image of a major undertaking.
Two movements should therefore be remembered: accumulate in silence, then show what you are capable of.
General meaning
Da Chu is about mastery. A considerable force, compared to an ox or a thoroughbred horse, calls for patient training. One does not break it; one gives it a frame.
The hexagram comes close to the idea of education and training: knowledge builds up slowly, and it is this capital that then makes it possible to act. It stands in contrast to No. 25, where one acted out of pure spontaneity.
The six lines, one by one
Lines are counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang) | A danger presents itself: it is better to stop than to force things. |
| 2 (yang) | The axle is removed from the chariot: one deliberately comes to a halt. |
| 3 (yang) | A good horse gallops: the effort calls for perseverance, daily training and vigilance; then one can set off. |
| 4 (yin) | A board placed over the horns of a young bull: the blow is prevented before it comes; very favourable. |
| 5 (yin) | The tusks of a gelded boar: the force is defused by gentleness rather than brutality. |
| 6 (yang) | The way of heaven opens: the restrained force can at last circulate freely. |
Changing lines and the resulting hexagram
A changing line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are cast) turns into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 1, 2, 3 and 6 are yang and lines 4 and 5 are yin. Lines 4 and 5, yin, act as brakes on the three yang lines below. If one of them becomes changing, the brake turns into force; it is an occasion to ask what one is still holding back.
| If the changing line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang becomes yin) | No. 18, Gu, Work on What Has Been Spoiled |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 22, Bi (Grace), Grace |
| 3 (yang becomes yin) | No. 41, Sun, Decrease |
| 4 (yin becomes yang) | No. 14, Da You, Possession in Great Measure |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 9, Xiao Chu, The Taming Power of the Small |
| 6 (yang becomes yin) | No. 11, Tai, Peace |
Six changing lines give the opposite, No. 45, Cui, Gathering Together. With several changing lines, the schools differ on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Da Chu can be read as a time of preparation: training, a reserve being built up, an idea maturing. It calls for discipline without rigidity.
- At work: study, practise and get organised before embarking on a major project.
- In relationships: hold back a sharp reaction in order to express it better afterwards.
- For yourself: set aside time, energy or learning rather than spending everything at once.
Reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions to reflect on
- Which force within me calls to be trained rather than suppressed?
- What am I accumulating right now (knowledge, energy, relationships)?
- What is holding me back today, and is it useful?
- When will it be right to release the brake?
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing restraint with lasting immobility: the last line opens the road.
- Accumulating everything without ever giving or acting.
- Using brute constraint where the text recommends gentleness.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 26 of the I Ching mean?
Da Chu, The Taming Power of the Great, speaks of a great force held back, nourished and trained before it is put to use.
Which trigrams make up Da Chu?
Heaven (Qian) below and Mountain (Gen) above.
What is the difference from hexagram 9?
No. 9, Xiao Chu, is The Taming Power of the Small: a light, gentle restraint. Da Chu is the restraint of great force, firmer.
What does “eating at home” mean?
A phrase from the judgment, understood as withdrawing from isolation or being nourished by the community; translators differ.
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.