Hexagram 28 of the I Ching: Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great (大過)
Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great: a roof beam loaded beyond its limit, bending in the middle. An image of an exceptional period that calls for an out-of-the-ordinary response.
Key points
| Number | 28 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Da Guo (大過) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “da gwo” |
| Lower trigram | ☴ Xun, Wind (Wood) |
| Upper trigram | ☱ Dui, Lake |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yin, yang, yang, yang, yang, yin |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth |
| Other names | Excess of the Great, Great Excess, Great Crossing |
Hexagram 28 at a glance
Da Guo (大過) is the 28th hexagram of the I Ching. “Da” means “great” and “guo” means “to exceed, to go beyond, to cross”. It is translated as “Preponderance of the Great”, “Excess of the Great” or “Great Crossing”. The name itself hovers between excess and passage.
The figure places four solid lines at the centre, between two weak broken lines at the ends. The text compares it to the ridgepole of a roof: solid in the middle but fragile at both ends, bending under the load.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called inner or lower, is Xun (Wind, Wood); the upper one, called outer or upper, is Dui (Lake). The bottom stands for the base of the situation, the top for its context or outcome. The Lake covers the Wood (the Wind, the lower trigram): the water rises and submerges the trees. The tradition reads in it a surplus that exceeds the capacity of its support.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yin, yang, yang, yang, yang, yin. In King Wen’s sequence, this hexagram pairs with No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth. Its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth, and it remains the same when read from top to bottom. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 1, Qian, The Creative.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment is brief: the beam bends. Yet it is favourable to have a place to go, and the outcome is successful.
In other words, the situation is overloaded, but it calls for determined action rather than resignation.
General meaning
Da Guo describes an imbalance: too much weight in the centre and not enough at the ends. It is the image of an era or a responsibility that exceeds ordinary measures. The commentary on the image sees in it a rare stance: standing alone without fear, withdrawing without regret.
The book advises neither panic nor inertia. It suggests reinforcing the supports (the ends) and answering the exceptional with an exceptional yet measured act.
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 (yin) | White grasses are spread under the offering: extreme care for the foundations; no fault. |
| 2 (yang) | A dry willow puts out shoots again: an unexpected renewal, through a closeness between generations; everything is favourable. |
| 3 (yang) | The beam bends: it can no longer be ignored; the text speaks of misfortune. |
| 4 (yang) | The beam is straightened: it is reinforced; beware of an outside support that would get in the way. |
| 5 (yang) | The dry willow blossoms, but without fruit: a renewal without follow-through; neither fault nor praise. |
| 6 (yin) | One crosses too far and the water goes over one’s head: an excessive risk, but without moral reproach. |
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 2, 3, 4 and 5 are yang and lines 1 and 6 are yin. The four central solid lines (2 to 5) carry the whole weight; lines 1 and 6, broken, are the weak ends. A change in a central line lightens the load; a change at an end strengthens it.
| If the changing line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin becomes yang) | No. 43, Guai, Breakthrough |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 31, Xian, Influence |
| 3 (yang becomes yin) | No. 47, Kun (Oppression), Oppression |
| 4 (yang becomes yin) | No. 48, Jing, The Well |
| 5 (yang becomes yin) | No. 32, Heng, Duration |
| 6 (yin becomes yang) | No. 44, Gou, Coming to Meet |
Six changing lines give the opposite, No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth. With several changing lines, the schools differ on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Da Guo can describe a period in which the load exceeds ordinary strength: a project that is too heavy, a responsibility that isolates, a crisis. It invites you to strengthen the foundations and not to play the hero.
- At work: share the load and ask for reinforcements before breaking point.
- In relationships: a situation in which you carry almost alone; look for support.
- For yourself: acknowledge your limits; an overload that lasts justifies seeking the advice of a health professional.
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 part of my life is currently carrying too much weight?
- Which supports at the ends can I strengthen?
- What is exceptional about this period, and what is not?
- Where do I confuse courage with recklessness?
Mistakes to avoid
- Seeing in it a prophecy of collapse: the beam bends, it has not broken.
- Believing you alone must carry everything.
- Taking the images of union in lines 2 and 5 as romantic advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 28 of the I Ching mean?
Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great, describes a load that exceeds the capacity of its support, and invites you to consolidate rather than force things.
Which trigrams make up Da Guo?
Wind or Wood (Xun) below and Lake (Dui) above.
Why is it compared to a beam?
Its four central solid lines, between two broken lines, resemble a beam that is solid in the middle and fragile at the ends.
Which hexagram is paired with Da Guo?
No. 27, Yi, by reversing all the lines.
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.