What is Hexagram 26, Great Taming?
Hexagram 26, Great Taming (大畜 Dà Chù), is built from Mountain (艮 Gèn) over Heaven (乾 Qián), and the Wilhelm-Baynes translation reads its themes as accumulation, restraint, wisdom. The classical sources describe it as a pattern in the Book of Changes (易經 Yìjīng), a situation to recognise, not a verdict to obey.
Key Takeaways
- Hexagram 26 is built from Mountain (艮 Gèn) over Heaven (乾 Qián).
- Its central themes, accumulation, restraint, wisdom, inner strength, sit in the Wilhelm-Baynes lineage.
- The classical pairing matches the hexagram to Labradorite as the meditation stone.
- Read alongside BaZi, Kua, and Compass School sector mapping for a fuller picture.
- This is a pattern, not a verdict, the I-Ching frames reflection, not prediction.
The Judgment
The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
The Image
Heaven within the mountain: the image of the Taming Power of the Great. Thus the superior person acquaints themselves with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen their character.
Master Wei Lin's Interpretation
Interpretation by Master Wei Lin, Chinese Metaphysics Scholar, pattern recognition, not fortune-telling
Heaven contained within the mountain, enormous creative power held in check by stillness. You have great inner resources that are being accumulated, not spent. This is a time of gathering strength, studying, and preparing for something significant. The hexagram says don't eat at home, go out into the world, but from a position of stored wisdom. What are you building inside yourself?
The Six Lines
When a changing line appears in your reading, its text carries special guidance for your situation.
Line 1 (bottom)
“Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist.”
Line 2
“The axletrees are taken from the wagon.”
Line 3
“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.”
Line 4
“The headboard of a young bull. Great good fortune.”
Line 5
“The tusk of a gelded boar. Good fortune.”
Line 6 (top)
“One attains the way of heaven. Success.”
🔮 Crystal for Hexagram 26
Labradorite
Hold Labradorite while meditating on Great Taming. Its energy resonates with the themes of accumulation, restraint, wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hexagram 26 (Great Taming) mean?
In the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I-Ching (易經 Yìjīng), Hexagram 26, Great Taming (大畜 Dà Chù), is read through Mountain (艮 Gèn) over Heaven (乾 Qián). The classical sources describe its themes as accumulation, restraint, wisdom. This is pattern recognition, not prediction.
What is the Judgment for Great Taming?
The Judgment reads: "The Taming Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.", the Judgment is the I-Ching's classical summary of the situation the hexagram describes, and what the present moment is asking of the reader.
What is the Image for Great Taming?
The Image reads: "Heaven within the mountain: the image of the Taming Power of the Great. Thus the superior person acquaints themselves with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen their character.", in the classical sources the Image is the elemental picture, the upper and lower trigrams in conversation, that the reader holds while sitting with the hexagram.
What crystal pairs with Hexagram 26?
Labradorite is the traditional pairing for Great Taming. The classical Chinese gemology lineage associates this stone with the hexagram's central themes, hold it during meditation on the reading. This is reflective practice, not divination-as-prediction.
How is Hexagram 26 read in BaZi or Feng Shui?
An I-Ching cast is one consultation. The fuller reading, Four Pillars (四柱 Sì Zhù), Kua personal feng shui, and Compass School sector mapping, reads the hexagram alongside the chart. Master Wei Lin's Master Reading section synthesizes the Book of Changes alongside BaZi and the other Chinese metaphysics traditions.
More Hexagrams
Occasional notes on BaZi and feng shui
Master Wei Lin writes when a new free tool ships or a chart pattern is worth explaining properly. No schedule, no spam, one reply removes you.
We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
Explore More Tools
I-Ching Online
Cast your own hexagram reading
Open →BaZi Calculator
Your Four Pillars chart (Master Wei Lin)
Open →Five Elements Quiz
Find your Wu Xing balance (Master Wei Lin)
Open →Feng Shui Bagua Mapper
Map your home's 8 sectors (Master Wei Lin)
Open →Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Year animal + element (Master Wei Lin)
Open →