Hexagram 28 of 64 · Lake ☱ over Wind ☴
Preponderance of the Great
Dà Guò
The ridgepole sags — a structure carrying more than it can bear, and a moment that demands extraordinary action.
The Judgment
Preponderance of the Great: the ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success — through decisive, unusual action, not through waiting.
The Image
The lake rises above the trees: a flood that submerges what normally stands over it. The wise person, when standing alone, is unconcerned, and if they have to renounce the world, they are undaunted — extraordinary times ask for a person who can stand apart.
Hexagram 28 Meaning
Four strong lines in the middle, weak lines at each end: a beam too heavy for its supports. Something is at critical mass — a situation, a workload, a relationship, a pressure — and the ordinary rules do not apply. The hexagram does not counsel patience; it counsels movement. It furthers one to have somewhere to go: act, change, leave, decide. This is the hexagram of the exceptional measure taken by the person willing to stand alone.
Preponderance of the Great in Love
The relationship, or your feeling, has reached a weight the structure cannot hold. Something has to give, and the hexagram says the answer is not waiting — it is action. That might be the difficult conversation you have been avoiding, a decision to commit fully, or a decision to leave. The old text includes unusual pairings (an old man and a young wife, and the reverse) — love outside convention can succeed here, if it is honest. Whatever you choose, choose it wholly.
Preponderance of the Great in Career & Money
Overload. Too much on the beam: too many projects, too much responsibility, a business grown past its structure. Ordinary management cannot fix it; something exceptional must be done — restructure, hire drastically, cut a whole line, leave. The hexagram favours the person who acts decisively and is willing to be alone in the decision. Waiting for the beam to sort itself out ends with the beam breaking.
What to Do
Recognise that this is not an ordinary situation, and act accordingly. Take the exceptional measure. Have somewhere to go and go there. Be willing to stand alone — that is what these moments require.
Preponderance of the Great as a Yes or No
maybe
The situation is at breaking point — a yes only if you are prepared for extraordinary action; otherwise the beam breaks.
The Trigrams
Above: Lake (兌 Duì) — the joyous — pleasure, openness, the youngest daughter.
Below: Wind (巽 Xùn) — the gentle — penetration, gradual influence, the eldest daughter.
The Six Lines of Preponderance of the Great
Read when the line is moving (a 6 or 9 in the cast). Bottom line first.
- 1
Line 1 · yin
To spread white rushes underneath: extreme care and preparation at the start of a heavy undertaking — no blame.
- 2
Line 2 · yang
A dry poplar sprouts at the root, an older man takes a young wife: unusual renewal — everything furthers.
- 3
Line 3 · yang
The ridgepole sags to the breaking point: stubbornly pushing on with no support — misfortune.
- 4
Line 4 · yang
The ridgepole is braced, good fortune; if there are ulterior motives, humiliation: help arrives — accept it cleanly, not for advantage.
- 5
Line 5 · yang
A withered poplar puts forth flowers, an older woman takes a young husband: a brief, unfruitful renewal — no blame, no praise.
- 6
Line 6 · yin
One must go through the water, it goes over one’s head — misfortune, no blame: sacrifice for a greater cause; the outcome is loss, the act is right.
Will Preponderance of the Great Appear in Your Cast?
Cast the coins on your own question — free, instant, with every moving line explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hexagram 28, Preponderance of the Great, mean?
Four strong lines in the middle, weak lines at each end: a beam too heavy for its supports. Something is at critical mass — a situation, a workload, a relationship, a pressure — and the ordinary rules do not apply. The hexagram does not counsel patience; it counsels movement. It furthers one to have somewhere to go: act, change, leave, decide. This is the hexagram of the exceptional measure taken by the person willing to stand alone.
What does Preponderance of the Great mean in love?
The relationship, or your feeling, has reached a weight the structure cannot hold. Something has to give, and the hexagram says the answer is not waiting — it is action. That might be the difficult conversation you have been avoiding, a decision to commit fully, or a decision to leave. The old text includes unusual pairings (an old man and a young wife, and the reverse) — love outside convention can succeed here, if it is honest. Whatever you choose, choose it wholly.
What does Preponderance of the Great mean for career and money?
Overload. Too much on the beam: too many projects, too much responsibility, a business grown past its structure. Ordinary management cannot fix it; something exceptional must be done — restructure, hire drastically, cut a whole line, leave. The hexagram favours the person who acts decisively and is willing to be alone in the decision. Waiting for the beam to sort itself out ends with the beam breaking.
Is hexagram 28 a yes or a no?
Preponderance of the Great answers "maybe". The situation is at breaking point — a yes only if you are prepared for extraordinary action; otherwise the beam breaks.
Previous hexagram
27. Nourishment
nourishment
Next hexagram
29. The Abysmal
danger
Last updated: August 30, 2026
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