
大有 Dà yǒu Great Harvest (Profusion) [hexagram 14]








Fire over Heaven

Lunar month: 5 ; Host (controlling) line : 5
The Descision
Great harvest – breakthrough and success.
The yielding is in an honorable, central position with the strong responding to it. Hence the name ‘great harvest’. It has elements of strength, vigour and brilliance. It responds to heaven in the proper manner, so there will be supreme success.
大有: 元亨. Dà yǒu: yuán hēng.
彖传: 大有, 柔得尊位, 大中而上下应之, 曰大有. 其德刚健而文明, 应乎天而时行, 是以元亨. Tuàn zhuàn: Dà yǒu, róu de zūn wèi, dà zhōng ér shàng xià yìng zhī, yuēdà yǒu. qí dé gāng jiàn ér wén míng, yìng hū tiān ér shí xíng, shì yǐ yuán hēng.
The Image
Fire above heaven forms ‘Great Harvest’. The wise conquer evil and promote good in accordance with the will of heaven.
象传: 火在天上, 大有; 君子以遏恶扬善, 顺天休命. Xiàng zhuàn: Huǒ zài tiān shàng, dà yǒu; jūn zǐ yǐ è è yáng shàn, shùn tiān xiū mìng.









Nothing harmful, no blame. Just appreciate the difficulty and there will be no problems.
The first line of ‘Great Harvest’ shows nothing can be harmful.
初九: 无交害, 匪咎, 艰则无咎. Chū jiǔ: wú jiāo hài, fěi jiù, jiān zé wú jiù.
象传: 大有初九, 无交害也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà yǒu chū jiǔ, wú jiāo hài yě.









A large lorry with its load. It can go wherever it likes without difficulty.
‘A large lorry with its load’ – there is virtue in what is already stored so there will be no loss.
九二: 大车以载, 有攸往, 无咎. Jiǔ èr: dà chē yǐ zài, yǒu yōu wǎng, wú jiù.
象传: 大车以载, 积中不败也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà chē yǐ zài, jī zhōng bù bài yě.









A leader makes an offering to the emperor; the common people are not equal to such a duty.
‘A leader makes an offering to the emperor’ – the common people if they did so would bring disaster.
九三: 公用亨于天子, 小人弗克. Jiǔ sān: gōng yòng hēng yú tiān zǐ, xiǎo rén fú kè.
象传: 公用亨于天子, 小人害也. Xiàng zhuàn: Gōng yòng hēng yú tiān zǐ, xiǎo rén hài yě.









Showing due restraint; this is wise.
‘Showing due restraint’ – wisdom shows the appropriate course.
九四: 匪其彭, 无咎. Jiǔ sì: fěi qí péng, wú jiù.
象传: 匪其彭, 无咎; 明辨晰也. Xiàng zhuàn: Fěi qí péng, wú jiù; míng biàn xī yě.









Harmonious and sincere communication; with a show of dignity all will be well.
‘Harmonious and sincere communication’ – sincerity will evoke rapport. ‘With a show of dignity all will be well’ – it should be instinctive and unprepared.
六五: 厥孚交如, 威如; 吉. Liù wǔ: jué fú jiāo rú, wēi rú; jí.
象传: 厥孚交如, 信以发志也. 威如之吉, 易而无备也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jué fú jiāo rú, xìn yǐ fā zhì yě. wēi rú zhī jí, yì ér wú bèi yě.









Proceeding with heaven’s blessing. There will be success all round.
Assistance from on high brings good fortune.
上九: 自天祐之, 吉无不利. Shàng jiǔ: zì tiān yòu zhī, jí wú bù lì.
象传: 大有上吉, 自天佑也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà yǒu shàng jí, zì tiān yòu yě.
The full set of 64 English translations is available in our new book 'Book of Changes - Deciphered' ➚.