Hexagram 14
火天大有
Great Possession
Upper Trigram
☲
离 (火)
Lower Trigram
☰
乾 (金)
Palace
乾 Palace
Shi / Ying Lines
Shi: Line 3 · Ying: Line 6
The 离 trigram (火) sits above the 乾 trigram (金), forming 火天大有. This hexagram belongs to the 乾 Palace.
Judgment (卦辞)
Possession in great measure. Supreme success.
Image (象辞)
Fire in heaven above: the image of Great Possession.
Line Texts (爻辞)
No relationship with what is harmful. (无交害)
A big wagon for loading. (大车以载)
A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. (公用亨于天子)
He makes a difference between himself and his neighbor. (匪其彭)
He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified. (厥孚交如)
He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. (自天佑之)
In-Depth Analysis
Hexagram 14, Da You (Great Possession), is Fire above Heaven - the sun illuminating the entire sky. It signifies abundance and great achievement. The judgment is simple: Supreme success. No conditions, no warnings. The wisdom is in how to handle abundance: the lines emphasize curbing evil, furthering good, and sharing prosperity. A great wagon can carry much but only if loaded properly. The prince who offers to the Son of Heaven recognizes that wealth belongs to a higher order. True possession is not hoarding but stewardship.
Historical Stories
📜 Andrew Carnegie's philosophy of philanthropy: the industrialist believed the wealthy had a duty to redistribute their fortunes during their lifetime, funding thousands of libraries.
📜 The Tang Dynasty at its height: the most cosmopolitan empire of its age, sharing its wealth through the Silk Road, absorbing and transmitting culture across continents.
Practical Applications
Career: When you achieve success, share the credit. Hoarding glory creates resentment; sharing it builds loyalty.
Relationships: Abundance in love means giving freely without keeping score.
Personal Growth: Your talents are not solely yours - they are gifts to be cultivated and shared with the world.