Conclusion

Hexagram Da You — fire above heaven, brightness illuminating universally, all things flourishing. This hexagram, with one yielding line in the place of honor governing five firm, with the virtue of firmness and brightness responding to Heaven and acting with the time, with the governance of curbing evil and promoting good complying with Heaven's beneficent mandate, with the heart of treading in trust and thinking of compliance receiving Heaven's blessing — its Way is both vast and subtle, its meaning both profound and far-reaching.

Since Fu Xi first drew the trigrams, the image of Da You has been inherent between heaven and earth. The sun above the sky illuminating all quarters — this is Great Possession in the natural world. A sage-king ruling above with virtue spreading far — this is Great Possession in the human world. Natural Great Possession and human Great Possession are rooted in one and the same Way — the Way of Heaven.

King Wen appended the judgment "Da You, yuan heng" — four characters concise yet comprehensive. "Yuan heng" means great penetration. In the time of Great Possession, why can there be great penetration$16 Because its virtue is complete. The yielding attaining the place of honor, great centrality, above and below responding, firm and bright, responding to Heaven and acting with the time — five virtues all present, hence supreme success. Lacking one virtue means incomplete success — this is the admonition of Da You.

The Master's commentarial Wings further developed Da You's depths. "Curbing evil and promoting good, complying with Heaven's beneficent mandate" is the guiding principle of governance. "Treading in trust and thinking of compliance, moreover esteeming the worthy" is the essential of self-cultivation. The sage's words endure through ten thousand ages without being worn away.

Examining pre-Qin history: Emperor Yao's governance, Emperor Shun's virtue, King Wen's enterprise, King Wu's achievement, the Duke of Zhou's administration — all without exception accord with the Way of Da You. Da You is not empty talk — there are real deeds to prove it. Da You is not abstract theory — there are clear validations to confirm it.

Yet after Great Possession one must guard oneself with modesty — this is the teaching of the Xugua and the lesson of history. Yin-Shang fell precisely because it could not preserve the modesty of Great Possession; the Zhou royal house endured precisely because it could preserve the modesty of Great Possession. Those who flourish yet practice modesty endure; those who flourish without modesty fall — an unchanging principle through all ages.

In my study of hexagram Da You, undertaken over a long period, I have gained much. I am deeply moved by the vast profundity of the ancient sages' wisdom — beyond what a later student can aspire to match. Yet the scholar's task lies in expounding the intent of the ancient sages and transmitting the Way of past worthies. Though my strength may fall short, my aspiration dares not slacken.

I close by quoting the Xici Shangzhuan: "The Yi contains the Way of the sage in four aspects: in speaking, one values its words; in moving, one values its changes; in crafting implements, one values its images; in divination, one values its prognostications." Hexagram Da You — in words it has the beauty of "supremely successful"; in changes it has the subtlety of six lines; in images it has the brightness of fire over heaven; in prognostication it has the sign of auspiciousness. All four aspects of the Way complete — this is why Great Possession is truly Great Possession.

The Way of Da You shines luminously like the sun in the sky. May all persons of purpose under heaven be encouraged by it together.

Xuanji Editorial Board, respectfully composed