Structural Analysis, Meaning, and Philosophical Inquiry of the Hexagram Huotian Dayou (Fire Over Heaven)
This article systematically investigates the fourteenth hexagram of the *I Ching*, *Huotian Dayou*, analyzing its structure (Li over Qian), delineating the rich connotations of 'Great Possession,' and interpreting its principle of 'One Softness in Supremacy Responded to by Five Yangs' through the lens of Pre-Qin texts, thereby revealing its profound significance in ancient political philosophy.
Section 1: The Original Text and Its Reading
The Hexagram Statement (Guaci) of Da You is extremely concise, consisting of only four characters:
"Da You, Yuan Heng." (大有，元亨。)
These four characters, though brief, possess profound meaning.
The term "Da You" is the name of the hexagram, which we have analyzed in the previous chapter. The term "Yuan Heng" is the divinatory conclusion, an utterance used in divination.
"Yuan Heng" means great penetration, the utmost flourishing. Among the sixty-four hexagrams of the Zhou Yi, those that receive the judgment "Yuan Heng" are not numerous. Qian is "Yuan Heng Li Zhen"; Kun is "Yuan Heng, Li Ren Ma Zhi Zhen"; and Da You is "Yuan Heng." The fact that Da You shares the term "Yuan Heng" with Qian and Kun indicates its lofty status among the sixty-four hexagrams.
Why is Da You capable of achieving "Yuan Heng"$12 This question is crucial.