28. Da Guo | Great Exceeding
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
大过：栋挠，利有攸往，亨。
English translation
Da Guo / Great Exceeding: The main beam is bent, yet moving forward is favorable, and success is indicated.
This is the judgment of Da Guo (Great Exceeding), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “having somewhere to go” means forward action is fitting.
Original Chinese text
初六：藉用白茅，无咎。
English translation
First Six: Using white reeds as bedding brings no blame.
The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.
Original Chinese text
九二：枯杨生稊，老夫得其女妻，无不利。
English translation
Second Nine: The dried willow sends up new shoots; an old man gains a wife. Nothing is adverse.
The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.
Original Chinese text
九三：栋桡，凶。
English translation
Third Nine: The main beam is warped; this is dangerous.
The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.
Original Chinese text
九四：栋隆，吉，有它吝。
English translation
Fourth Nine: The beam is raised and secure; it is auspicious, though there is a note of regret.
The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
九五：枯杨生华，老妇得其士夫，无咎无誉。
English translation
Fifth Nine: The withered willow blossoms; an old woman gains a worthy husband. There is no blame and no praise.
The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.
Original Chinese text
上六：过涉灭顶，凶，无咎。
English translation
Top Six: Forcing the passage is like plunging over the top and drowning; this is dangerous, though it brings no blame.
The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “misfortune” marks serious risk.