dà yǒuAlso known as “Possession in Great Measure” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Tâ Yû” (Legge)
great possessionabundanceresponsibility
In plain words
Fire above heaven: the sun lighting everything. Great holdings and supreme success — one yielding line at the centre holds the respect of all the strong ones.
The attitude it asks for
Great possession asks for generosity and clear judgement: curb the bad, promote the good, and follow what is right.
Structure
Upper trigram☲離Li (the Clinging)火 · fire · Fire
Lower trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Tâ Yû indicates that, (under the circumstances which it implies), there will be great progress and success.
Commentary on the Judgment
大有，柔得尊位，大中而上下應之，曰大有。其德剛健而文明，應乎天而時行，是以元亨。
In Tâ Yû the weak (line) has the place of honour, is grandly central, and (the strong lines) above and below respond to it. Hence comes its name of Tâ Yû (Having what is Great).
The attributes (of its component trigrams) are strength and vigour with elegance and brightness. (The ruling line in it) responds to (the ruling line in the symbol of) heaven, and (consequently) its action is (all) at the proper times. In this way (it is said to) indicate great progress and success.
The Image
火在天上，大有；君子以遏惡揚善，順天休命。
(The trigram for) heaven and (that of) fire above it form Tâ Yû. The superior man, in accordance with this, represses what is evil and gives distinction to what is good, in sympathy with the excellent Heaven-conferred (nature).
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
自天祐之，吉无不利。
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject with help accorded to him from Heaven. There will be good fortune, advantage in every respect.
Its symbolism
大有上吉，自天佑也。
'The good fortune attached to the topmost line of Tâ Yû' arises from the help of Heaven.
The fifth line, divided, shows the sincerity of its subject reciprocated by that of all the others (represented in the hexagram). Let him display a proper majesty, and there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
厥孚交如，信以發志也。威如之吉，易而无備也。
'His sincerity is reciprocated by all the others:'—his sincerity serves to stir and call out what is in their minds. 'The good fortune springing from a display of proper majesty' shows how they might (otherwise) feel too easy, and make no preparation (to serve him).
In the second line, undivided, we have a large waggon with its load. In whatever direction advance is made, there will be no error.
Its symbolism
大車以載，積中不敗也。
'A large waggon with its load' refers to the (virtue) accumulated (in the subject of the line), so that he will suffer no loss (in the conduct of affairs).
In the first line, undivided, there is no approach to what is injurious, and there is no error. Let there be a realisation of the difficulty (and danger of the position), and there will be no error (to the end).
Its symbolism
大有初九，无交害也。
This first line, undivided, of Tâ Yû shows no approach to what is injurious.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 14, Great Holdings, mean?
Fire above heaven: the sun lighting everything. Great holdings and supreme success — one yielding line at the centre holds the respect of all the strong ones.
Which trigrams form Great Holdings?
離 above 乾 — fire over heaven. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 夬 Decisiveness.
What happens when a line of Great Holdings changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Great Holdings in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — — — - - — is Great Holdings. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.