Hexagram 34 · The Power of the Great

大壮 · Dà Zhuàng

Hexagram 34, The Power of the Great (大壮, Dà Zhuàng), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Heaven below and Thunder above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “利贞。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with great vigor, kept within measure. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Heaven (乾) — creative strength and initiative
Upper trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Symbol: ䷡ · Name: 大壮 (Dà Zhuàng) · Number: 34 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   壮于趾，征凶，有孚。
   The Image says: “壮于趾”，其孚穷也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   贞吉。
   The Image says: 九二“贞吉”，以中也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   小人用壮，君子用罔；贞厉。羝羊触藩，羸其角。
   The Image says: “小人用壮”，“君子”“罔”也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   贞吉，悔亡；藩决不羸，壮于大舆之輹。
   The Image says: “藩决不羸”，尚往也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   丧羊于易，无悔。
   The Image says: “丧羊于易”，位不当也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   羝羊触藩，不能退，不能遂，无攸利；艰则吉。
   The Image says: “不能退，不能遂”，不详也；“艰则吉”，咎不长也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 34?

Hexagram 34 is The Power of the Great (大壮, Dà Zhuàng), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Heaven below and Thunder above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Power of the Great?

The judgment of The Power of the Great reads, in the Chinese original: “利贞。”. Its Great Image reads: “雷在天上，大壮。君子以非礼弗履。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Power of the Great symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Power of the Great is associated with great vigor, kept within measure. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.