I Ching · Hexagram 34 of 64
34. Dà Zhuàng 大壯 · Great Power
By Destiny Kua · Updated
Strength is high. Use it with restraint.
- Upper trigram
- Thunder 震
- Lower trigram
- Heaven 乾
What hexagram 34 means
Dà Zhuàng is thunder in the heavens: great power. Strength is high. The advice is to use it with restraint and fairness. Power that pushes blindly entangles itself.
Hexagram 34 in daily life
At work
You have leverage. Use it wisely and don't overreach.
In relationships
Strength can overwhelm. Be gentle.
For yourself
Channel energy into something worthwhile.
The six changing lines
If your cast included changing lines (a 6 or a 9), read the matching lines below. Line 1 is the bottom line.
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | Power in the toes only. Going forward brings misfortune. |
| Line 2 | Persistence brings good fortune. |
| Line 3 | A goat butts a hedge and gets stuck. Force traps you. |
| Line 4 | The hedge opens. Power rests on a strong foundation. |
| Line 5 | Losing the goat easily. No regret. |
| Line 6 | The goat is stuck: can't go back or forward. Accept the difficulty and good fortune follows. |
The two trigrams
The lower trigram, Heaven 乾 (Qián), stands for your inner state and the root of the situation. The upper trigram, Thunder 震 (Zhèn), stands for the outer circumstances. In element terms this is Wood over Metal. Heaven is the trigram of Kua 6 and Thunder is the trigram of Kua 3.
Related hexagrams
- Opposite (every line changed): 20. Guān 觀 · Contemplation
- Inverted (read upside down): 33. Dùn 遯 · Retreat
- Trigrams swapped: 25. Wú Wàng 無妄 · Innocence
Questions to reflect on
- Where am I pushing too hard?
- How can I use strength fairly?
- What foundation supports my power?
Our line summaries are written in plain English in our own words, based on the traditional meanings. For reflection and entertainment, not prediction or professional advice.