卦辭對整個卦（六條線為一組）的總體判斷。The judgment on the hexagram as a whole.
Judgment
大壯：利貞。
大壯——利於守正。 四陽從下已上升，力量強盛；但卦辭只說「利貞」而不說大通—強盛之中唯守正可持久，否則過剛而折。
Da Zhuang indicates that (under its conditions) it will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
第 34 卦 · Hexagram 34
大壯
Da Zhuang · Thunder over Heaven
陽盛·力強·春分之卦
上上卦upper trigram☳震 · 雷 / Thunder下下卦lower trigram☰乾 · 天 / Heaven
象Image
先看圖像，再讀文字。Read the image before the words.
大象傳《大象傳》從上下卦的自然圖像推演全卦之象，再提出人事取法。The Great Image derives conduct from the two trigrams' natural images.Great Image
- 全卦成象Whole image
雷在天上，大壯
(The trigram representing) heaven and above it that for thunder form Da Zhuang.
- 人事取法Conduct
君子以非禮弗履。
The superior man, in accordance with this, does not take a step which is not according to propriety.
雷在天上—大壯之象。君子仿此—不合禮的事不去做。 （雷上天下 = 力量巨大；君子學此不是學力量而是學自我約束—越強越守規矩。）
(The trigram representing) heaven and above it that for thunder form Da Zhuang. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not take a step which is not according to propriety.
辭Words
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。The received text, then the Tuan commentary on it.
彖傳十翼之一，直接解釋卦名、卦辭及其剛柔結構。Tuan Zhuan — explains the name, the Judgment and the line structure.
Commentary on the Judgment
大壯，大者壯也。剛以動，故壯。「大壯利貞」，大者正也。正大而天地之情可見矣。
大壯——大的強盛。剛（乾）以動（震），所以強盛。「大壯利貞」—大的必須守正。正而大，天地的情性就可以看見。
In Da Zhuang we see that which is great becoming strong. We have the trigram denoting strength directing that which denotes movement, and hence (the whole) is expressive of vigour. 'Da Zhuang indicates that it will be advantageous to be firm and correct':—that which is great (should be) correct. Given correctness and greatness (in their highest degree), and the character of heaven and earth can be seen.
爻Lines
六條線各有一句判斷。閱讀次序初→上；卦象由下而上，看左側的卦。One statement per line, read from the first line to the top. The figure is drawn bottom-up — watch the rail.
初九
趾
末端用力force in the toes
壯于趾，征凶有孚。
強在腳趾—出征凶，雖然有信心。 初九過早表現力量；力在末端而不在中心，凶。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject manifesting his vigour in his toes. But advance will lead to evil,—most certainly.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
壯于趾，其孚窮也。
壯于趾—信心必然窮盡。
'He manifests his vigour in his toes':—this must lead to exhaustion.
九二
中
中正而靜central, still
貞吉。
守正則吉。 九二得中—力量在該在的位置，不多言。
The second NINE, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
九二貞吉，以中也。
九二守正之吉—因居中位。
'The good fortune attached to the second NINE, undivided, and (the lesson of) firm correctness' is owing to its being in the centre, (and indicating) the due mean.
九三
藩
撞籬卡角ram in the fence
小人用壯，君子用罔。貞厲。羝羊觸藩，羸其角。
小人用強，君子用網（不用強）。守正仍險。公羊撞籬笆—角被卡住。 九三是過剛之險—小人直接用力而受傷，君子知用智而不用蠻。
The third NINE, undivided, shows, in the case of a small man, one using all his strength; and in the case of a superior man, one whose rule is not to do so. Even with firm correctness the position would be perilous. (The exercise of strength in it might be compared to the case of) a ram butting against a fence, and getting his horns entangled.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
小人用壯，君子罔也。
小人用強，君子不用。
'A small man uses all his strength; in the case of a superior man it is his rule not to do so.'
九四
輹
車軸般穩wheel-spoke firm
貞吉，悔亡。藩決不羸，壯于大輿之輹。
守正則吉，後悔消失。籬笆已開缺口—不再卡角；力量像大車的車軸，穩而強。 九四已過三爻之險，得通。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows (a case in which) firm correctness leads to good fortune, and occasion for repentance disappears. (We see) the fence opened without the horns being entangled. The vigour is like that in the wheel-spokes of a large waggon.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
藩決不羸，尚往也。
藩開不卡—應當前進。
'The fence is opened without the horns being entangled':—the (subject of the line) still advances.
六五
易
平易失羊lost in ease
喪羊于易，无悔。
在平易之處失去羊—無後悔。 六五是君位但為陰柔—在容易 / 平順之中失去力量不用後悔，因為不是力量該在的形式。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one who loses his ram-like vigour in the ease of his position. But there will be no occasion for repentance.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
喪羊于易，位不當也。
在平易處失羊—位不當（陰居君位）。
'He loses his ram-like vigour in the ease of his position':—he is not in his appropriate place.
上六
觸
進退兩難stuck in the fence
羝羊觸藩，不能退，不能遂。无攸利，艱則吉。
公羊撞籬笆—退不出也進不去。沒有利處；艱難中才能找到吉。 上六是過剛的困局—進退兩難才學會退守。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows (one who may be compared to) the ram butting against the fence, and unable either to retreat, or to advance as he would fain do. There will not be advantage in any respect; but if he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.
不能退，不能遂，不詳也。艱則吉，咎不長也。
進退兩難—不是詳慎。艱中之吉—過失不長。
'He can neither retreat nor advance':—this is owing to his want of caution. 'If he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune':—his error will not be prolonged.
用Use
把象套到你的情境，取一個可行的下一步。Apply the image to your situation; take one practical step.
雷在天上—巨大的力量釋放，但也必須受規律的約束。
Thunder over heaven — vast power released, but constrained by lawful pattern.
把象套到你的情境 · Apply the image to your situation
- 初九趾新人愛炫junior showing off
- 九二中守住專業中道central professionalism
- 九三藩硬碰硬卡住stuck in confrontation
- 九四輹結構性實力structural strength
- 六五易高位失衝勁lost edge in comfort
- 上六觸進退兩難deadlocked
大壯與遯為同一對力量的兩種命運：大壯進、遯退。讀大壯同時想遯—知道強盛之後一定會退。Da Zhuang and Dun are the same force in two fates: Da Zhuang advances, Dun retreats. Reading Da Zhuang implies reading Dun — knowing that after strength must come retreat.
可行的一步 · Practical move
大壯教的是強而不折。卦辭只給了「利貞」兩個字，分量卻重：力量到了頂點，唯有守正才撐得住，強大並不自動換來通達。羝羊觸藩是全卦的反面教材——公羊一頭撞進籬笆，角被卡死，進退不得；用蠻力不用智謀，遲早落到這個下場。正面範本在九四「壯于大輿之輹」：力量該藏在車軸與輻條裡，藏在結構、制度與系統之中，靠表面聲勢和嗓門撐不了多久。大象「非禮弗履」收束全卦：越是強盛，越要自律。
Da Zhuang teaches the wisdom of strength-without-breakage. Three operations: (1) the judgment says only 'advantageous to be firm and correct' — at peak strength only correctness sustains; (2) ram-in-the-fence is the negative exemplar — brute force without wisdom traps you; (3) line 4's 'wheel-spoke firmness' is the positive: strength in structure / institutions / systems, not surface / volume / brute force. The Great Image 'do not step where it isn't proper' — the stronger you become, the more disciplined.
失手之處 · Failure mode
把大壯讀成「我強大了，可以衝」—錯。卦辭故意只說「利貞」省「亨」，警告你：強大 ≠ 通達。九三 / 上六都用羝羊觸藩警告過剛之險。最大的失誤是用蠻 / 用速 / 用嗓門而不用智 / 不用結構 / 不用自律。
Misreading Da Zhuang as 'I'm strong, time to charge' — wrong. The judgment deliberately says only 'advantageous to be firm and correct' and omits 'progress,' warning: strength does not equal progress. Lines 3 and 6 both invoke the ram-in-the-fence to warn against over-firmness. The deepest failure: using brute force / speed / volume rather than wisdom / structure / self-restraint.
義理Commentary4
大壯者，剛長之名。陽氣盛大，物無不應。然剛而能止於正，是以「利貞」。過剛則折，故以正為戒。
Da Zhuang is the name for the firm growing. Yang's qi flourishes in greatness, and nothing fails to respond. Yet only when the firm can rest in correctness — therefore 'advantageous to be firm and correct.' Over-firmness breaks, so correctness is the warning.
大者壯也。陽盛而陰衰，正當盛時，故為大壯。然壯者易過——羝羊觸藩之象，戒過剛之失。聖人於壯時尤戒以「非禮弗履」，蓋知盛中必有失也。
The great is strong. Yang flourishes and yin recedes; we are at the peak of strength — therefore Da Zhuang. But the strong easily overshoots — the image of the ram caught in the fence warns of the loss from over-firmness. The sage in the time of Da Zhuang especially warns 'do not step where it isn't proper,' knowing that within the peak there must be loss.
大壯，陽長之卦。二月之卦也。「利貞」，唯正則可久——壯而不正則折。卦辭省「亨」字，明壯時不可徒恃力也。
Da Zhuang is the hexagram of yang's flourishing. The hexagram of the 2nd lunar month. 'Advantageous to be firm and correct' — only correctness can endure; strength without correctness breaks. The judgment omits 'progress' — making clear that in the time of strength one cannot merely rely on force.
大壯排在二月，春分：四陽升起，再進一步就是五陽的夬。卦辭只給「利貞」，省掉了「亨」字，這個缺口正是全卦的鑰匙。盛不擔保通，守得正纔通；把強大當成通達，是壯時最容易犯的錯。卦裡的反面教材是羝羊，九三、上六兩次用它：公羊力氣足，一頭撞進籬笆，角卡住，「不能退，不能遂」。正面的樣子在九四「壯于大輿之輹」，力量長在車軸車輻上，藏在結構裡，不露在角尖上。強要強在制度、系統、根基這一層，嗓門與蠻勁靠不住。 大象收在「君子以非禮弗履」：力量越是在手，步子越要有規矩。沒有約束的力，遲早自己走到籬笆跟前。
Da Zhuang sits at the second lunar month, spring equinox: four yang lines risen, one step short of five-yang Breakthrough. The judgment grants only 'advantageous to be correct' and withholds 'progress' — that missing word is the key to the whole hexagram. Strength at its peak guarantees nothing; only correctness carries it through, and mistaking power for passage is the season's characteristic error. The cautionary figure is the ram, used twice, in lines 3 and 6: full of force, it charges the fence, horns caught, 'unable to retreat, unable to advance.' The counter-image is line 4, 'strength in the axle-brace of a great cart' — power living in the structure, axle and spoke, never flaring at the horn-tip. Let strength reside in systems and foundations; volume and brute effort will not hold. The Great Image closes with 'the gentleman treads nowhere contrary to propriety': the more force in hand, the stricter the footwork. Unrestrained strength walks itself into the fence.
注解Annotation6
壯zhuàng
Strong, vigorous, powerful. 大壯 = great strength.
趾zhǐ
Toes. Line 1: '壯于趾' — strength manifesting at the toes (extremity), too early.
羝羊dī yáng
Ram (a male sheep). The cycle's signature animal: powerful, but charges blindly.
藩fān
Fence, hedge. The image of the ram getting horns caught — the over-reach trap.
輹fú
Wheel-spoke / wheel-axle support. Line 4's image: strength held structurally, useful, sustainable.
羸léi
To weaken, exhaust, get caught. Line 3's '羸其角' — horns trapped (weakening through over-application).
歷史Context4
12 消息卦中的位置
Position in the 12-cycle
大壯對應 2月（卯月，春分節氣）。從二陽的臨（12月）到三陽的泰（1月，立春）到四陽的大壯（2月）—是陽氣達到春分巔峰前段的那一卦。
Da Zhuang corresponds to the 2nd lunar month (spring equinox). From two-yang Approach (19, 12th month) to three-yang Peace (11, 1st month, Beginning of Spring) to four-yang Da Zhuang (2nd) — this is the hexagram just before yang reaches its peak.
與遯為綜卦
Inverse of Dun (33)
大壯與 33 遯上下顛倒即為綜卦。大壯是四陽從下上行進取；遯是同樣四陽退居上部隱退。同一對力量在「進 / 退」兩種命運。讀大壯必同時想遯—強盛時必知有退之一日。
Da Zhuang and Dun (33) read upside-down — inverse hexagrams. Da Zhuang: four yang lines rising from below in ascent. Dun: same four yang lines retreated to the top, withdrawing. One pair, two fates (advance / retreat). Reading Da Zhuang implies reading Dun — at strength's peak, knowing the day of retreat will come.
「非禮弗履」的儒家根
Confucian root of 'do not step where it isn't proper'
大象「君子以非禮弗履」與《論語·顏淵》「非禮勿視、非禮勿聽、非禮勿言、非禮勿動」是同一條修身教學的兩個表達。「禮」不是表面的規矩，是行為的結構性約束。讀大壯把「禮」理解為「自我約束的內在框架」最通透。
The Great Image 'the gentleman does not step where it isn't proper' is one expression of the same self-cultivation teaching as the Analects' (12.1) 'do not look / listen / speak / move contrary to propriety.' Propriety (li) is not surface convention but a structural constraint on behavior. Reading Da Zhuang, taking li as 'the inner framework of self-restraint' is the most penetrating reading.
羝羊在中國文學中的引用
The ram-in-fence image in Chinese literature
「羝羊觸藩」這個象從易經出來之後在中國文學 / 政論中反覆被引用，比喻「有力而無智、進退失據」的處境。蘇軾、王安石、近代魯迅 / 胡適都用過此喻批評政局。讀大壯看到此象—是中國政治智慧的標誌性比喻之一。
The image of the ram in the fence entered Chinese literature from the Yijing and is repeatedly invoked in political commentary, as the metaphor for 'having force but no wisdom, stuck unable to advance or retreat.' Su Shi, Wang Anshi, and modern Lu Xun / Hu Shi all used it to critique political situations. The image is a signature metaphor of Chinese political wisdom.
練習Practice3
- line-read
你此刻是不是在大壯的某一爻？是用蠻（三）還是用結構（四）？
Are you currently on a Da Zhuang line? Using brute force (line 3) or structural strength (line 4)?
- char-recall
辨認：壯、趾、羝、藩、輹、羸。
Identify: 壯 (zhuàng), 趾 (zhǐ), 羝 (dī), 藩 (fān), 輹 (fú), 羸 (léi).
- parse
為什麼卦辭只說「利貞」而不說「亨」？這一字之省教了什麼？
Why does the judgment say only 'advantageous to be firm and correct' (lì zhēn) and omit 'progress' (hēng)? What does this single-word omission teach?