大壮 · 壮
Judgement
利贞。
Furthered by steadfastness.
The Image
雷在天上，大壮。君子以非礼弗履。
Thunder above heaven: the power of the great. So the superior man does not walk where the way does not lead.
The Lines
壮于趾，征凶，有孚。
Power in the toes; going is ill, yet there is sincerity.
“壮于趾”，其孚穷也。
Power in the toes: his sincerity is exhausted.
贞吉。
Steadfastness is auspicious.
九二“贞吉”，以中也。
The second’s steadfastness is auspicious: by the middle.
小人用壮，君子用罔；贞厉。羝羊触藩，羸其角。
The small man uses power; the superior man uses restraint. Steadfastness in danger. The ram butts the fence and entangles its horns.
“小人用壮”，“君子”“罔”也。
The small man uses power; the superior man, restraint.
贞吉，悔亡；藩决不羸，壮于大舆之輹。
Steadfastness is auspicious, regret passes. The fence opens and does not entangle; power in the great wagon’s axle.
“藩决不羸”，尚往也。
The fence opens and does not entangle: he honours going forward.
丧羊于易，无悔。
Losing the ram in the borderlands. No regret.
“丧羊于易”，位不当也。
Losing the ram in the borderlands: the place is not right.
羝羊触藩，不能退，不能遂，无攸利；艰则吉。
The ram butts the fence; it can neither retreat nor advance. Nothing furthers. In hardship, good fortune.
“不能退，不能遂”，不详也；“艰则吉”，咎不长也。
Neither retreat nor advance: not auspicious. Good fortune in hardship: blame does not last.
Reading
雷行天上。力满到顶点，而经文在意的是力踩着什么——羝羊触藩，角被卡住。力是真的；要教的，是不把「壮」与「无阻」混为一谈。