A source-first reading note for Hexagram 34, Da Zhuang (Great Power), with a reference translation, trigram frame, and one reversible observation practice.
Reference translation
The Great Power: it furthers one to be persevering. The Tuan says: The Great Power means that the great is strong. Firm and in movement, hence strong. "The Great Power furthers perseverance," for the great must be correct. When greatness and correctness are joined, the disposition of heaven and earth may be seen. The Hsiang says: Thunder above in the heavens — the image of the Great Power. Thus the superior man does not tread upon paths that do not accord with established order.
See the original-text and authority layers in the complete catalog entry.
Context from the authority layer
"Great and upright" and "firm in movement" are the distinctive powers of Da Zhuang. Majestic and grand, with a presence that is proper and correct, awe-inspiring and strong—this is the force that thunder unleashes in the heavens. Such power also embodies the moral strength of the noble person and the disciplined character that refuses to act contrary to propriety. The Analects says: "When one's own conduct is upright, things get done without commands; when one's own conduct is not upright, even commands will not be followed.
Read the structure before the slogan
The lower trigram is 乾 (天), associated in the bundled corpus with 健; the upper trigram is 震 (雷), associated with 动. Read the lower trigram as the inner or starting field and the upper trigram as the outward field before turning the pattern into advice.
One accountable observation practice
Copy one concrete verb, condition, or image from the reference translation for Hexagram 34. Name one place where it is observable in the situation you are examining. Then choose one small step you can reverse and write the condition that would make you review it.
Common misread to avoid
Do not turn Great Power into a personality label, a guaranteed event, or a verdict about another person. The translation and trigram frame are source layers to examine, not an instruction to surrender judgment.
Source boundary
The reference translation and context are drawn from Yarrow's bundled structured Zhouyi authority layer. Yarrow keeps that layer separate from optional modern reflection. This page does not claim that Hexagram 34 was cast for your question.