Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 蛊 (Gǔ) |
| English Name | Work on the Decayed / Correcting Corruption |
| Trigrams | Mountain over Wind (艮上巽下) |
| Number | 18 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Work on What Has Been Spoiled has supreme success. It furthers one to cross the great water. Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
The wind blows low on the mountain: the image of Decay. Thus the superior man stirs up the people and strengthens their spirit.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初六 | Bottom | Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. If there is a son, no blame rests on the departed father. Danger. Good fortune in the end. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 九二 | 2nd | Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother. One must not be too persevering. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九三 | 3rd | Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. There will be a little remorse. No great blame. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六四 | 4th | Tolerating what has been spoiled by the father. Going on leads to humiliation. | Overstepping brings shame; know your place |
| 六五 | 5th | Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. One meets with praise. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 上九 | Top | He does not serve kings and princes, sets himself higher goals. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Repairing what has been spoiled; correcting inherited problems
- Upper trigram Mountain (still and grounding) over lower trigram Wind (gentle and penetrating)
- Embodies the qualities of renovation, correction, decay and reform, responsibility, repair
Keywords
RenovationCorrectionDecayReformResponsibilityRepair
Divination & Prediction
★★★☆☆Challenging — Requires Work
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Mixed conditions requiring discernment. Repairing what has been spoiled; correcting inherited problems Success is possible through decay and reform. |
| Timing | Proceed with care, attending to details and timing. |
| Challenge | Balance renovation with correction to navigate the complexity. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels renovation and correction. The Mountain trigram above suggests still and grounding energy in your outer dealings, while the Wind trigram below points to gentle and penetrating foundations. Proceed carefully, focusing on essentials.
Health & Wellness
Focus on hands and back and thighs and immune system. Moderate, balanced approaches to health serve better than extreme measures now.
Relationships
In relationships, embody renovation and correction. Balance giving and receiving. Listen as much as you speak.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes decay and reform. Steady, methodical study brings better results than ambitious leaps.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate renovation in all your actions
- Practice correction consistently
- Embrace decay as your guiding principle
- Develop reform through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of responsibility
- Abandon repair under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 17. Suí (随) | Following — what preceded the decay |
| 46. Shēng (升) | Pushing Upward — growth after repair |
| 26. Dà Chù (大畜) | Great Taming — storing up wisdom from the past |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “I inherited a poorly managed department. How do I fix it?”
You received Hexagram 18, Work on the Decayed. The judgment says: 'Work on What Has Been Spoiled has supreme success. It furthers one to cross the ...' Repairing what has been spoiled; correcting inherited problems This is a nuanced sign. Success is possible but requires careful attention to correction and decay. Proceed thoughtfully rather than boldly.