Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 剥 (Bō) |
| English Name | Splitting Apart / Erosion |
| Trigrams | Mountain over Earth (艮上坤下) |
| Number | 23 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
The mountain rests on the earth: the image of Splitting Apart. Thus those above can ensure their position only by giving generously to those below.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初六 | Bottom | The leg of the bed is split. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六二 | 2nd | The bed is split at the edge. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六三 | 3rd | He splits with them. No blame. | Acceptable situation; no error in this approach |
| 六四 | 4th | The bed is split up to the skin. Misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六五 | 5th | A shoal of fishes. Favor comes through the court ladies. Everything acts to further. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 上九 | Top | There is a large fruit still uneaten. The superior man receives a carriage. The house of the inferior man is split apart. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Mountain crumbling onto earth; a time of decay requiring acceptance
- Upper trigram Mountain (still and grounding) over lower trigram Earth (receptive and nurturing)
- Embodies the qualities of erosion, decline, splitting and patience, generosity, acceptance
Keywords
ErosionDeclineSplittingPatienceGenerosityAcceptance
Divination & Prediction
★☆☆☆☆Inauspicious
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Challenging period requiring patience. Mountain crumbling onto earth; a time of decay requiring acceptance Preserve your strength through generosity and acceptance. |
| Timing | Not the time for bold initiatives. Consolidate and wait. |
| Challenge | The temptation to force progress will backfire. Practice patience. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels erosion and decline. The Mountain trigram above suggests still and grounding energy in your outer dealings, while the Earth trigram below points to receptive and nurturing foundations. Retrench and preserve resources until conditions improve.
Health & Wellness
Focus on hands and back and stomach and digestion. Rest and recovery are priorities. Don't push your body beyond its current capacity.
Relationships
In relationships, embody erosion and decline. Patience and understanding are needed. Avoid confrontation; focus on maintaining what you have.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes splitting and patience. Focus on fundamentals and review. Build a strong foundation before advancing.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate erosion in all your actions
- Practice decline consistently
- Embrace splitting as your guiding principle
- Develop patience through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of generosity
- Abandon acceptance under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 24. Fù (复) | Return — renewal follows collapse |
| 2. Kūn (坤) | The Receptive — yielding to the inevitable |
| 12. Pǐ (否) | Standstill — related period of stagnation |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “My industry is declining rapidly. What should I do?”
You received Hexagram 23, Splitting Apart. The judgment says: 'Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere....' Mountain crumbling onto earth; a time of decay requiring acceptance This is a cautionary sign. The current conditions call for generosity rather than action. Preserve your resources and wait for the cycle to turn.