Hexagram 23Upper Gen · MountainLower Kun · Earth

Bo · Splitting Apart

剥卦 · 山地剥

Erosion
Decline
Preserving strength
Holding the core

The Judgment

Po indicates that (in the state which it symbolises) it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.

剥。不利有攸往。

The Image

The mountain rests on the earth: splitting apart. Those above, in the same way, strengthen those below and secure their homes.

山附于地，剥。上以厚下安宅。

Plain-language reading

Your situation

You may be going through a gradual loss: support is shrinking, the environment is getting worse, and things that once felt solid are being stripped away layer by layer. In Bo, five yin lines push up beneath a single yang line at the top. Yin is at its strongest, and the situation does not favour taking the initiative.

Where to put your effort

This is not the time to push or take risks. Do not fight head-on or try to expand. Focus on protecting the core: your health, your key relationships, your essential resources. Like a mountain resting on the earth, strengthen your base. The top line speaks of a large fruit left uneaten: keep the seed safe and wait for the yang to return.

Four areas of life

Career: Bad timing; stay calm and hold your ground.
Wealth: Exports profit, but at others' expense.
Family: Do not leave your home; you may buy where you lodge.
Health: Feeling unanchored and drained; take great care.

Health notes come from traditional texts and are cultural reference only. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.

The six lines

Read from the bottom up: the first line is at the bottom, the top line is at the top. Open each line for details.

Six at the beginningThe first line, divided, shows one overturning the couch by injuring its legs. (The injury will go on to) the destruction of (all) firm correctness, and there will be evil.Moving

初六：剥床以足，蔑贞，凶。

Image：Splitting the bed at its legs: destroying what is below.

Career: A time of being worn down; watch out for foot problems.
Wealth: Losses at the base; cut your losses.
Family: The foundation is unstable; be wary of those under you.
Health: Foot trouble; get it checked carefully.

Six in the second placeThe second line, divided, shows one overthrowing the couch by injuring its frame. (The injury will go on to) the destruction of (all) firm correctness, and there will be evil.Moving

六二：剥床以辨，蔑贞，凶。

Image：Splitting the bed at its frame: no one to stand with.

Career: Sinking lower day by day, suffering in silence.
Wealth: Costs pile up and profit is hard.
Family: Make changes quickly.
Health: Bed-bound and awaiting treatment; guard against decline.

Six in the third placeThe third line, divided, shows its subject among the overthrowers; but there will be no error.Moving

六三：剥之，无咎。

Image：Splitting apart without blame: breaking away from those above and below.

Career: Your luck is off, but you can still correct course.
Wealth: Sell on your own and you will profit.
Family: Renovate the old house.
Health: Clear away heat and irritation.

Six in the fourth placeThe fourth line, divided, shows its subject having overthrown the couch, and (going to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it). There will be evil.Moving

六四：剥床以肤，凶。

Image：Splitting the bed down to the skin: disaster is close.

Career: Clearly unfavourable; guard against injury.
Wealth: Too much drain; unexpected trouble.
Family: The house is falling apart; guard against collapse.
Health: Quite dangerous.

Six in the fifth placeThe fifth line, divided, shows (its subject leading on the others like) a string of fishes, and (obtaining for them) the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace. There will be advantage in every way.Moving

六五：贯鱼，以宫人宠，无不利。

Image：Favouring the palace ladies: in the end, no blame.

Career: Your luck is splendid; nothing goes wrong.
Wealth: Rich profits, especially in seafood.
Family: A woman runs the household.
Health: Internal depletion; take care of your body.

Nine at the topThe topmost line, undivided, shows its subject (as) a great fruit which has not been eaten. The superior man finds (the people again) as a chariot carrying him. The small men (by their course) overthrow their own dwellings.Moving

上九：硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剥庐。

Image：The noble one gets a carriage: carried by the people. The petty person splits the house apart: in the end, they cannot be used.

Career: In decline now; it will take a year to recover.
Wealth: Selling is fine; buying will cost you.
Family: Kindness keeps your home; meanness leaves you without a roof.
Health: Unable to eat; take careful care.

Related hexagrams

Judgment and line texts from the public-domain translation by James Legge (1882). Readings by DeepHeart AI.

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