Bo 山地剝
A time to protect and hold on
Energy is weakening. Don’t start anything new; guarding what you have is the best plan.
What does I Ching hexagram 23 (Splitting Apart) mean?
A mountain crumbling away. Decline is strong, so staying still and protecting what you have is the best plan.
- Splitting Apart in love
- The relationship may drift, so avoid forcing anything.
- Splitting Apart at work and with money
- Loss risk is high. Defend rather than expand.
- Advice
- Quietly step back and protect what must be protected.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Splitting Apart
Caution“Not favorable to undertake anything.”
The Image: The mountain rests on the earth: splitting apart. Those above are generous to those below, and their home is secure.
原文 · 不利。有攸往。 / 山附地上，剝；上以厚下，安宅。
The six lines of hexagram 23
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初六
Misfortune“The bed is eroded at its legs; disregarding what is right brings misfortune.”
The foundation is being undermined. Ignoring the warning leads to disaster.
原文 · 剝牀以足，蔑貞凶。
Line 2 · 六二
Misfortune“The bed is eroded at the frame; disregarding what is right brings misfortune.”
The damage is spreading. Don’t ignore the danger.
原文 · 剝牀以辨，蔑貞凶。
Line 3 · 六三
No blame“Splitting apart from the others; no blame.”
Distancing yourself from a bad group is correct.
原文 · 剝之，无咎。
Line 4 · 六四
Misfortune“The bed is eroded at the skin: misfortune.”
The harm now touches you directly. Action is urgent.
原文 · 剝牀以膚，凶。
Line 5 · 六五
Auspicious“A string of fish; the lady of the palace leads the favored: nothing is unfavorable.”
With order and unity, even a decaying situation turns benign.
原文 · 貫魚，以宮人寵，无不利。
Line 6 · 上九
Neutral“A large fruit is not eaten; the noble person gets a carriage, the small person strips his own house.”
What remains is precious. Protect it; those who destroy it harm themselves.
原文 · 碩果不食，君子德車，小人剝廬。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 43. Guai (Breakthrough)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 24. Fu (Return)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.