I Ching Hexagram 23 - Splitting Apart
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 23 "Splitting Apart"
剝 - Bō
Sơn Địa Bác
Splitting Apart
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☶ Gen, Mountain
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Other Titles: Disintegration, The symbol of Falling or Flaying, Peeling Off, Decay, Flaying, Stripping Away, Intrigue, Deterioration, Collapse, Fracturing, Tearing, Ruin, Unraveling.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere.
Legge: Disintegration means that it is not advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.
Blofeld: Peeling off. At present, there is no goal (or destination) which can be sought with advantage. [Peeling off in the sense of getting rid of hindrances (or hinderers) one after another. The first four lines of this hexagram symbolize a process of ridding ourselves progressively of all those upon whom we are accustomed to rely, for the powers of darkness are in the ascendant and no one can be trusted. However, in the long run, virtue triumphs, as indicated by line five, and ultimately we are all the more esteemed for our steadfastness, as can be seen from line six.]
Liu: Decay. It is unfavorable to undertake anything.
Shaughnessy: Flaying: Not beneficial to have someplace to go.
Cleary (1): Stripping away does not make it beneficial to go anywhere.
Cleary (2): … It is not beneficial, etc.
Wu: Tearing indicates that it is not advantageous to have any undertaking.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: 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.
Legge: The image of a mountain adhering to the earth forms Disintegration. Superiors therefore strengthen their inferiors to secure the peace and stability of their own position.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes a mountain resting upon the earth. The truly great shower generosity upon those under them to enable them to live in peace and comfort. [The upper and lower trigrams, mountain and Earth, symbolize the Superior Man and the people in his care.]
Liu: The mountain stands on the earth, symbolizing Decay. Those above should act with benevolence toward those below. Then there will be peace and security.
Cleary: Mountains are joined to the earth. Those above secure their homes by kindness to those below.
Wu: The mountain is subordinated to the earth; this is Tearing. Thus those above treat those below with liberal rewards to secure their own positions.
Line 1
初六: 剝床以足, 蔑貞, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The leg of the bed is split. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, 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.
Blofeld: He starts the peeling off at the foot of the bed. There is no steadfastness -- misfortune!
Liu: The legs of the bed are rotting. If one continues despite this, misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Flaying the good together with the legs; determination about the military is inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Stripping a bed of the legs, destroying rectitude brings misfortune.
Cleary (2): … Destroying uprightness, etc.
Wu: He tears down the legs of the bed. Without regard to what is correct, it will be foreboding.
Line 2
六二: 剝床以辨, 蔑貞, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The bed is split at the edge. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, 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.
Blofeld: He continues peeling off at the edge of the bed. There is no steadfastness -- misfortune!
Liu: The frame of the bed is rotting. If one continues despite this, misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Flaying the good together with the dividers; determination about the military is inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Stripping a bed of its frame, destroying rectitude brings misfortune.
Cleary (2): … Destroying uprightness, etc.
Wu: He strips away the panels of the bed. Without regard to what is correct, it will be foreboding.
Line 3
六三: 剝之, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He splits with them. No blame.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject among the over-throwers; but there will be no error.
Blofeld: He peels them all off -- no error.
Liu: Falling apart. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Flaying; there is no trouble.
Cleary: Stripping away without fault.
Wu: He tears but he is blameless.
Line 4
六四: 剝床以膚, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The bed is split up to the skin . Misfortune.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows its subject having overthrown the couch, and going on to injure the skin of him who lies on it. There will be evil.
Blofeld: He continues the peeling off at the mattress of his bed -- misfortune!
Liu: The entire bed rots, reaching the body. Misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Flaying the good together with the skin; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Stripping away even the skin on the bed , misfortune.
Cleary (2): Stripping a bed to the skin brings misfortune.
Wu: He rips off the matting in the bed . There will be foreboding.
Line 5
六五: 貫魚, 以宮人寵, 无不利．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A shoal of fishes. Favor comes through the court ladies. Everything acts to further.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject leading on the others like a string of fishes, and obtaining for them the favor that lights on the inmates of the palace. There will be advantage in every way.
Blofeld: A string of fishes symbolizing the high favor enjoyed by maids in the palace -- everything is favorable. [This line seems somewhat to contradict the omen provided by this unlucky hexagram. In such cases, what is said in the moving line must be regarded as specially apt for our particular circumstances; i.e. in spite of the wretched conditions prevailing, those who receive this moving line can pursue their goals without fear of failure.]
Liu: A string of fish. Favor comes through women of the palace. Everything is good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Strung fish; eating the palace men's steamer; there is nothing not beneficial.
Cleary (1): Leading fish, gaining favor through court ladies; beneficial in every respect.
Cleary (2): Leading fish with the favor shown to court ladies, there is all-around benefit.
Wu: Like a school of fish, the court ladies are led in to gain the royal favor. Everything will be fine.
Line 6
上九: 碩果不食, 君子得輿, 小人剝廬．
Wilhelm/Baynes: There is a large fruit still uneaten. The superior man receives a carriage. The house of the inferior man is split apart.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, 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 inferior men by their course overthrow their own dwellings.
Blofeld: The ripe fruit remains uneaten. [Few care to accept advice or help, although the Superior Man will gladly give it them.] The Superior Man will acquire a carriage, whereas the mean man will lose his own house. [This line presages great good fortune for the truly virtuous; for, in the end, their virtue is widely recognized and men rally to their support. On the other hand, those who hitherto have managed to obtain good fortune through dishonest methods pursued at a time when virtue as under an eclipse will lose everything they have.]
Liu: A large fruit not eaten. The superior man acquires a carriage. The inferior man's house falls apart.
Shaughnessy: The stone fruit is not eaten: the gentleman obtains a chariot the little man flays a gourd.
Cleary (1): A hard fruit is not eaten. The superior person gets a vehicle. The inferior person is stripped of a house.
Cleary (2): … The leader gets a vehicle. The petty person, etc.
Wu: The grand fruit is not picked for eating. The jun zi gains a carriage. The little men tear down their shelters. [This is the lone yang line in the hexagram, like a big fruit not yet picked. Translation: the only remaining yang not stripped off by the yin. Here is the jun zi (chun tzu, superior man) who has the support of the people. Despite temporary setbacks, goodness prevails in the end.]
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 23 is formed by trigrams mountain over earth.
It represents the process of falling apart or being overthrown. Unions past their time now break apart. A cycle is coming to its end. It is beyond your control, and it is not your fault. There is no advantage in taking any action.
If you are confronted by someone, the best response is to surrender and not put up a fight. You are not being a coward by being a wise man. Stay detached and wait for a new luck cycle to begin, so the situation can change for the better.
