23 · 剝

Hexagram 23, 剝. Original Chinese judgment: 不利有攸往。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

不利有攸往。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初六：剝床以足，蔑貞凶。
  2. 六二：剝床以辨，蔑貞凶。
  3. 六三：剝之，无咎。
  4. 六四：剝床以膚，凶。
  5. 六五：貫魚，以宮人寵，无不利。
  6. 上九：碩果不食，君子得輿，小人剝廬。

Tuan commentary

剝，剝也，柔變剛也。不利有攸往，小人長也。順而止之，觀象也。君子尚消息盈虛，天行也。

维基文库 · 周易 · 剥

Great Image commentary

山附地上，剝；上以厚下，安宅。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 剝牀以足，以滅下也。
  2. 剝牀以辨，未有與也。
  3. 剝之无咎，失上下也。
  4. 剝牀以膚，切近災也。
  5. 以宮人寵，終无尤也。
  6. 君子得輿，民所載也。小人剝廬，終不可用也。

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese

Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.

朱熹《周易本義》

維基文庫 · 周易本義（四庫全書本）卷一

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains Bo through five yin lines growing while one yang line is nearly exhausted. Kun’s responsiveness in the inner trigram and Gen’s stillness in the outer trigram call for observing growth and decline and stopping with the time as yang wanes, rather than advancing rashly.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. Stripping begins below, like erosion of a bed’s legs. The foundation of the proper way is destroyed; although the problem begins subtly, its further development is inauspicious.
  2. Erosion moves from the bed’s legs to its frame, continuing upward. The improper force has not yet gained more support, but the danger of destroying correctness draws nearer.
  3. The third yin line stands among yin stripping yang but alone corresponds with the top yang line. Leaving its faction to follow the proper way can be without blame.
  4. Stripping reaches the skin. Harm directly approaches oneself, no longer merely a sign of injury to the proper way; hence the direct inauspicious judgment.
  5. The fifth yin line leads the yin lines. Guiding its kind in orderly succession like a string of fish and accepting yang restraint can leave nothing unfavorable.
  6. The remaining yang line is like a great fruit not eaten, retaining the possibility of renewal. The exemplary person is borne by the people, while the petty person strips away their own shelter.

Plain-language reading

Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.

Judgment introduction

Bo describes growing yin and the last yang nearly exhausted, with things stripped away layer by layer from below. When foundations are damaged and the proper path weakened, observe waxing and waning and stop in keeping with the time, rather than advancing rashly.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. Erosion begins in the lowest foundation. Though small, the problem will spread upward; notice it early.
  2. Damage has progressed from the bed’s legs to its frame. Erosion deepens and danger is nearer than at the outset.
  3. Amid many yin lines, one can leave one’s own group and instead respond to the proper path, thereby avoiding blame.
  4. Stripping has reached the body itself. It is no longer a distant sign, but direct, immediate harm.
  5. Lead those of the same kind in orderly advance and accept restraint by the proper path, changing the course of merely stripping away yang.
  6. The remaining yang is like a fruit not eaten, still holding the possibility of renewal. Whether it receives support depends on the path maintained.

Read the source