Hexagram 18: Gǔ (Repairing the Spoiled)
山风蛊 · 第 18 卦 · Mountain over Wind · 中文版
The Judgment
Gu indicates great progress and success (to him who deals properly with the condition represented by it). There will be advantage in (efforts like that of) crossing the great stream. (He should weigh well, however, the events of) three days before the turning point, and those (to be done) three days after it.
蛊:元亨,利涉大川。先甲三日,后甲三日。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
In Gu we have the strong (trigram) above, and the weak one below; we have (below) pliancy, and (above) stopping: - these give the idea of Gu (a Troublous Condition of affairs verging to ruin). 'Gu indicates great progress and success:' - (through the course shown in it), all under heaven, there will be good order. 'There will be advantage in crossing the great stream:' - he who advances will encounter the business to be done. '(He should weigh well, however, the events of) three days before (the turning-point), and those (to be done) three days after it:' - the end (of confusion) is the beginning (of order); such is the procedure of Heaven.
彖曰:蛊,刚上而柔下,巽而止,蛊。蛊,元亨,而天下治也。利涉大川,往有事也。先甲三日,后甲三日,终则有始,天行也。
The Great Image
(The trigram for) a mountain, and below it that for wind, form Gu. The superior man, in accordance with this, (addresses himself to) help the people and nourish his own virtue.
象曰:山下有风,蛊;君子以振民育德。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. If he be an (able) son, the father will escape the blame of having erred. The position is perilous, but there will be good fortune in the end.
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:' - he feels that he has entered into the work of his father.
初六:干父之蛊,有子,考无咎,厉终吉。 象曰:干父之蛊,意承考也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his mother. He should not (carry) his firm correctness (to the utmost).
'He deals with the troubles caused by his mother:' - he holds to the course of the due mean.
九二:干母之蛊,不可贞。 象曰:干母之蛊,得中道也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. There may be some small occasion for repentance, but there will not be any great error.
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:' - in the end there will be no error.
九三:干父之蛊,小有悔,无大咎。 象曰:干父之蛊,终无咎也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows (a son) viewing indulgently the troubles caused by his father. If he go forward, he will find cause to regret it.
'He views indulgently the troubles caused by his father:' - if he go forward, he will not succeed.
六四:裕父之蛊,往见吝。 象曰:裕父之蛊,往未得也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. He obtains the praise of using (the fit instrument for his work).
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father, and obtains praise:' - he is responded to (by the subject of line two) with all his virtue.
六五:干父之蛊,用誉。 象曰:干父用誉,承以德也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth NINE, undivided, shows us one who does not serve either king or feudal lord, but in a lofty spirit prefers (to attend to) his own affairs.
'He does not serve either king or feudal lord:' - but his aim may be a model (to others).
上九:不事王侯,高尚其事。 象曰:不事王侯,志可则也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.