Hexagram 23: Bō (Splitting Apart)
山地剥 · 第 23 卦 · Mountain over Earth · 中文版
The Judgment
Bo 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。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
Bo denotes overthrowing or being overthrown. We see (in the figure) the weak lines (threatening to) change the (last) strong line (into one of themselves). That 'it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever' appears from the fact that the small men are (now) growing and increasing. The superior man acts according to (the exigency of the time), and stops all forward movement, looking at the (significance of the) symbolic figures (in the hexagram). He values the processes of decrease and increase, of fulness and decadence, (as seen) in the movements of the heavenly bodies.
彖曰：剥，剥也，柔变刚也。不利有攸往，小人长也。顺而止之，观象也。君子尚消息盈虚，天行也。
The Great Image
(The trigrams representing) the earth, and (above it) that for a mountain, which adheres to the earth, form Bo. Superiors, in accordance with this, seek to strengthen those below them, to secure the peace and stability of their own position.
象曰：山附地上，剥；上以厚下，安宅。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, 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.
'He overthrows the couch by injuring its legs:' - thus (he commences) his work of ruin with what is lowest (in the superior man).
初六：剥床以足，蔑贞凶。 象曰：剥床以足，以灭下也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, 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.
'He destroys the couch by injuring its frame:' - (the superior man) has as yet no associates.
六二：剥床以辨，蔑贞凶。 象曰：剥床以辨，未有与也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third SIX, divided, shows its subject among the overthrowers; but there will be no error.
That 'there will be no error on the part of this one among the overthrowers' arises from the difference between him and the others above and below.
六三：剥之，无咎。 象曰：剥之无咎，失上下也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject having overthrown the couch, and (going to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it). There will be evil.
'He has overthrown the couch, and (proceeds to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it):' - calamity is very near at hand.
六四：剥床以肤，凶。 象曰：剥床以肤，切近灾也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, 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.
'He obtains for them the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace:' - in the end there will be no grudge against him.
六五：贯鱼，以宫人宠，无不利。 象曰：以宫人宠，终无尤也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The topmost NINE, 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.
'The superior man finds himself in a carriage:' - he is carried along by the people. 'The small men (by their course) overthrow their own dwellings:' - they can. never again be of use to them.
上九：硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剥庐。 象曰：君子得舆，民所载也。小人剥庐，终不可用也。 · 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.