Hexagram 23: Splitting Apart
Hexagram
23. Splitting Apart · Bo
Structure of the sign
The dark lines are about to mount upward and overthrow the last firm and light line by disintegrating it through their influence. The inferior and dark does not combat the noble and strong directly, but hollows it out gradually through imperceptible action, so that it finally collapses. The hexagram presents the image of a house. The uppermost line is the roof. When the roof is broken, the house falls into ruin. The hexagram is assigned to the ninth month (October–November). The yin power advances ever more powerfully and is on the point of entirely displacing the yang power.
The Judgment
Splitting Apart. It is not furthering to go anywhere. It is a time when the inferior men are pressing forward and are on the verge of ousting the last strong and noble men. Therefore, because this is grounded in the course of time, it is not favorable for the superior man to undertake anything under such circumstances. The proper conduct in such adverse times is to be learned from the images and their attributes. The lower trigram signifies the earth, whose attribute is compliance and devotion; the upper trigram signifies the mountain, whose attribute is stillness. This suggests the counsel to submit to the evil time and remain still. It is not a matter of human contriving, but of the conditions of the time, which according to heavenly laws show an alternation of increase and decrease, fullness and emptiness. These conditions of the time cannot be countered. Hence it is not cowardice, but wisdom, to submit and refrain from acting.
The Image
The mountain rests upon the earth: the image of Splitting Apart. Thus the high can secure their position only by generous gifts to those below. The mountain rests upon the earth. If it is steep and narrow, lacking a broad foundation, it must collapse. Only because it rises broad and great out of the earth, not proud and steep, is its position secured. In like manner rulers rest upon the broad foundation of the people. For them too it is fitting to be generous and magnanimous, like the earth that bears all things; then will they secure their position like the tranquility of a mountain.
The lines
Line 1
The bed is split at the leg. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune. The inferior men approach and secretly begin their destructive subversion from below, in order thereby to undermine the place where the superior man rests. The ruler's adherents who remain faithful to him are destroyed through slander and all manner of machinations. The situation is calamitous. Yet there is nothing to be done but to wait.
Line 2
The bed is split at the edge. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune. The power of the inferior men grows. Danger already approaches one's own person. Clear signs already appear. Peace is disturbed. While in this perilous situation, one is moreover without aid or sympathy from above or below. In this isolation, extreme caution is necessary. One must adapt to the time and yield in good season. To insist obstinately and stubbornly on maintaining one's standpoint would lead to ruin.
Line 3
He splits himself with them. No blame. One finds oneself in the midst of an evil environment with which one is also connected through external ties. Yet there exists an inner relationship to a higher man. Thereby one gains the inner support to free oneself from the nature of the people around. One enters thereby into opposition to them, to be sure, but this is no fault.
Line 4
The bed is split to the skin. Misfortune. Here misfortune reaches one's own body, no longer merely the resting place. No warning or other counsel is added. Misfortune is at its height: it can no longer be averted.
Line 5
A shoal of fishes. Through the palace ladies favor comes. Everything is furthering. Here in immediate proximity to the upper strong and light principle, the nature of the dark is transformed. It no longer opposes the strong principle with intrigues, but submits to its guidance. Indeed, as head of the other weak lines, it leads them all to the strong, just as a princess leads her maidservants to her husband like a shoal of fishes and thereby wins his favor. Through the lower thus voluntarily placing itself beneath the higher, it finds its good fortune, and the higher also comes into its own. Therefore everything goes well.
Line 6▶ ruling line
A large fruit remains uneaten. The superior man receives a carriage. The inferior man's house is split apart. Here the end of splitting apart is reached. When misfortune has spent its fury, better times return. The seed of the good remains. Just when the fruit falls to the earth, the good grows anew from its seed. The superior man attains influence and efficacy once again. He is borne by public opinion as in a carriage. But upon the inferior man his own malice is avenged. His house falls in ruins. Herein lies a law of nature. Evil is not only fatal to the good, but in its ultimate consequences destroys itself; for evil, living solely by negation, cannot endure of itself. Even the inferior man fares best when kept under discipline by a superior man.
Below ☷ Earth (Kun)
- Direction
- SW
- Element
- Earth
- Attributes
- Receptive · Yielding · Nourishing · Supporting · Dark
- Family
- Mother
Above ☶ Mountain (Gen)
- Direction
- NE
- Element
- Mountain · Stone
- Attributes
- Keeping Still · Firm · Immovable · Setting Boundaries
- Family
- Youngest Son