Work on What Has Been Spoiled (Decay)
Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 18, 蠱 (Gǔ), represents Work on What Has Been Spoiled (Decay).
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 18 (蠱 Gǔ). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/gu). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
蠱：元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Great success. It is favorable to cross the great river. Three days before the jiǎ day, and three days after it.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
山下有风,蛊。君子以振民育德。
James Legge: (The trigram for) a mountain, and below it that for wind, form Ku. The superior man, in accordance with this, (addresses himself to) help the people and nourish his own virtue.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：幹父之蠱，有子，考无咎，厲終吉。
James Legge: 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.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：幹母之蠱，不可貞。
James Legge: 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).
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：幹父之蠱，小有悔，无大咎。
James Legge: 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.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：裕父之蠱，往見吝。
James Legge: 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.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：幹父之蠱，用譽。
James Legge: 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).
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：不事王侯，高尚其事。
James Legge: 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.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled can prompt a careful question about inheritance: which deteriorating arrangements — inherited from events, institutions, or habits — need deliberate repair rather than quiet tolerance? The figure speaks of the decay of things long neglected and of the work of setting them right.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
This reflection promises no remediation success and diagnoses no person. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 18 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.