Hexagram 23: Splitting Apart (剝 Bō) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 23 (剝 Splitting Apart)?

I Ching Hexagram 23, 剝 (Bō), represents Splitting Apart. It is formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Earth (坤 Kūn) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 23 mean?

The Image states: 'The mountain rests on the earth: the image of Splitting Apart. Thus those above can ensure their position only by giving generously to those below.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 23 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how Splitting Apart manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 23 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 23 (Splitting Apart) follows Hexagram 22 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

剝

Bō — Hexagram 23

Splitting Apart

Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Earth (坤 Kūn) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 23, 剝 (Bō), represents Splitting Apart. Formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Earth (坤 Kūn) below, this hexagram teaches about splitting apart. The core message: Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 23 is formed by Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Earth (坤 Kūn) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

Splitting Apart. It does not further one to go anywhere.

— I Ching, Splitting Apart

The Image

The mountain rests on the earth: the image of Splitting Apart. Thus those above can ensure their position only by giving generously to those below.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: The leg of the bed is split. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.

Line 2: Line 2: The frame of the bed is split. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.

Line 3: Line 3: He splits with them. No blame.

Line 4: Line 4: The bed is split up to the skin. Misfortune.

Line 5: Line 5: A shoal of fishes. Favor comes through the court ladies. Everything acts to further.

Line 6: Line 6: There is a large fruit still uneaten. The superior man receives a carriage. The house of the inferior man is split apart.

Modern Application

Hexagram 23 describes collapse from the bottom up. The mountain resting on the earth seems stable, but the earth's foundation is being eroded — the five yielding lines below are overwhelming the single firm line above. This is the hexagram of systemic decay, where institutions crumble not from external attack but from internal rot. The key teaching: when the foundation is gone, do not push forward; preserve what can be saved. Line 6 offers hope — the large fruit uneaten is what survives the collapse. In modern terms, Splitting Apart describes corporate failures, political corruption, or personal breakdowns where the only wise move is retreat and preservation.

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