Splitting Apart
Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Earth (坤 Kūn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 23, 剝 (Bō), represents Splitting Apart.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 23 (剝 Bō). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/bo). 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)
剝：不利有攸往。
Oriens Editorial Translation: It is not fruitful to undertake a forward advance.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
山附于地,剥。上以厚下安宅。
James Legge: (The trigrams representing) the earth, and (above it) that for a mountain, which adheres to the earth, form Po. Superiors, in accordance with this, seek to strengthen those below them, to secure the peace and stability of their own position.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：剝床以足，蔑貞凶。
James Legge: 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.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
六二：剝床以辨，蔑貞凶。
James Legge: 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.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：剝之，无咎。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows its subject among the overthrowers; but there will be no error.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：剝床以膚，凶。
James Legge: 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.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：貫魚，以宮人寵，无不利。
James Legge: 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.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：碩果不食，君子得輿，小人剝廬。
James Legge: 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.
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.
Splitting Apart can prompt a careful question about erosion: what is wearing away here, layer by layer, and what should no longer be propped up? The figure describes things splitting while also noting that staying still is favorable and that a remnant endures — both read here as parts of the text's own picture.
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.
Nothing on this page predicts what will be lost or preserved. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 23 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.