Hexagram 18, Gǔ (Repairing the Spoiled): Line 2

蛊卦九二 · 山风蛊 · 中文版

九二:干母之蛊,不可贞。

The line (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).

Small Image commentary

'He deals with the troubles caused by his mother:' - he holds to the course of the due mean.

象曰:干母之蛊,得中道也。

In plain words

Setting right what the mother spoiled; one should not be too rigid. The second line is strong and central and corresponds to the yielding fifth line, which is like a mother; the gentler party must be approached tactfully. The Small Image says this is finding the middle way.

Applying it to your situation

If you need to correct someone close to you who is vulnerable, this line suggests a gentle approach. How could you say it so that they can hear it?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the second place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. It holds the centre of the lower trigram. Its partner is line 5; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Gǔ changes into Hexagram 52 Gèn (Keeping Still). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·蛊之艮.

The hexagram

Hexagram 18 Gǔ (Repairing the Spoiled). The Judgment: Gu indicates great progress and success (to him who deals properly with the condition represented by it). There will be advantage in (efforts like that of) crossing the great stream. (He should weigh well, however, the events of) three days before the turning point, and those (to be done) three days after it.

Previous: Line 1 · Next: Line 3

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. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

Cast a hexagram · All 64 hexagrams · Worked examples