Hexagram 18, Gǔ (Repairing the Spoiled): Line 6 (top)

蛊卦上九 · 山风蛊 · 中文版

上九:不事王侯,高尚其事。

The line (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.

Small Image commentary

'He does not serve either king or feudal lord:' - but his aim may be a model (to others).

象曰:不事王侯,志可则也。

In plain words

Not serving kings or lords, one holds one's own conduct high. The top line stands outside the work: the decay has been set right, and it no longer takes part in affairs, keeping itself pure. The Small Image says such an aim can serve as a model.

Applying it to your situation

If a stage of your work is complete, this line suggests you may step back and focus on what matters to you. Once your duties are set down, what do you most want to hold on to?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the top place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. Its partner is line 3; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Gǔ changes into Hexagram 46 Shēng (Pushing Upward). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·蛊之升.

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.

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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.

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