Hexagram 23, Bō (Splitting Apart): Line 4

剥卦六四 · 山地剥 · 中文版

六四:剥床以肤,凶。

The line (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.

Small Image commentary

'He has overthrown the couch, and (proceeds to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it):' - calamity is very near at hand.

象曰:剥床以肤,切近灾也。

In plain words

Splitting the bed reaches the skin: misfortune. The first three lines split the legs and frame of the bed; at the fourth line the splitting reaches the person lying on it, and the damage turns from things to oneself. The fourth line has entered the upper trigram, where yin is stronger still. The Small Image says disaster is now close at hand.

Applying it to your situation

If the loss has become personal, this line suggests first protecting what matters most. What can you least afford to lose right now?

Position

A broken (yin) line in the fourth place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 1; both are yin, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Bō changes into Hexagram 35 Jìn (Progress). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·剥之晋.

The hexagram

Hexagram 23 Bō (Splitting Apart). The Judgment: Bo indicates that (in the state which it symbolises) it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.

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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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