Bo (Splitting Apart)

Hexagram 23: Bo (Splitting Apart)

☷ Kun below, ☶ Gen above

The Book of Changes

Bo: It is not favorable to go anywhere.

First Yin: The bed’s foot is split apart; the divination is ominous.

Second Yin: The bed’s leg is split apart; the divination is ominous.

Third Yin: Splitting it apart—no misfortune.

Fourth Yin: The bed’s mat is split apart—ominous.

Fifth Yin: Stringing fish together, one leads the palace women to receive favor—nothing unfavorable.

Top Yang: The great fruit is not eaten; the noble man obtains a carriage, the petty man splits apart his hut.

Commentary on the Judgment

Bo means splitting apart; the yielding lines change the firm lines. “It is not favorable to go anywhere” because the petty man’s influence grows. Complying with the time and stopping the splitting is observed from the hexagram image. The noble man values the patterns of waxing and waning, fullness and emptiness—this is the way of heaven.

Commentary on the Image

Mountain resting upon earth: the image of Bo. The one in high position thus treats the lowly generously and secures his dwelling.

“The bed’s foot is split apart”—this destroys the foundation.

“The bed’s leg is split apart”—there is no support.

“Splitting it apart without misfortune”—this loses the relationship of above and below.

“The bed’s mat is split apart”—calamity draws near.

“Leading the palace women to receive favor”—in the end there is no fault.

“The noble man obtains a carriage”—this is what the people carry; “the petty man splits apart his hut”—in the end he cannot be employed.