Hexagram 18 · ䷑

Work on the Decayed

蠱 · Gǔ

Upper Mountain 艮Lower Wind 巽

The Judgment · 卦辭

元亨。利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。

Kû 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.

The Image · 大象

山下有風，蠱；君子以振民育德。

(The trigram for) a mountain, and below it that for wind, form Kû. The superior man, in accordance with this, (addresses himself to) help the people and nourish his own virtue.

Plain-English Meaning

Repairing what has spoiled. Old problems ask to be faced, understood and set right.

The Judgment

Work on what has decayed brings success; think carefully before and after you act.

The Image

Like wind beneath a mountain, stir people to renewal and strengthen your own character.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初六 · Line 1
幹父之蠱，有子考，无咎，厲終吉。
The first SIX, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. If he be an (able) son, the father will escape the blame of having erred. The position is perilous, but there will be good fortune in the end.
象曰：幹父之蠱，意承考也。
九二 · Line 2
幹母之蠱，不可貞。
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).
象曰：幹母之蠱，得中道也。
九三 · Line 3
幹父之蠱，小有悔，无大咎。
The third NINE, undivided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. There may be some small occasion for repentance, but there will not be any great error.
象曰：幹父之蠱，終无咎也。
六四 · Line 4
裕父之蠱，往見吝。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows (a son) viewing indulgently the troubles caused by his father. If he go forward, he will find cause to regret it.
象曰：裕父之蠱，往未得也。
六五 · Line 5
幹父之蠱，用譽。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. He obtains the praise of using (the fit instrument for his work).
象曰：幹父用譽，承以德也。
上九 · Line 6
不事王侯，高尚其事。
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.
象曰：不事王侯，志可則也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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