Hexagram 18 of 64

Gǔ — What Has Gone Sour

山风蛊 · Legge: Ku · Mountain above, Wind below

Something has gone sour from neglect; name what went wrong before and after the break, then repair it.

declinerecoverydecisiveness

The Judgment

Gǔ. 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.

Legge’s 1882 translation

Ku 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

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

山下有风,蛊;君子以振民育德。

The Six Lines

The first six · 初六

The first line, divided, shows dealing, with the troubles caused by his father. If he be an son, the father will escape the blame of having erred. The position is perilous, but there will be good fortune in the end.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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.

The second nine · 九二

The second line, undivided, shows a son dealing with the troubles caused by his mother. He should not carry his firm correctness to the utmost.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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).

The third nine · 九三

The third line, undivided, shows dealing with the troubles caused by his father. There may be some small occasion for repentance, but there will not be any great error.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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.

The fourth six · 六四

The fourth line, divided, shows viewing indulgently the troubles caused by his father. If he go forward, he will find cause to regret it.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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.

The fifth six · 六五

The fifth line, divided, shows dealing with the troubles caused by his father. He obtains the praise of using.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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).

The topmost nine · 上九

The sixth line, undivided, shows us one who does not serve either king or feudal lord, but in a lofty spirit prefers his own affairs.

Legge’s 1882 translation

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.

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