Hexagram 23
Splitting Apart - The Fall
剥
Meaning and Overview
The hexagram of Splitting Apart is mostly ominous, a hexagram of misfortune. Its upper trigram is Gen, mountain, and the lower trigram is Kun, earth. Among the six lines, only one yang line occupies the top position. According to the convention of the Zhouyi, the hexagram develops from bottom to top. The lower lines are all yin, with yin forces strong, making it difficult for the solitary yang to hold its ground. When the solitary yang splits apart, it transforms into the Kun hexagram. The commentary says: 'Bo means splitting apart; the soft changes the hard. "It is not favorable to go anywhere" because the petty man is growing.' The yin lines gradually increase in power, eroding the yang lines. The reason it is unfavorable to advance is that the petty man's influence is growing stronger. Generally, yin needs the protection of yang; darkness depends on light. When yin lines erode yang lines, the yin lines themselves also become dangerous. Therefore, the first yin line of Bo hexagram indicates misfortune through divination. Even the second yin line, though in the central position, is equally dangerous. Among the sixty-four hexagrams of the Zhouyi, it is rare for a second yin line in the central position to be dangerous. The fourth yin line is dangerous. The third yin line, because it corresponds with the top yang line, has no fault. The fifth yin line, being in the central position and obedient to the top yang line, is 'without disadvantage.' The top yang line says: 'He does not eat the large fruit; the superior man obtains a carriage, the petty man splits apart his hut.' 'He does not eat the large fruit' means keeping the best fruit as seeds for agricultural production, which will bring a harvest.
Chinese Interpretation
《剥》卦凶很多，是个凶卦。《剥》卦上卦为艮，为山，下卦为坤，为地，全卦六爻只有一个阳爻居于上位，《周易》的惯例是卦从下面往上面发展，下面都是阴爻，阴势力强盛，独阳很难支撑局面，独阳剥落，就变成《坤》卦了，辞说：“剥，剥也，柔变刚也。‘不利有攸往’，小人长也。”阴爻势力渐长，阴爻侵蚀阳爻，之所以不利于前行，是因为小人势力渐渐变得强大。一般来说，阴需要阳的庇护，阴暗阳明，阴爻剥蚀阳爻，阴爻自己也会很危险。因此，《剥》卦初六爻贞凶，六二爻即使居于中位，同样凶险，在《周易》六十四卦中，六二爻居于中位而凶险的极少。六四爻凶险，六三因为与上九阴阳相应，故而无咎。六五则居于中位，顺承上九，因此“无不利”，上九则说：“硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剥庐。”“硕果不食”是说将最好的果实留作农业生产用的种子，会有收获。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
不利有攸往。
剥卦，为剥落衰败之卦，不利于前行。
It is not favorable to go anywhere.
The hexagram of Splitting Apart is one of decay and decline; it is not favorable to advance.
初六，剥床以足，蔑，贞凶。
初六爻，床脚已经损坏了，床主人如果还没有引起注意，更没有及时修理，照往常一样坐卧在床上，那么床肯定会垮塌，坐卧在床上的人也会摔下床来，结果十分凶险。
First six: splitting the bed by the feet, destroying it. Perseverance brings misfortune.
The first yin line: the feet of the bed are already damaged. If the owner does not pay attention and fails to repair it in time, but continues to sit and lie on the bed as usual, the bed will certainly collapse, and the person on it will fall off, resulting in great danger.
六二，剥床以辨，蔑，贞凶。
六二爻，床脚与床之间相连接的床辨部分已经损坏，如果主人忽略不修，麻痹大意，仍然像往常一样坐卧，结果凶险。
Second six: splitting the bed by the frame, destroying it. Perseverance brings misfortune.
The second yin line: the joint between the bed legs and the bed frame is already damaged. If the owner neglects repair and remains careless, still sitting and lying as usual, the result is dangerous.
六三，剥之，无咎。
六三爻，剥落它，没有咎害。
Third six: splitting it. No fault.
The third yin line: splitting it away. No harm.
六四，剥床以肤，凶。
六四爻，床面已经剥落损坏，凶险。
Fourth six: splitting the bed by the skin. Misfortune.
The fourth yin line: the surface of the bed is already split and damaged. Misfortune.
六五，贯鱼以宫人宠，无不利。
六五爻，像贯穿鱼一样率领宫人承受宠爱，没有不利。
Fifth six: stringing fish together, receiving favor from the palace ladies. Nothing disadvantageous.
The fifth yin line: leading the palace ladies like a string of fish to receive favor. Nothing disadvantageous.
上九，硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剥庐。
上九爻，硕大的果实不吃，君子得到车舆，小人剥落屋庐。
Top nine: he does not eat the large fruit; the superior man obtains a carriage, the petty man splits apart his hut.
The top yang line: he does not eat the large fruit; the superior man obtains a carriage, the petty man splits apart his hut.