Hexagram 18

蠱 Gǔ

Work on the Decayed

☶ Mountain above ☴ Wind

Judgment 卦辭

元亨。利涉大川。先甲三日。後甲三日。

蠱gǔdetoxifying; bad medicine, toxins, fixations

元yuánmost; first-rate, supreme, excellent

亨hēngfulfilling; fulfillment, satisfaction, success

利lìworthwhile, rewarding, favorable

涉shèto cross, ford, ferry, venture, experience

大dàthe great, big, major

川chuānstream, river, current, waters

先xiānbefore, prior to, ahead of

甲jiǎthe beginning, start, new cycle, departure

三sānthree

日rìdays

後hòuafter, subsequent to, following

甲jiǎthe beginning, start, new cycle, departure

三sānthree

日rìdays

Commentary

Supreme success. It furthers one to cross the great water. Three days before the turning point, three days after. What was spoiled through neglect can be repaired through work. Deliberate carefully before and after beginning.

Classical Text

蠱巽下艮上蠱，元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。

Gu: Xun below, Gen above. Gu. Sublime Beginning and Success. Benefit in crossing the great river. Three days before jia, three days after jia.

Image 象

山下有風，蠱。君子以振民育德。

Wind blows low on the mountain, spoiling vegetation. The person of character stirs the people and strengthens their spirit. Decay challenges us to renovate—both structures and souls.

Lines 爻辭

幹父之蠱有子考無咎厲終吉

幹gàncorrect, attend to, repair, rectifying

父fùfather

之zhī's; paternalistic

蠱gǔfixations, toxins, decadence, bad medicine

有yǒuif, where there is, one has; to be, have

子zǐa young one, child, heir

考kǎoto examine, investigate, in questioning

無wúno; not; is not; there is no; no harm done

咎jiùblame; wrong; mistake

厲lìdifficulty, hardships; distressing

終zhōngbut at, by, in the end; eventually, at last

吉jípromising, auspicious, hopeful

Setting right the father's decay. If there is a son, no blame falls on the departed father. Danger, but good fortune in the end. The child corrects what the parent let slide.

Classical commentary

初六，幹父之蠱，有子考无咎，厲終吉。

Initial Six. Setting right the father's gu. There is a son: the father is without blame. Danger, but in the end good fortune.

幹母之蠱不可貞

幹gàncorrect, attend to, repair, rectifying

母mǔmother

之zhī's; maternalistic

蠱gǔfixations, toxins, decadence, bad medicine

不bùno, not; un-; ill-

可kěcalling, acceptable for; suited, fitted to

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, firmness

Setting right the mother's decay. One should not be too persistent. Gentler correction required here—rigidity would harm rather than heal.

Classical commentary

九二，幹母之蠱，不可貞。

Nine in the Second. Setting right the mother's gu. One cannot be rigidly correct.

幹父之蠱小有悔無大咎

幹gàncorrect, attend to, repair, rectifying

父fùfather

之zhī's; paternalistic

蠱gǔfixations, toxins, decadence, bad medicine

小xiǎothe small, petty, mediocre; a little

有yǒuthere will be; one has, will have

悔huǐregrets, remorse, repentance

無wúbut no, not, without, with no

大dàgreat, big, important, major, critical

咎jiùerror, mistake; blame, harm, wrong

Setting right the father's decay. Small regret, no great blame. Some friction in the repair, but nothing seriously wrong. The work proceeds.

Classical commentary

九三，幹父之蠱，小有悔，无大咎。

Nine in the Third. Setting right the father's gu. There is minor regret, but no great blame.

裕父之蠱往見吝

裕yùtolerating, indulging, accepting, condoning

父fùfather

之zhī's; paternalistic

蠱gǔfixations, toxins, decadence, bad medicine

往wǎngto continue thus, go on, proceeding

見jiànmeets with, sees, encounters

吝lìndisgrace, embarrassment, shame, humiliation

Tolerating the father's decay. Continuing brings humiliation. Passivity when action is required—watching the rot spread—this brings shame.

Classical commentary

六四，裕父之蠱，往見吝。

Six in the Fourth. Being lenient with the father's gu. Going forth, one meets with regret.

幹父之蠱用譽

幹gàncorrect, attend to, repair, rectifying

父fùfather

之zhī's; paternalistic

蠱gǔfixations, toxins, decadence, bad medicine

用yònguse, apply, employ, practice, offer, try

譽yùpraise, respect, honor, recognition as due

Setting right the father's decay. Meeting with praise. The correction is recognized and honored. The work earns reputation.

Classical commentary

六五，幹父之蠱，用譽。

Six in the Fifth. Setting right the father's gu. One employs praise.

不事王侯高尚其事

不bùdoes, will, would not; without; no

事shìserve, working for; work, business, affair

王wángof sovereign, king, ruler

侯hóuor noble, delegate, governor, chief

高gāoof noble, lofty, higher; exalted, superior

尚shàngworth, value, credit, honor

其qíone's own, this, such

事shìservice, work, concern, business, affair, task

Not serving kings and princes. Making one's own work lofty. Some stand apart from public service to pursue higher aims. This is valid—not everyone must repair the common structures.

Classical commentary

上九，不事王侯，高尚其事。

Top Nine. One does not serve kings and lords, but esteems lofty pursuits.