Hexagram 23 · Splitting Apart

剥 · Bō

Hexagram 23, Splitting Apart (剥, Bō), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Earth below and Mountain above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “不利有攸往。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with decline, and what peels away. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Earth (坤) — receptivity and support
Upper trigram: Mountain (艮) — stillness and knowing when to stop
Symbol: ䷖ · Name: 剥 (Bō) · Number: 23 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   剥床以足，蔑贞；凶。
   The Image says: “剥床以足”，以灭下也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   剥床以辨，蔑贞凶。
   The Image says: “剥床以辨”，未有与也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   剥之，无咎。
   The Image says: “剥之，无咎”，失上下也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   剥床以肤，凶。
   The Image says: “剥床以肤”，切近灾也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   贯鱼以宫人宠，无不利。
   The Image says: “以宫人宠”，终无尤也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剥庐。
   The Image says: “君子得舆”，民所载也；“小人剥庐”，终不可用也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 23?

Hexagram 23 is Splitting Apart (剥, Bō), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Earth below and Mountain above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Splitting Apart?

The judgment of Splitting Apart reads, in the Chinese original: “不利有攸往。”. Its Great Image reads: “山附于地，剥。上以厚下安宅。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Splitting Apart symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Splitting Apart is associated with decline, and what peels away. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.