Trigrams
☶☷ – Mountain above, Earth below
Meaning
Represents a time of disintegration, erosion, and peeling away. The mountain rests upon the earth but is being worn down from below. It is not a time for action; the wise person waits, yields, and preserves integrity for the inevitable turning point.
Interpretation
- Do not take action when conditions are overwhelmingly unfavorable.
- Retreat gracefully and preserve your resources and integrity.
- The seed of renewal is always preserved even in the worst disintegration.
Six Yao (Lines) with Classical Quotes
1st Yao (初爻)
剔床以足，蝌贞，凶。
English: Splitting apart the bed at the legs — the divining tortoise is destroyed. Misfortune. The very foundation is being eroded; disaster approaches from below.
Luck Level: Misfortune
2nd Yao (二爻)
剔床以轨，蝌贞，凶。
English: Splitting apart the bed at the frame — the divining tortoise is destroyed. Misfortune. The decay has risen further; what separates us from disaster is thin.
Luck Level: Misfortune
3rd Yao (三爻)
剔之，无咎。
English: Splitting apart — no blame. Being in the midst of disintegration but without personal fault. One who remains true amid decline is blameless.
Luck Level: Neutral
4th Yao (四爻)
剔床以肤，凶。
English: Splitting apart the bed to the skin — misfortune. The danger has come very close; now the person themselves is at risk.
Luck Level: Misfortune
5th Yao (五爻)
贯鱼，以宫人宠，无不利。
English: A string of fish — favor is bestowed through the palace people. Nothing is unfavorable. Being connected to the right people provides protection even in the worst times.
Luck Level: Good
6th Yao (上爻)
硕果不食，君子得舆，小人剔庐。
English: The large fruit is not eaten; the noble person gets a carriage, the petty person's dwelling is split apart. The seed of renewal survives for the noble person; the petty person loses everything.
Luck Level: Neutral