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Yi Jing [I Ching]: The Book of Changes

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Hexagram 18

Gǔ [Work on Whas Has Been Spoled (Decay)]

  Original Translation
The Image The wind blows low on the mountain.
Gèn (Keeping Still, Mountain) above, Xùn (The Gentle, Wind, Wood) below.
The Judgment Gǔ 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.

In Gǔ we have the strong (trigram) above, and the weak one below; we have (below) pliancy, and (above) stopping:--these give the idea of Gǔ (a Troublous Condition of affairs verging to ruin).

'Gǔ indicates great progress and success:'--(through the course shown in it), all under heaven, there will be good order. 'There will be advantage in crossing the great stream:'--he who advances will encounter the business to be done. '(He should weigh well, however, the events of) three days before (the turning-point), and those (to be done) three days after it:'--the end (of confusion) is the beginning (of order); such is the procedure of Heaven.

(The trigram for) a mountain, and below it that for wind, form Gǔ. The superior man, in accordance with this, (addresses himself to) help the people and nourish his own virtue.
Line 1 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.
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:'--he feels that he has entered into the work of his father.
Line 2 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).
'He deals with the troubles caused by his mother:'--he holds to the course of the due mean.
Line 3 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.
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:'--in the end there will be no error.
Line 4

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.

'He views indulgently the troubles caused by his father:'--if he go forward, he will not succeed.
Line 5 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).
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father, and obtains praise:'--he is responded to (by the subject of line two) with all his virtue.
Line 6 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.

'He does not serve either king or feudal lord:'--but his aim may be a model (to others).
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