gǔAlso known as “Work on What Has Been Spoiled” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kû” (Legge)
decayrepairsetting right
In plain words
Wind below the mountain: stagnation that has bred corruption, like a bowl of worms. Great success for the one who steps in to repair what earlier generations spoiled.
The attitude it asks for
Diagnose carefully, act, then follow up; mending the inherited mess is honourable work.
Kû 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 Kû we have the strong (trigram) above, and the weak one below; we have (below) pliancy, and (above) stopping:—these give the idea of Kû (a Troublous Condition of affairs verging to ruin).
'Kû 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 Image
山下有風，蠱；君子以振民育德。
(The trigram for) a mountain, and below it that for wind, form Kû. The superior man, in accordance with this, (addresses himself to) help the people and nourish his own virtue.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
不事王侯，高尚其事。
The sixth line, 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.
Its symbolism
不事王侯，志可則也。
'He does not serve either king or feudal lord:'—but his aim may be a model (to others).
The fifth line, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. He obtains the praise of using (the fit instrument for his work).
Its symbolism
干父用譽；承以德也。
'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.
The third line, 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.
Its symbolism
幹父之蠱，終无咎也。
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:'—in the end there will be no error.
The first line, 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.
Its symbolism
幹父之蠱，意承考也。
'He deals with the troubles caused by his father:'—he feels that he has entered into the work of his father.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 18, Corruption, mean?
Wind below the mountain: stagnation that has bred corruption, like a bowl of worms. Great success for the one who steps in to repair what earlier generations spoiled.
Which trigrams form Corruption?
艮 above 巽 — mountain over wind. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 歸妹 Marrying the Younger Sister.
What happens when a line of Corruption changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Corruption in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - — — - - - - — is Corruption. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.