Hexagram 18, line 5
六五Line 5 of Corruption
Six in the fifth place · 蠱 gǔ
爻辭 The line text
幹父之蠱，用譽。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).
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.
In plain words
Line five, the ruler of the hexagram, deals with the father's decay 'and wins praise'. It is a yin line, central in the upper trigram, and it corresponds to the strong second line: the sovereign who repairs what a predecessor spoiled by relying on a capable minister and on virtue rather than on force. The small Image says exactly that: supported by virtue (承以德也), which 程頤 glosses as the ruler receiving the second line's help. This is the hexagram's model repair — the one that is recognised and approved by others.
If this line is changing
Repair by character and by choosing the right helper rather than by personal force; done this way the work will be recognised.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
- It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 艮 Gen (Keeping Still) (mountain).
- It corresponds (應) with line 2: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
蠱 Corruption becomes ䷸ 57 巽 Yielding (Wind)
Wind upon wind: the gentle that penetrates everywhere. Small success; favourable to have somewhere to go and to see the great man — persistent gentle influence rather than force.
What it becomes57 · 巽 Yielding (Wind)xùnThe six lines of 蠱 Corruption
- 初六Six at the beginningthe father's decay · taking over · danger then good
- 九二Nine in the second placethe mother's decay · not too rigid · the middle way
- 九三Nine in the third placetoo forceful · small regret · no great blame
- 六四Six in the fourth placeindulgence · letting it slide · regret ahead
- 六五Six in the fifth placepraise · virtue and a helper · the ruler's repair
- 上九Nine at the topnot serving · higher business · a model aim
Read 蠱 Corruption for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the fifth place of hexagram 18, Corruption, mean?
- Line five, the ruler of the hexagram, deals with the father's decay 'and wins praise'. It is a yin line, central in the upper trigram, and it corresponds to the strong second line: the sovereign who repairs what a predecessor spoiled by relying on a capable minister and on virtue rather than on force. The small Image says exactly that: supported by virtue (承以德也), which 程頤 glosses as the ruler receiving the second line's help. This is the hexagram's model repair — the one that is recognised and approved by others.
- What does hexagram 18 become when line 5 changes?
- Corruption becomes hexagram 57, 巽 Yielding (Wind): Wind upon wind: the gentle that penetrates everywhere. Small success; favourable to have somewhere to go and to see the great man — persistent gentle influence rather than force.
- Is line 5 of Corruption in its correct place?
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).