bōAlso known as “Splitting Apart” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Po” (Legge)
splitting apartdeclinestripping away
In plain words
The mountain worn down by the earth beneath: yin has grown until one yang line remains at the top. Not a time to go anywhere; the structure is peeling away.
The attitude it asks for
Hold still, give generously to those below, and preserve the last seed — the big fruit at the top is not eaten and will sprout again.
Po indicates that (in the state which it symbolises) it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.
Commentary on the Judgment
剝，剝也，柔變剛也。不利有攸往，小人長也。順而止之，觀象也。君子尚消息盈虛，天行也。
Po denotes overthrowing or being overthrown. We see (in the figure) the weak lines (threatening to) change the (last) strong line (into one of themselves).
That 'it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever' appears from the fact that the small men are (now) growing and increasing. The superior man acts according to (the exigency of the time), and stops all forward movement, looking at the (significance of the) symbolic figures (in the hexagram). He values the processes of decrease and increase, of fulness and decadence, (as seen) in the movements of the heavenly bodies.
The Image
山附地上，剝；上以厚下，安宅。
(The trigrams representing) the earth, and (above it) that for a mountain, which adheres to the earth, form Po. Superiors, in accordance with this, seek to strengthen those below them, to secure the peace and stability of their own position.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
碩果不食，君子得輿，小人剝廬。
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject (as) a great fruit which has not been eaten. The superior man finds (the people again) as a chariot carrying him. The small men (by their course) overthrow their own dwellings.
Its symbolism
君子得輿，民所載也。小人剝廬，終不可用也。
'The superior man finds himself in a carriage:'—he is carried along by the people. 'The small men (by their course) overthrow their own dwellings:'—they can never again be of use to them.
The fifth line, divided, shows (its subject leading on the others like) a string of fishes, and (obtaining for them) the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace. There will be advantage in every way.
Its symbolism
以宮人寵，終无尤也。
'He obtains for them the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace:'—in the end there will be no grudge against him.
The second line, divided, shows one overthrowing the couch by injuring its frame. (The injury will go on to) the destruction of (all) firm correctness, and there will be evil.
Its symbolism
剝床以辨，未有與也。
'He destroys the couch by injuring its frame:'—(the superior man) has as yet no associates.
The first line, divided, shows one overturning the couch by injuring its legs. (The injury will go on to) the destruction of (all) firm correctness, and there will be evil.
Its symbolism
剝床以足，以滅下也。
'He overthrows the couch by injuring its legs:'—thus (he commences) his work of ruin with what is lowest (in the superior man).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 23, Peeling Away, mean?
The mountain worn down by the earth beneath: yin has grown until one yang line remains at the top. Not a time to go anywhere; the structure is peeling away.
Which trigrams form Peeling Away?
艮 above 坤 — mountain over earth. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 坤 Earth.
What happens when a line of Peeling Away 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 Peeling Away in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - - - - - - - — is Peeling Away. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.