Hexagram 23 Bo - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Splitting Apart
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 23 Bo - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Splitting Apart
Bo's six lines tell the complete story of genuine dissolution — from the first splitting of the bed at the leg, through progressive dissolution, to the large fruit uneaten and the superior man receiving a carriage. The journey of Bo is the journey from the beginning of dissolution to the preservation of the seed of genuine inner virtue that makes genuine renewal possible.
Line 1 — Six at the Bottom: Splitting the Bed at the Leg
The leg of the bed is split. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.
The beginning of dissolution — the splitting of the bed at the leg, the first sign that the forces of dissolution have begun their work from below. Those who persevere are destroyed: the person who tries to resist the splitting of the bed at the leg with genuine force finds destruction. Misfortune: the beginning of dissolution is not the time for resistance but for genuine awareness of what is happening.
- Stage: The beginning of dissolution — the bed split at the leg
- Action: Recognize the beginning of dissolution; do not resist with force
- Wisdom: Misfortune — those who persevere against dissolution are destroyed
Line 2 — Six in the Second Place: Splitting the Bed at the Frame
The bed is split at the frame. Those who persevere are destroyed. Misfortune.
Progressive dissolution — the splitting of the bed at the frame, the dissolution that has moved from the leg to the frame. The warning of Line 1 is repeated with greater urgency. The forces of dissolution have progressed; the person who still tries to resist with genuine force finds destruction. Misfortune: the progressive dissolution of Line 2 is not the time for resistance but for genuine yielding.
- Stage: Progressive dissolution — the bed split at the frame
- Action: Yield to the progressive dissolution; do not resist with force
- Wisdom: Misfortune — those who persevere against progressive dissolution are destroyed
Line 3 — Six in the Third Place: He Splits With Them
He splits with them. No blame.
The most surprising line of the hexagram: he splits with them. No blame. The person of Line 3 is surrounded by the forces of dissolution but finds the genuine wisdom to split with them — to separate from the forces of dissolution rather than being consumed by them. This is the first positive line of Bo: the person who splits with the forces of dissolution finds no blame.
- Stage: Splitting with the forces of dissolution — separating from what would consume genuine inner virtue
- Action: Split with the forces of dissolution; maintain genuine inner virtue by separating from what would consume it
- Wisdom: No blame — the genuine wisdom of splitting with the forces of dissolution
Line 4 — Six in the Fourth Place: Splitting the Bed to the Skin
The bed is split up to the skin. Misfortune.
The most dangerous stage of dissolution — the splitting of the bed up to the skin, the dissolution that has reached the person themselves. Misfortune: the forces of dissolution have split the bed up to the skin, threatening the genuine inner virtue of the person themselves. This is the most urgent warning of Bo: the dissolution has reached the person; genuine inner virtue is in immediate danger.
- Stage: The most dangerous dissolution — the bed split up to the skin
- Action: Recognize the immediate danger; preserve the seed of genuine inner virtue
- Wisdom: Misfortune — the dissolution has reached the person themselves
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: A Shoal of Fishes
A shoal of fishes. Favor comes through the court ladies. Everything acts to further.
The ruler's position in Bo — and the most surprising turn: a shoal of fishes, favor through the court ladies, everything acts to further. The yin lines of Bo — the court ladies — have found the genuine wisdom to follow the single yang line of genuine inner virtue at the top. The shoal of fishes that follows the leader is the image of the yin lines that have found the genuine wisdom to follow genuine inner virtue rather than consuming it. Everything acts to further.
- Stage: The turning point — the yin lines follow genuine inner virtue
- Action: Lead the yin lines with genuine inner virtue; let the shoal of fishes follow
- Wisdom: Everything acts to further — the genuine yielding that follows genuine inner virtue
Line 6 — Nine at the Top: The Large Fruit Uneaten
There is a large fruit still uneaten. The superior man receives a carriage. The house of the inferior man is split apart.
The supreme line of Bo — the single yang line that has survived the time of dissolution. The large fruit still uneaten: the seed of genuine inner virtue that the time of splitting apart has not consumed. The superior man receives a carriage: the person of genuine inner virtue who has preserved the seed through the time of dissolution finds genuine recognition and genuine support. The house of the inferior man is split apart: the natural consequence of the failure to preserve genuine inner virtue through the time of dissolution.
- Stage: The preserved seed — the large fruit uneaten, the superior man receives a carriage
- Action: Preserve the seed of genuine inner virtue through the time of dissolution
- Wisdom: The superior man receives a carriage — the natural reward of preserving genuine inner virtue through dissolution
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: Splitting the bed at the leg — beginning of dissolution; misfortune for those who resist
- Line 2: Splitting the bed at the frame — progressive dissolution; misfortune for those who persist
- Line 3: Splitting with them — separating from dissolution; no blame
- Line 4: Splitting to the skin — most dangerous dissolution; misfortune
- Line 5: A shoal of fishes — the yin lines follow genuine inner virtue; everything acts to further
- Line 6: The large fruit uneaten — the preserved seed; the superior man receives a carriage
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Bo in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Bo in Confucian, Taoist, and Cyclical Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Knowing When to Yield, Enduring Dissolution, Preserving the Seed
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Creative Destruction, Resilience Science, Cycles of Renewal
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