Hexagram 23 of the I Ching: Bo, Splitting Apart (剝), meaning and lines
Bo, Splitting Apart: five broken lines rise beneath a single solid line. An image of slow erosion, a season in which you protect what is essential rather than act.
Key points
| Number | 23 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Bo (剝) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “po” |
| Lower trigram | ☷ Kun, Earth |
| Upper trigram | ☶ Gen, Mountain |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yin, yin, yin, yin, yin, yang |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 43, Guai, Breakthrough |
| Other names | Stripping Away, Wearing Down, Erosion |
Hexagram 23 at a glance
Bo (剝) is the 23rd hexagram of the I Ching. The character evokes peeling, stripping bark or stripping away: one layer is removed after another. “Splitting Apart” is the name used here; depending on the translation, you will also meet “Stripping Away”, “Wearing Down” or “Erosion”.
The figure is striking: five broken (yin) lines rise from below and leave only one solid (yang) line at the very top. It is the image of a structure eaten away from the base upward, which the text compares to a bed whose legs are damaged first, and then its frame.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called inner or lower, is Kun (Earth); the upper one, called outer or upper, is Gen (Mountain). The bottom stands for the base of the situation, the top for its context or outcome. The Mountain rests on the Earth: a heavy, high mass set on ground that is growing soft. For the tradition, what sits on top only holds if the base is solid.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yin, yin, yin, yin, yin, yang. In King Wen’s sequence, this hexagram pairs with No. 24, Fu, Return. Its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 43, Guai, Breakthrough, and its reverse (read from top to bottom) is No. 24, Fu, Return. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 2, Kun, The Receptive.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment comes down to a few words: the moment does not favour a new direction or an undertaking. It does not say that all is lost, only that forcing a way through would be a poor choice.
The ancient commentaries add a note of wisdom: align yourself with the moment, observe what grows and what declines, and know when to stop (this is the meaning of the Mountain trigram).
General meaning
Bo describes a process of wear that cannot be stopped with a single gesture: a project that empties out, a group that comes apart, a habit that crumbles. The text proposes neither struggle nor flight, but an attitude of patience and of protecting what is essential.
One detail matters a great deal: the solid line at the top remains intact. It is compared to a large fruit that has not been eaten, that is, to a seed that will carry what comes next. In the logic of the book, the end of a cycle prepares the next one; hexagram 24 shows this straight away.
The six lines, one by one
Lines are counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin) | One leg of the bed is eaten away: the foundations are affected; the text warns against stubbornness. |
| 2 (yin) | The frame of the bed is eaten away: the harm reaches the structure; isolation grows worse. |
| 3 (yin) | Eaten away, yet without fault: this line detaches itself from the general movement and keeps its distance from what is crumbling. |
| 4 (yin) | The surface of the bed, the part that carries the sleeper, is reached: the damage now touches the person; a clear warning. |
| 5 (yin) | A string of fish: the central line brings order and leads the forces in line; nothing unfavourable. |
| 6 (yang) | The large fruit is not eaten: the seed remains; whoever builds on the ruin sees their shelter come apart (one variant says the wise person gains a carriage). |
Changing lines and the resulting hexagram
A changing line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are cast) turns into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, the sixth line is yang and lines 1 to 5 are yin. In Bo, the single yang line (the sixth) is the one the tradition places at the centre of the meaning: if it changes, the figure becomes entirely yin, No. 2, which is read as a complete surrender of resistance.
| If the changing line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin becomes yang) | No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth |
| 2 (yin becomes yang) | No. 4, Meng, Youthful Folly |
| 3 (yin becomes yang) | No. 52, Gen, Keeping Still |
| 4 (yin becomes yang) | No. 35, Jin, Progress |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 20, Guan, Contemplation |
| 6 (yang becomes yin) | No. 2, Kun, The Receptive |
Six changing lines give the opposite, No. 43, Guai, Breakthrough. With several changing lines, the schools differ on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Bo is often read as a time of erosion that is passed through rather than fought: you protect what matters, refrain from major moves, and let go of what no longer holds. It can also be a clearing out, sometimes a salutary one.
- At work: take in sail rather than launch a new project; secure what is essential.
- In relationships: accept that a bond wears down without looking for someone to blame, and keep what is still true.
- For yourself: rest, tidy up, lighten your load; if weariness lasts and weighs on you, speak to a health professional.
Reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions to reflect on
- In my situation, what is the “seed” to preserve?
- Which “legs of the bed” are wearing away while I am not paying attention?
- What am I stubbornly defending even though it is crumbling on its own?
- Whom or what can I rely on to hold firm through the lean season?
Mistakes to avoid
- Reading Bo as a verdict: the text describes a season, not a fate.
- Rushing to “repair” everything: the hexagram first recommends observing.
- Overlooking the top line, which announces the return.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 23 of the I Ching mean?
Bo, often translated as Splitting Apart or Stripping Away, describes a gradual erosion and invites you to protect what is essential rather than act.
Which trigrams make up Bo?
Earth (Kun) below and Mountain (Gen) above: a mass resting on ground that gives way.
Is Bo a negative hexagram?
It describes a difficult situation, but it is neither good nor bad in itself: its top line announces renewal, and it is read as a time for patience.
Which hexagram follows Bo?
No. 24, Fu, Return: the solid line comes back to the bottom of the figure.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.