I Ching hexagram · 18 of 64
Hexagram 18: Repairing Decay 蛊 Gǔ · Repair, reform, inheritance
Fix what was spoiled, thinking carefully before and after acting. Supreme success. It helps to cross the great water. Three days before the starting point, three days after the starting point.
- Upper: ☶ Mountain
- Lower: ☴ Wind
- Nuclear: 54
- Opposite: 17
Number
18 of 64
Chinese name
蛊 Gǔ
Upper trigram
☶ Mountain
Lower trigram
☴ Wind
Nuclear hexagram
䷵ 54. The Marrying Maiden
Opposite hexagram
䷐ 17. Following
What hexagram 18 means
Hexagram 18 shows wind trapped beneath a mountain, air that has grown stale. Its Chinese name pictures worms in a bowl: decay caused by neglect, often inherited from the past or from the previous generation.
What has been spoiled through neglect can be repaired, but it takes work. Think carefully before you start, act decisively, and keep watch afterwards so the problem does not return.
The Judgement · 卦辞
蛊：元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，后甲三日。
Supreme success. It helps to cross the great water. Three days before the starting point, three days after the starting point.
The Image · 象曰
山下有风，蛊；君子以振民育德。
Wind blows low at the foot of the mountain: the image of decay. The noble person stirs up the people and strengthens their spirit.
The lines and trigrams
Repairing Decay places ☶ Mountain (艮 Gèn), the trigram of stillness and restraint, above ☴ Wind (巽 Xùn), the trigram of gentle, penetrating influence. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 18 in your life
Love and relationships
Old patterns, family issues or neglected problems need attention. Talk honestly and work together to repair what has been damaged.
Personal growth
Look at inherited habits and beliefs. Repair what holds you back rather than blaming the past.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 18 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初六 · Six at the beginning
Setting right what the father spoiled. There is some danger, but with care there is good fortune in the end.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
Setting right what the mother spoiled. Be gentle and tactful rather than too strict.
Line 3 九三 · Nine in the third place
Setting right what the father spoiled. A little remorse from acting too forcefully, but no great blame.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
Tolerating what the father spoiled. Letting the decay continue leads to humiliation.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Setting right what the father spoiled. You are praised for repairing it.
Line 6 上九 · Nine at the top
Not serving kings or princes, you set yourself higher goals. Some people repair the world by working on themselves.
Hexagram 18 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 18 mean?
Hexagram 18, Repairing Decay (蛊 Gǔ), is about repair, reform, inheritance. Fix what was spoiled, thinking carefully before and after acting. Hexagram 18 shows wind trapped beneath a mountain, air that has grown stale. Its Chinese name pictures worms in a bowl: decay caused by neglect, often inherited from the past or from the previous generation.
What does hexagram 18 mean in love?
Old patterns, family issues or neglected problems need attention. Talk honestly and work together to repair what has been damaged.
What does hexagram 18 mean for work and money?
Fix broken systems, reform outdated practices or turn around a failing project. Plan carefully, act decisively and follow up.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 18?
Hexagram 18 has Mountain (Gèn) as its upper trigram and Wind (Xùn) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 18?
Its nuclear hexagram is 54, The Marrying Maiden. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 17, Following. Turned upside down it becomes 17, Following.
All 64 hexagrams
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