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Above; Mountains,
stillness
Below; Earth, the passive.
Bo means disintegration
in the sense of the breaking away of unnecessary encumbrances.
The first four lines of the hexagram symbolize a succession
of losses which appear at the time to be misfortunes,
but which in the long run are resolved in the fifth
line, leading to recognition of virtue in the sixth.
Disintegration.
There is no direction in which to move with advantage.
In Bo we see the
weak yin lines threatening to shatter the last remaining
yang lines and make it like themselves. Bo should
be compared with hexagram 20 Guan ; what was a strong
tower, with its two strong yang lines at the top,
is now in danger of collapse. Small men are increasing.
The Superior Man remains where he is and accepts the
situation. He contemplates the ebb and flow of society
about him as the tides are moved by the heavenly bodies.
The mountain stands
upon the earth and symbolizes disintegration. Those
above can only maintain their position by strengthening
those below.
Line 1
The leg of the
bed is broken. Persistence brings disaster. Failure.
Inferior men stealthily
undermine the position of the Superior Man. Even those
who remain loyal to him are threatened with misfortune.
There is nothing to do but accept the situation and
await its outcome.
Line 2
The side of the
bed is broken. Persistence brings disaster. Failure.
The situation deteriorates.
The danger is drawing nearer. The Superior Man begins
to mistrust even those who call themselves his friends.
His only course is to adjust himself to his conditions.
Maintaining the same position stubbornly against those
who are out to destroy would be a mistake.
Line 3
He breaks with
them. No reproach.
The individual
severs all his ties, both with friends and with enemies.
Relying on his own integrity, he is without blame.
Line 4
The bed is overturned.
His skin is split. Great misfortune.
The worst has happened.
Disaster has struck. The Superior Man is brought down
and his personal safety is threatened.
Line 5
A string of fishes
symbolizing favour for the ladies of the court. Advantages
in every way.
The worst is over.
Now the strong yang line in the sixth place begins
to exert its influence. The yiin lines submit to it
just as the empress leads her ladies in waiting like
a line of fishes. The time of remaining still is past.
It is advantageous to move in any direction.
Line 6
The largest fruit
is uneaten on the tree. The Superior Man rides in
his carriage. The inferior men throw down their houses.
On the topmost
branches, the unattainable fruit grows and ripens
but is not plucked. At the right time it will fall
and plant a seed to grow anew. The Superior Man once
more has influence. He is surrounded by those who
respect him as if he rode in a carriage. But the inferior
man, by their own actions, have brought destruction
upon themselves.
© 1979 Neil
Powell
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