䷖ Stripping Bō
Core Meaning
The Stripping hexagram reveals the wisdom of survival during a period of decline. 'Mountain resting on earth,' with high mountains eroding and returning to the earth, is a natural law. With five yin and one yang, 'petty men flourish,' and unfavorable forces are dominant, making it difficult for the superior man to act. From 'stripping of the bed to the feet' to 'stripping of the bed to the skin,' erosion gradually advances, and disaster draws near. However, 'lush fruits not eaten' offers hope—the superior man preserves his vital energy like ripe fruit and 'receives a carriage' (is supported by the people); but the petty man's hut is 'stripped,' making him ultimately useless. 'The superior man values the waxing and waning, for it is the way of Heaven,' understanding that the growth and decline of yin and yang are heavenly principles, and 'stopping in accordance' is the way to survive. 'Nourishing those below to secure the tranquility of the home' means that strengthening the foundation leads to stability.
The Judgment
Stripping: It is not advantageous to make a forward move.
Interpretation:
The Stripping hexagram symbolizes decay and decline; it is not advantageous to advance and take action.
The Image
The mountain rests on the earth: Stripping. The superior man, in accordance with this, nourishes those below him, to secure the tranquility of his home.
Structure
The Stripping hexagram has Kūn (Earth) below and Gèn (Mountain) above. Kūn is Earth, Gèn is Mountain; the mountain resting on the earth symbolizes a high mountain undergoing erosion from wind and rain, its rocks stripping away. Five yin lines and one yang line signify the dominance of yin energy, where 'the soft overcomes the hard' and 'petty men flourish,' indicating a state of decay. From the 'stripping of the bed to the feet' (line 1), to 'stripping of the bed to the legs' (line 2), and then to 'stripping of the bed to the skin' (line 4), the erosion progresses from bottom to top. The solitary yang at the top, like 'lush fruits not eaten,' represents the last remnants of vital energy. This hexagram emphasizes that 'the superior man values the waxing and waning [of phenomena],' understanding and adapting to the natural laws of decline and prosperity.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
First Six: The stripping of the bed to the feet, meaning harm to those below. With this determination, there will be evil.
Second Six: The stripping of the bed to the legs, meaning harm to those who support. With this determination, there will be evil.
Third Six: Stripped. No mistake.
Fourth Six: The stripping of the bed to the skin. Evil.
Fifth Six: A string of fish, as if favored by a palace lady. There is nothing that will not be advantageous.
Top Nine: There are lush fruits which indeed are not eaten. The superior man receives a carriage; the petty man has his hut stripped.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
Your career is in a low period, 'it is not advantageous to make a forward move.' 'Petty men flourish,' unfavorable factors are abundant, so it is not advisable to rush forward. 'Stripping of the bed to the feet,' 'stripping of the bed to the legs,' 'stripping of the bed to the skin'—problems are spreading from the foundation to the core; be vigilant. The key is 'lush fruits not eaten,' preserving strength and vital energy. 'The superior man values the waxing and waning' means understanding the cyclical nature, that extreme stripping will inevitably lead to recovery. 'Nourishing those below to secure the tranquility of the home' implies that consolidating the foundation is more important than expansion. 'Stopping in accordance' means adapting to the situation by temporarily halting and waiting for the right moment. Do not imitate 'the stripping of the petty man's hut,' which leads to being 'ultimately useless.'
❤️ Relationships
The relationship is in a period of deterioration, with problems accumulating from small to large. 'Stripping of the bed to the feet' indicates foundational issues, and 'stripping of the bed to the skin' has already damaged the surface. 'It is not advantageous to make a forward move,' so major actions are not advisable at this time. Line five, 'a string of fish, as if favored by a palace lady,' suggests that compliance can lead to 'nothing that will not be advantageous.' 'Lush fruits not eaten' means preserving the core sentiment. 'The superior man values the waxing and waning' means understanding that emotional ups and downs are normal. 'Nourishing those below to secure the tranquility of the home' involves strengthening basic trust. 'Stopping in accordance' means temporarily restraining yourself to avoid further deterioration.
🎯 Decision Making
It is not advisable to aggressively pursue goals now; 'it is not advantageous to make a forward move.' 'The soft overcomes the hard,' and 'petty men flourish,' meaning there are too many unfavorable factors. You should 'value the waxing and waning,' understanding that this is a cyclical low point. 'Stop in accordance and observe the phenomena,' adapt to the situation, stop, and observe. The key is 'lush fruits not eaten,' preserving core resources and vital energy. 'Nourishing those below to secure the tranquility of the home' means strengthening the foundation rather than expanding. From 'stripping of the bed to the feet' to 'stripping of the bed to the skin,' problems are worsening, so stop losses in time. Wait for the moment when extreme stripping recovers.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest danger is the imminent disaster of 'stripping of the bed to the skin.' Starting from 'stripping of the bed to the feet,' meaning 'destroying those below,' the foundation is first damaged; then 'stripping of the bed to the legs,' meaning 'no one to support you,' causing a loss of support; and finally 'stripping of the bed to the skin,' where disaster befalls you. 'With this determination, there will be evil' means being unrighteous will lead to misfortune. 'The petty man has his hut stripped' means if you act like a petty man, you will 'ultimately be useless' and self-destruct. Do not resist the law of 'waxing and waning'; reckless action will only accelerate the stripping. You should learn from line nine, 'lush fruits not eaten,' as preserving vital energy is the correct path.
Applicable Scenarios
The Stripping hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
The story of King Goujian of Yue enduring hardship illustrates the wisdom of the Stripping hexagram. After Yue's defeat in war, the national power was 'stripped like a mountain over earth,' and 'it was not advantageous to make a forward move.' Goujian deeply understood that 'the superior man values the waxing and waning,' realizing this was a low point. He 'stopped in accordance,' enduring humiliation as a slave in the state of Wu. Like 'lush fruits not eaten,' he preserved himself and his core strength. 'Nourishing those below to secure the tranquility of the home,' he generously treated his people upon returning to his country to consolidate the foundation. He did not engage in self-abandonment like 'the petty man's hut being stripped,' but instead waited for the opportune moment. He endured everything from 'stripping of the bed to the feet' to 'stripping of the bed to the skin,' until the extreme stripping eventually recovered, and 'the superior man received a carriage,' leading three thousand Yue warriors to conquer Wu.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Stripping hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: