Gu, nine in the third placeHexagram 18, line 3 · Gu (Repairing Decay) · changing to 4

The line

The Image commentary on this line

幹父之蠱，終无咎也。

"Setting right what the father spoiled": in the end there is no blame.

The small Image commentary is the earliest explanation of the line texts. It usually explains a line from its position: where it stands, whether it holds the center, and which line answers it.

Verdict

慎Proceed with care. There is some risk, or some regret left over, but nothing serious. Notice it early, correct it early, and things turn for the better.

• 无咎 no blame: no fault attaches, often because a mistake is corrected in time
• 悔 regret: a misstep you will wish undone, a sign to correct course

How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →

Asking about work, love or money

Work

You came down a bit hard in cleaning up the mess; you may offend people, and afterward you may feel a little regret yourself. But the direction is right and the job needs doing. Mind your measure, and don't stop just because you fear regret.

Love

You want to settle an old problem in the relationship once and for all, and your words may come out too harsh; you will regret that a little afterward. Apologize where you should, but the problem still needs solving. Just soften your tone.

Money

You were a little ruthless in clearing old debts and cutting spending, and there will be some small regrets and small losses. But on the whole it is right, and nothing serious will come of it. Keep tightening where it needs tightening.

This is how to read it when this is the only changing line. With several changing lines, first see which text governs; for the hexagram as a whole, see Gu.

Line position

A yang line in a yang place: it is in its proper place. Its partner is the top line, which is also yang, so there is no answer from it.

Third place: the top of the lower trigram, a place of risk. A moment of transition. Be on guard.

Proper place, center and correspondence explained →

When you get this line

If this is the only changing line in your cast (three backs, old yang), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Gu (Repairing Decay); when this line changes it becomes Meng (Youthful Ignorance): hexagram 18 changing to 4.

Which text to read with several changing lines →