Gu, nine at the topHexagram 18, line 6 · Gu (Repairing Decay) · changing to 46

The line

The Image commentary on this line

不事王侯，志可則也。

"He does not serve kings and lords": his purpose can be taken as a model.

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

平Neutral. The text gives no verdict, only an image. Ask what in your situation the image resembles. The answer is there.

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

Asking about work, love or money

Work

Not every mess others leave has to be cleaned up by you. You can stay out of the power games and quarrels above you and focus on the work you value. Just hold to your own aims.

Love

There is no need to wrong yourself to please anyone or to meet other people's expectations. In love, keep your own principles and your own pace, stay out of pointless entanglements, and keep your heart clean.

Money

There is no need to attach yourself to the powerful or do what goes against your conscience just to earn a bit more. Keep your principles and live contentedly and cleanly; even with less money, your mind is at peace.

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 yin place: it is not in its proper place. Its partner is the third line, which is also yang, so there is no answer from it.

Top place: the end of the matter. What reaches its limit turns. Know when to stop.

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 Sheng (Rising): hexagram 18 changing to 46.

Which text to read with several changing lines →