Hexagram 18 · ䷑
What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate, as in the time of STANDSTILL, that has caused the...
The Chinese character ku represents a bowl in whose contents worms are breeding. This means decay. It has come about because the gentle indifference of the lower trigram has come together with the rigid inertia of the upper, and the result is stagnation. Since this implies guilt, the conditions embody a demand for removal of the cause. Hence the meaning of the hexagram is not simply “what has been spoiled” but “work on what has been spoiled.”
WORK ON WHAT HAS BEEN SPOILED Has supreme success. It furthers one to cross the great water. Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.
What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate, as in the time of STANDSTILL, that has caused the state of corruption, but rather the abuse of human freedom. Work toward improving conditions promises well, because it accords with the possibilities of the time. We must not recoil from work and danger—symbolized by crossing of the great water—but must take hold energetically. Success depends, however, on proper deliberation. This is expressed by the lines, “Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.” We must first know the causes of corruption before we can do away with them; hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start. Then we must see to it that the new way is safely entered upon, so that a relapse may be avoided; therefore we must pay attention to the time after the start. Decisiveness and energy must take the place of the inertia and indifference that have led to decay, in order that the ending may be followed by a new beginning.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled means that the firm is above and the yielding below; gentle penetration and stillness combine, and thus decay can be dealt with. Work on what has been spoiled brings supreme success, and thereby the world is put in order. Three days before the beginning and three days after the beginning mean that an ending is followed by a new beginning. Such is the movement of heaven.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled represents the restoration of order. The firm ascends while the yielding descends, creating gentle upward movement. Through correcting past errors, the world is set right.
The wind blows low on the mountain: The image of DECAY. Thus the superior man stirs up the people And strengthens their spirit.
When the wind blows low on the mountain, it is thrown back and spoils the vegetation. This contains a challenge to improvement. It is the same with debasing attitudes and fashions; they corrupt human society. To do away with this corruption, the superior man must regenerate society. His methods likewise must be derived from the two trigrams, but in such a way that their effects unfold in orderly sequence. The superior man must first remove stagnation by stirring up public opinion, as the wind stirs everything, and must then strengthen and tranquillize the character of the people, as the mountain gives tranquility and nourishment to all that grows in its vicinity.
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. If there is a son, No blame rests upon the departed father. Danger. In the end good fortune.
Rigid adherence to tradition has resulted in decay. But the decay has not yet penetrated deeply and so can still be easily remedied. It is as if a son were compensating for the decay his father allowed to creep in. Then no blame attaches to the father. However, one must not overlook the danger or take the matter too lightly. Only if one is conscious of the danger connected with every reform will everything go well in the end.
Small Image
Setting right what his father spoiled; the intention is to carry out the will of the father.
Correcting what the father spoiled carries out the father's true will.
Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother. One must not be too persevering.
This refers to mistakes that as a result of weakness have brought about decay—hence the symbol, “what has been spoiled by the mother.” In setting things right in such a case, a certain gentle consideration is called for. In order not to wound, one should not attempt to proceed too drastically.
Small Image
Setting right what his mother spoiled; the way of the yielding is obtained.
Correcting what the mother spoiled follows the way of gentleness and flexibility.
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. There will be a little remorse. No great blame.
This describes a man who proceeds a little too energetically in righting the mistakes of the past. Now and then, as a result, minor discords and annoyances will surely develop. But too much energy is better than too little. Therefore, although he may at times have some slight cause for regret, he remains free of any serious blame.
Small Image
Setting right what his father spoiled; eventually there is no blame.
Correcting what the father spoiled eventually removes all blame.
Tolerating what has been spoiled by the father. In continuing one sees humiliation.
This shows the situation of someone too weak to take measures against decay that has its roots in the past and is just beginning to manifest itself. It is allowed to run its course. If this continues, humiliation will result.
Small Image
Tolerating what his father spoiled; in the end it leads to regret.
Tolerating what the father spoiled eventually leads to regret.
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. One meets with praise.
An individual is confronted with corruption originating from neglect in former times. He lacks the power to ward it off alone, but with able helpers he can at least bring about a thorough reform, if he cannot create a new beginning, and this also is praiseworthy.
Small Image
Setting right what his father spoiled; one receives praise, because one takes the place of the father.
Correcting what the father spoiled brings praise because one assumes the father's proper role.
He does not serve kings and princes, Sets himself higher goals.
Not every man has an obligation to mingle in the affairs of the world. There are some who are developed to such a degree that they are justified in letting the world go its own way and in refusing to enter public life with a view to reforming it. But this does not imply a right to remain idle or to sit back and merely criticize. Such withdrawal is justified only when we strive to realize in ourselves the higher aims of mankind. For although the sage remains distant from the turmoil of daily life, he creates incomparable human values for the future.
Small Image
He does not serve kings and princes, because his will is directed to higher things.
Not serving kings and princes shows one's will is directed toward higher purposes.
What does Ku / Work on What Has Been Spoiled mean in the I Ching?
What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate, as in the time of STANDSTILL, that has caused the...
How should I study Hexagram 18 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Rigid adherence to tradition has resulted in decay. But the decay has not yet penetrated deeply and so can still be easily remedied. It is as if a son were compensating for the dec...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Work on What Has Been Spoiled represents the restoration of order. The firm ascends while the yielding descends, creating gentle upward movement. Through correcting past errors, the world is set right.
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.
Zhouyi / I Ching primary text: The received text of the Book of Changes, including the Judgment, Image, and line statements.
The I Ching or Book of Changes, Richard Wilhelm / Cary F. Baynes: Princeton University Press translation used as a major English-language reference point for names, structure, and commentary framing.
The Sacred Books of China: The Texts of Confucianism, James Legge: Classical English reference used for comparative reading of source terminology and commentarial tradition.
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