The 64 hexagrams · No. 23
Hexagram 23: Splitting Apart
A Mountain resting on Earth. Care for the base as things fall away.
An original modern reflection on the I Ching image. This is not a translation of the classical Judgment or line statements.
Care for the base as things fall away
The mountain rests on the ground that supports it. When something is wearing thin, examine its foundation before adding another layer. You may be maintaining a routine, appearance, or commitment that has lost its purpose. Releasing one burden can leave more attention for what still needs support.
A question to sit with
What are you continuing to maintain even though it offers very little now?
One small step
Pause one low-value demand. Use the space for something basic and sustaining, then notice whether anything important is actually lost by doing less.
Reading the figure
The upper trigram is Mountain; the lower trigram is Earth. The first line is at the bottom, and the sixth is at the top. You identify this hexagram from its six-line figure, not from a word match to your question.
Read the image alongside the actual circumstances you know. Notice what fits and what does not. The relating hexagram depends on your changing lines, so there is no single fixed “next hexagram” for this pattern.
What changes when one line moves?
This map changes exactly one line at a time. If your cast has several changing lines, all of them flip together; the resulting pattern may differ from every row below. These are structural changes, not translations of the classical line statements.
| Changing position | Relating hexagram |
|---|---|
| Line 1 · bottom | 27. Nourishment |
| Line 2 | 4. Youthful Folly |
| Line 3 | 52. Keeping Still |
| Line 4 | 35. Progress |
| Line 5 | 20. Contemplation |
| Line 6 · top | 2. The Receptive |
Learn how changing lines work →
Keep a reading journal
If this hexagram appeared in a reading, note your question, your six coin totals, and one thing you want to observe. Come back later to record what happened. Your notes can help you see how your understanding changed, even when a reflection did not fit.
Try the free three-coin I Ching tool →
Classical reference: The Book of Changes. English names vary by edition; the number, pinyin and figure make the identification clear. About our method and sources.