I Ching Oracle Result: Transformation from Hexagram 26 with Changing Lines 1, 2, 3 to Hexagram 23

Yin Yang symbol, representing balance

Yì Jīng’s Response: Hexagram 26.1.2.3 -> 23

Young Yang Young Yin Young Yin Old Yang Old Yang Old Yang

26. Great Accumulation

Yang Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin

23. Stripping Away

26. Great Accumulation (大畜 Dà Chù)

Trigrams

Above
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness
Below
☰ Qián (Heaven) — 天 · Creative

The Symbolism of Hexagram 26

Hexagram 大畜 (Dà Chù) describes the containment of great force. Strength is not expressed outwardly but held, stored, and disciplined until the proper moment.

Hexagram 26 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
大畜，利貞。不家食，吉。利涉大川。
(Dà chù, lì zhēn. Bù jiā shí, jí. Lì shè dà chuān.)
English Translation:
"Great accumulation. It is favorable to remain correctly aligned. Not eating at home brings favorable outcome. It is favorable to undertake a major transition."

Power is being gathered and restrained. Alignment ensures that what is accumulated remains usable and not destructive.

Not eating at home indicates reliance on a larger order rather than personal reserves. When strength is properly contained, it becomes possible to undertake significant movement.

Hexagram 26 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
天在山中，大畜。君子以多識前言往行，以畜其德。
(Tiān zài shān zhōng, dà chù. Jūn zǐ yǐ duō shí qián yán wǎng xíng, yǐ chù qí dé.)
English Translation:
"Heaven is held within the mountain: great accumulation. The superior person learns from many past words and deeds and stores up virtue."

Heaven represents immense force; the mountain contains it. This is not suppression, but structured holding.

Through study and reflection, strength is accumulated internally and made stable.

Line 1 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
有厲，利已。
(Yǒu lì, lì yǐ.)
English Translation:
"Risk present. It is favorable to stop."

Force is present but not yet stable. Acting prematurely introduces risk.

Halting preserves what is being accumulated.

Line 2 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
輿說輹。
(Yú shuō fù.)
English Translation:
"The carriage is released from its axle-cap."

The coupling that enables movement is removed. Forward progress cannot occur.

This reflects intentional disengagement—movement is halted so that structure can be preserved.

Line 3 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
良馬逐，利艱貞。曰閑輿衛，利有攸往。
(Liáng mǎ zhú, lì jiān zhēn. Yuē xián yú wèi, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)
English Translation:
"Strong horses move forward. It is favorable to remain correctly aligned through difficulty. Secure the carriage and establish guard; it is favorable to move with direction."

Power is now active but must be controlled. Movement is possible, but only with discipline.

Structure and protection must be established before proceeding.

Changing to:

23. Stripping Away (剝 Bō)

Trigrams

Above
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness
Below
☷ Kūn (Earth) — 地 · Receptive

The Symbolism of Hexagram 23

Hexagram 剝 (Bō) describes the removal of supporting layers. What is above loses its foundation as what is below is gradually stripped away.

Hexagram 23 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
剝，不利有攸往。
(Bō, bù lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)
English Translation:
"Stripping away. It is not favorable to proceed."

The structure is being undermined from below. Advancement depends on a foundation that is no longer secure.

Action does not resolve this condition. The appropriate response is to recognize the loss of support and refrain from forward movement.

Hexagram 23 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
山附於地，剝。上以厚下，安宅。
(Shān fù yú dì, bō. Shàng yǐ hòu xià, ān zhái.)
English Translation:
"The mountain rests against the earth: stripping away. The superior person secures the base and stabilizes the dwelling."

The mountain depends entirely on the earth beneath it. When the base erodes, what is above cannot stand.

The only possible response is to reinforce what remains below. Stability comes from restoring or preserving the foundation.

Peace and wisdom on your journey!

With gratitude,
The I Ching Team