Hexagram 18 of 64 · Mountain ☶ over Wind ☴
Work on What Has Been Spoiled
Gǔ
Decay that must be repaired — the work of fixing what someone else let rot.
The Judgment
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 — deliberate before acting, then follow through.
The Image
Wind at the foot of the mountain: the wind is stopped by the mountain and the air stagnates, and things go bad. The wise person stirs up the people and strengthens their spirit — decay is reversed by movement and morale.
Hexagram 18 Meaning
The old character shows worms in a bowl: something has been left too long and gone rotten. Usually it is inherited — a family pattern, a predecessor’s mess, a neglect that was not originally yours. The hexagram promises supreme success, because decay is fixable by anyone willing to do the unglamorous work. The instruction is precise: three days of thought before you begin, three days of care after — do not rush in, and do not walk away half-done.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled in Love
Something in the relationship has been neglected and needs repair — an old wound, a pattern from a parent’s marriage, a resentment that was allowed to fester. The hexagram is hopeful: this can be fixed, and fixing it brings the relationship to a better place than before the decay. It takes honesty about what went wrong, care not to blame, and follow-through after the hard conversation. Repair, don’t replace.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled in Career & Money
You have inherited a mess — a broken process, a dysfunctional team, a predecessor’s neglect. It is not your fault and it is now your job. The hexagram favours taking it on fully (crossing the great water) with proper planning first and proper follow-up after. Reform brings success. Cosmetic patches over rot do not.
What to Do
Face the decay and repair it properly. Think carefully before you begin; follow through carefully after. Do not blame the person who let it rot — just fix it, and fix the cause, not the symptom.
Work on What Has Been Spoiled as a Yes or No
maybe
Yes if you are willing to do the repair work first — the situation is spoiled, but restorable.
The Trigrams
Above: Mountain (艮 Gèn) — keeping still — stillness, boundary, the youngest son.
Below: Wind (巽 Xùn) — the gentle — penetration, gradual influence, the eldest daughter.
The Six Lines of Work on What Has Been Spoiled
Read when the line is moving (a 6 or 9 in the cast). Bottom line first.
- 1
Line 1 · yin
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father — if there is a son, no blame: taking on an inherited problem; danger at first, good fortune in the end.
- 2
Line 2 · yang
Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother — one must not be too persevering: gentle handling of a delicate inherited matter.
- 3
Line 3 · yang
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father, a little remorse: you may be too forceful in the repair — no great blame.
- 4
Line 4 · yin
Tolerating what has been spoiled by the father: continuing to overlook the decay brings humiliation.
- 5
Line 5 · yin
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father, one meets with praise: the repair is recognised — good fortune.
- 6
Line 6 · yang
He does not serve kings and princes, sets himself higher goals: withdrawing from the mess to pursue something greater — a valid choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does hexagram 18, Work on What Has Been Spoiled, mean?
The old character shows worms in a bowl: something has been left too long and gone rotten. Usually it is inherited — a family pattern, a predecessor’s mess, a neglect that was not originally yours. The hexagram promises supreme success, because decay is fixable by anyone willing to do the unglamorous work. The instruction is precise: three days of thought before you begin, three days of care after — do not rush in, and do not walk away half-done.
What does Work on What Has Been Spoiled mean in love?
Something in the relationship has been neglected and needs repair — an old wound, a pattern from a parent’s marriage, a resentment that was allowed to fester. The hexagram is hopeful: this can be fixed, and fixing it brings the relationship to a better place than before the decay. It takes honesty about what went wrong, care not to blame, and follow-through after the hard conversation. Repair, don’t replace.
What does Work on What Has Been Spoiled mean for career and money?
You have inherited a mess — a broken process, a dysfunctional team, a predecessor’s neglect. It is not your fault and it is now your job. The hexagram favours taking it on fully (crossing the great water) with proper planning first and proper follow-up after. Reform brings success. Cosmetic patches over rot do not.
Is hexagram 18 a yes or a no?
Work on What Has Been Spoiled answers "maybe". Yes if you are willing to do the repair work first — the situation is spoiled, but restorable.
Previous hexagram
17. Following
following
Next hexagram
19. Approach
approach
Last updated: August 30, 2026
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