蠱
Gǔ · Work on the Decayed
Decay is repaired by changing what caused it, not by covering it.
The judgment
蠱：元亨，利涉大川。 先甲三日，後甲三日。
Repairing what has decayed brings success. It is worth crossing the great water: start three days before the change and keep going three days after.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex18.judgment.
The image
象曰：山下有風，蠱。君子以振民育德。
Wind under the mountain: decay. A capable person rouses the people and nourishes character, rather than only fixing the mess.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex18.image.
Decay is repaired by changing what caused it, not by covering it.
The six lines
Each line is a stage, from the bottom of the hexagram to the top. Open any line to read it in plain English.
初六 幹父之蠱，有子考無咎，厲終吉。 You repair what your parent let decay. The child takes the blame off the ancestor; it is dangerous work, but it ends well.
You repair what your parent let decay. The child takes the blame off the ancestor; it is dangerous work, but it ends well.
九二 幹母之蠱，不可貞。 You repair what your mother let decay. Do not be rigid: gentleness is the only tool that works here.
You repair what your mother let decay. Do not be rigid: gentleness is the only tool that works here.
九三 幹父之蠱，小有悔，無大咎。 You repair the father's decay and feel some regret. No great blame: a small misstep on necessary work.
You repair the father's decay and feel some regret. No great blame: a small misstep on necessary work.
六四 裕父之蠱，往見吝。 You are too generous with the decay, letting it be. Going on this way brings regret.
You are too generous with the decay, letting it be. Going on this way brings regret.
六五 幹父之蠱，用譽。 You repair the father's decay and earn praise. The credit belongs to the repair, not to you.
You repair the father's decay and earn praise. The credit belongs to the repair, not to you.
上九 不事王侯，高尚其事。 You do not serve the lords; you keep your own work high. Withdrawal can be integrity, not defeat.
You do not serve the lords; you keep your own work high. Withdrawal can be integrity, not defeat.