In practice
The judgment
It's a time of obstacles and difficulties when, even if you're right, your words aren't believed. Lesser people who misuse power are on the rise, and you could become their victim. Recognizing this time without trying to push ahead, and being generous and giving toward those beneath you, will help you hold on while circumstances change.
The poetry
Stripping Away
It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
The image
The mountain rests upon the earth: stripping away. So those above give substance to those below and make the dwelling secure.
The lines
- Line 6上九
Little by little the adverse situations will give way, and gradually adversity will turn into opportunity.
A great fruit left uneaten. The noble person gains a carriage; the petty person's hut is stripped.
- Line 5六五
You'll receive unexpected help that puts you in a favorable position.
Fish strung in a row: favor like that of the palace ladies. Nothing that is not favorable.
- Line 4六四
Adversity is advancing; even your body may be affected.
The bed is stripped down to the skin. Misfortune.
- Line 3六三
Turning to spiritual resources and inner help will keep adversity away.
Stripping. No fault.
- Line 2六二
Resources and help aren't enough right now. All you can do is wait for better conditions.
The bed is stripped at the frame. Constancy is destroyed: misfortune.
- Line 1初六
Your enemies have the power now and use any means to damage your image, even slander. All you can do is keep your inner strength and wait for better times.
The bed is stripped at the legs. Constancy is destroyed: misfortune.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, The Fall turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 41Decreaselines 1 and 2
- 22Good Mannerslines 1 and 3
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2 and 3
- 21Bitinglines 1 and 4
- 64Transitionlines 2 and 4
- 56The Travelerlines 3 and 4
- 42Increaselines 1 and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2 and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3 and 5
- 12Declinelines 4 and 5
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 6
- 7The Armylines 2 and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 3 and 6
- 16Passionlines 4 and 6
- 8Unionlines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, and 3
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, and 4
- 30The Flamelines 1, 3, and 4
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 3, and 4
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 1, 3, and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 3, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 1, 4, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 2, 4, and 5
- 33Leaving Behindlines 3, 4, and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 2, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 3, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 3, and 6
- 51Shocklines 1, 4, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 4, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 3, 4, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 5, and 6
- 29Waterlines 2, 5, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 3, 5, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
剝：不利。有攸往。
象曰：山附地上，剝；上以厚下，安宅。
初六：剝牀以足，蔑貞凶。
六二：剝牀以辨，蔑貞凶。
六三：剝之，无咎。
六四：剝牀以膚，凶。
六五：貫魚，以宮人寵，无不利。
上九：碩果不食，君子得輿，小人剝廬。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.