山風蠱
Core Insight
山風蠱 — Hexagram 18
Work on What Has Been Spoiled. Decay has set in through neglect; now is the time to repair. Three days before the new beginning, three days after — examine, mend, restart.
The Image
山下有風，蠱；君子以振民育德。
The Image of Work on the Decayed: repair what has decayed by reviving people and cultivating virtue. Treat the image as practical discipline, not decoration: let it shape the next concrete choice.
Shifting lines
初爻
At the beginning of Work on the Decayed, keep the move small. Clarify the real question before seeking momentum.
二爻
A steadier position appears. Accept help, test the facts, and choose the next step that can be repeated.
三爻
Pressure rises in Work on the Decayed. Do not make the tension theatrical; name the risk and reduce the unnecessary load.
四爻
The situation nears a threshold. Recheck motives, adjust the method, and avoid forcing a premature outcome.
五爻
This is the governing line of Work on the Decayed. Act from the clearest principle and make the decision useful to others.
上爻
The pattern is reaching its limit. Complete what can be completed, release excess, and prepare for the next change.