---
title: 山地剝 — Splitting Apart (Hexagram 23)
lang: en
canonical: https://ekidan.ai/library/23
alternates:
  - ja: https://ekidan.ai/ja/library/23
  - zh-Hant: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/23
  - zh-TW: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/23
  - zh-HK: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/23
source: 高島易断 (Takashima Ekidan), public-domain 1893 English and 1901 Chinese editions
provider: ekidan.ai — AI-assisted I Ching reading grounded in 88 source-verified historical Takashima cases
license: Classical source text is public domain. This structured edition and its modern commentary are © ICHING LLC, ekidan.ai. Attribution requested when quoted.
---

# 山地剝 · Splitting Apart — Hexagram 23

Hexagram 23 of the I Ching is 山地剝 (Splitting Apart). Splitting Apart — the yang lines fall away. Small men prevail and the noble suffers. Do not act; await the turning. Be careful in coming and going; limit loss.

## Work / Relationships / Health

- **Work**: Retreat or downsize is unavoidable.
- **Relationships**: Signs of parting; release attachment.
- **Health**: Lower back, bones, cold.

## Structure

- Number: 23
- Name: 山地剝
- English: Splitting Apart
- Romaji: san-chi-haku
- Pinyin: bō
- Upper: 山 (Mountain)
- Lower: 地 (Earth)
- Lines (top to bottom):

```text
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
```

## Questions about this hexagram

### What does hexagram 23 (山地剝) mean?

Splitting Apart — the yang lines fall away. Small men prevail and the noble suffers. Do not act; await the turning.

### What does 山地剝 counsel?

Be careful in coming and going; limit loss.

### What does 山地剝 say about work?

Retreat or downsize is unavoidable.

### What does 山地剝 say about relationships?

Signs of parting; release attachment.

### What does 山地剝 say about health?

Lower back, bones, cold.

### Which trigrams make up hexagram 23?

Upper trigram 山 (Mountain) over lower trigram 地 (Earth).


Source: [Takashima Ekidan AI — ekidan.ai](https://ekidan.ai/library/23)