蠱gu
Work on the Decayed
See also: Wilhelm commentary for Hexagram 18
Hexagram Statement
卦辭
正義曰：蠱者事也。有事營為，則大得亨通。有為之時，利在拯難，故利涉大川也。「先甲三日，後甲三日」者，甲者創制之令，既在有為之時，不可因仍舊令。今用創制之令以治於人，人若犯者，未可即加刑罰，以民未習，故先此宣令之前三日，殷勤而語之，又於此宣令之後三日，更丁寧而語之，其人不從，乃加刑罰也。其褚氏、何氏、周氏等並同鄭義，以為甲者造作新令之日，甲前三日，取改過自新，故用辛也。後三日，取丁寧之義，故用丁也。今案：輔嗣《注》「甲者，創制之令」，不云創制之日。又《巽卦》九五「先庚三日，後庚三日」，輔嗣《注》「申命令謂之庚」。輔嗣又云：「甲、庚皆申命之謂」。則輔嗣不以甲為創制之日，而諸儒不顧輔嗣《注》旨，妄作異端，非也。
The Correct Meaning states: Gu means affairs. When there are affairs to manage and undertake, then one greatly attains success and free passage. ' As for 'three days before jia, three days after jia': jia refers to a newly created decree.
Since it is a time for action, one cannot simply continue following old decrees. Now when using a newly created decree to govern the people, if someone violates it, one cannot immediately impose punishment, because the people are not yet accustomed to it.
Therefore, three days before the decree is proclaimed, one earnestly explains it to them, and three days after the decree is proclaimed, one again carefully explains it to them. Only if the person still does not comply does one impose punishment.
Scholars Chu, He, Zhou and others all followed Zheng's meaning, considering jia to be the day of creating a new decree: three days before jia uses xin, taking the meaning of reforming faults and renewing oneself; three days after uses ding, taking the meaning of careful admonishment.
' Thus Wang Bi does not take jia as the day of creating, and those Confucians who disregard the purport of Wang Bi's commentary and arbitrarily create divergent interpretations are wrong.
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏