Hexagram 6 of 64 · King Wen order
訟Conflict
Sòng · ䷅ · above: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián · below: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn
The hexagram signifies a state where opposing forces prevent harmony, advising compromise and avoidance of prolonged struggle.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
有孚，窒。惕中吉。終凶。利見大人，不利涉大川。
Sung intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune, while, if he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil. It will be advantageous to see the great man; it will not be advantageous to cross the great stream.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. The upper portion of Sung is (the trigram representing) strength, and the lower (that representing) peril. (The coming together of) strength and peril gives (the idea in) Sung.
2. 'Sung intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune:'—a strong (line) has come and got the central place (in the lower trigram).
'If he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil:'—contention is not a thing to be carried on to extremity.
'It will be advantageous to meet with the great man:'—what he sets a value on is the due mean, and the correct place.
'It will not be advantageous to cross the great stream:'—one (attempting to do so) would find himself in an abyss.
The Image 象
天與水違行，訟；君子以作事謀始。
(The trigram representing) heaven and (that representing) water, moving away from each other, form Sung. The superior man, in accordance with this, in the transaction of affairs takes good counsel about his first steps.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
不永所事，小有言，終吉。
The first SIX, divided, shows its subject not perpetuating the matter about which (the contention is). He will suffer the small (injury) of being spoken against, but the end will be fortunate.
Small Image: 'He does not perpetuate the matter about which (the contention is):'—contention should not be prolonged. Although 'he may suffer the small (injury) of being spoken against,' his argument is clear.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 10, Treading.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
不克訟，歸而逋，其邑人三百戶，無眚。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject unequal to the contention. If he retire and keep concealed (where) the inhabitants of his city are (only) three hundred families, he will fall into no mistake.
Small Image: 'He is unequal to the contention; he retires and keeps concealed, stealthily withdrawing from it:'—for him from his lower place to contend with (the stronger one) above, would be to (invite) calamity, as if he brought it with his hand to himself.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 12, Standstill.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
食舊德，貞厲，終吉，或從王事，無成。
The third SIX, divided, shows its subject keeping in the old place assigned for his support, and firmly correct. Perilous as the position is, there will be good fortune in the end. Should he perchance engage in the king's business, he will not (claim the merit of) achievement.
Small Image: 'He confines himself to the support assigned to him of old:'—(thus) following those above him, he will have good fortune.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 44, Coming to Meet.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
不克訟，復即命，渝安貞，吉。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject unequal to the contention. He returns to (the study of Heaven's) ordinances, changes (his wish to contend), and rests in being firm and correct. There will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'He returns to (the study of Heaven's) ordinances, changes (his wish to contend), and rests in being firm and correct:'—he does not fail (in doing what is right).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 59, Dispersion.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
訟元吉。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contending;—and with great good fortune.
Small Image: 'He contends;—and 'with great fortune:—this is shown by his holding the due mean and being in the correct place.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 64, Before Completion.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows how its subject may have the leathern belt conferred on him (by the sovereign), and thrice it shall be taken from him in a morning.
Small Image: 'He receives the robe through his contention:'—but still be is not deserving of respect.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 47, Oppression.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦36. Darkening of the Light 明夷
every line changedInverse 綜卦5. Waiting 需
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.