Hexagram 7 of 64 · King Wen order
師The Army
Shī · ䷆ · above: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn · below: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn
This represents organized force and leadership required to achieve a common goal through discipline and justice.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
貞，丈人，吉無咎。
Sze indicates how, in the case which it supposes, with firmness and correctness, and (a leader of) age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.
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 name) Sze describes the multitude (of the host). The 'firmness and correctness' (which the hexagram indicates) refer to (moral) correctness (of aim). When (the mover) is able to use the multitude with such correctness, he may attain to the royal sway.
2. There is (the symbol of) strength in the centre (of the trigram below), and it is responded to (by its proper correlate above). The action gives rise to perils, but is in accordance (with the best sentiments of men). (Its mover) may by such action distress all the country, but the people will follow him;—there will be good fortune, and what error should there be?
The Image 象
地中有水，師；君子以容民畜眾。
(The trigram representing) the earth and in the midst of it that representing water, form Sze. The superior man, in accordance with this, nourishes and educates the people, and collects (from among them) the multitudes (of the hosts).
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)
師出以律，否臧凶。
The first SIX, divided, shows the host going forth according to the rules (for such a movement). If these be not good, there will be evil.
Small Image: 'The host goes forth according to the rules (for) such a movement:'—if those rules be not observed, there will be evil.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 19, Approach.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
在師中，吉無咎，王三錫命。
The second NINE, undivided, shows (the leader) in the midst of the host. There will be good fortune and no error. The king has thrice conveyed to him the orders (of his favour).
Small Image: 'He is in the midst of the host, and there will be good fortune:'—he has received the favour of Heaven. 'The king has thrice conveyed to him the orders (of) his favour:'—(the king) cherishes the myriad regions in his heart.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 2, The Receptive.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
師或輿尸，凶。
The third SIX, divided, shows how the host may, possibly, have many inefficient leaders. There will be evil.
Small Image: 'The host with the possibility of its having many idle leaders:'—great will be its want of success.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 46, Pushing Upward.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
師左次，無咎。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows the host in retreat. There is no error.
Small Image: 'The host is in retreat; but there is no error:'—there has been no failure in the regular course.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 40, Deliverance.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
田有禽，利執言，無咎。長子帥師，弟子輿尸，貞凶。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows birds in the fields, which it will be advantageous to seize (and destroy). In that case there will be no error. If the oldest son leads the host, and younger men (idly occupy offices assigned to them), however firm and correct he may be, there will be evil.
Small Image: 'The oldest son leads the host:'—its movements are directed by him in accordance with his position in the centre. 'Younger men idly occupy their positions:'—the employment of such men is improper.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 29, The Abysmal.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows the great ruler delivering his charges, (appointing some) to be rulers of states, and others to undertake the headship of clans; but small men should not be employed (in such positions).
Small Image: 'The great ruler delivers his charges:'—thereby he rightly apportions merit. 'Small men should not be employed:'—they are sure to throw the states into confusion.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 4, Youthful Folly.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦13. Fellowship with Men 同人
every line changedInverse 綜卦8. Holding Together 比
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.