Hexagram 6

訟 Sòng

Conflict

☰ Heaven above ☵ Water

Judgment 卦辭

有孚。窒惕。中吉。終凶。利見大人。不利涉大川。

訟sòngcontention, conflict, dispute, dissent, contest
有yǒubeing, holding, staying; having, finding
孚fútrue, sincere, confident, assured; truth
窒zhìyet resisted, obstructed, stifled, opposed
惕tìwary, alert; vigilance, concern, caution
中zhōngin, with the middle, balance, in progress
吉jípromising, timely, opportune, hopeful
終zhōngat, with the end, outcome, conclusion
凶xiōngunfortunate, adverse, disappointing, too late
利lìworthwhile, rewarding, productive
見jiànto see, encounter, meet with, consult
大dàthe mature, complete, realized, great
人rénhuman being, character, one, person, man
不bùit, but is not, will not be
利lìworthwhile, rewarding, favorable
涉shèto cross, ford, ferry, venture, experience
大dàthe great, big, major
川chuānstream, river, current, water

Commentary

You believe you're right, but something blocks you. Stop halfway—that's where good fortune lives. Pushing through to the end brings disaster. Seek counsel from someone of moral stature. Don't attempt anything risky while in conflict.

Classical Text

訟卦坎下乾上 訟，有孚，窒惕，中吉。 終凶。利見大人，不利涉大川。

Hexagram Song: Kan below, Qian above. Contention. There is sincerity, but it is obstructed. Vigilant caution brings good fortune in the middle course. Carrying it to the end brings misfortune. It is beneficial to see a great person. It is not beneficial to cross a great river.

Image 象

天與水違行，訟。君子以作事謀始。

Heaven and water move in opposite directions—that's conflict's nature. The wise person thinks carefully about beginnings, because once opposing forces appear, the collision is hard to stop.

Lines 爻辭

1

不永所事小有言終吉

不bùto avoid, not, without; to lack, without
永yǒngprolong, perpetuate, sustain; a lasting
所suǒcertain, specific; cause, purpose, reason
事shìaffairs, endeavors, engagements; to serve
小xiǎothe small, petty, mediocre; for a moment
有yǒuhave; will; there will be
言yánthings to say; talk, gossip, chatter
終zhōngin the end, eventually; the outcome
吉jíauspicious, promising, hopeful

Don't drag it out. Some gossip, some minor friction—let it go. In the end, this restraint brings good fortune. Perpetuating the conflict perpetuates the harm.

Classical commentary

初六，不永所事，小有言，終吉。

Initial Six: One does not perpetuate the matter. There are minor criticisms, but in the end there is good fortune.

2

不克訟歸而逋其邑人三百戶無眚

不bùnot being; in-; un-; im-
克kècapable of; adequate, able, possible
訟sòngcontending; to contend, compete, dispute
歸guīone capitulates, turns back, gives in
而érand so, then, but only
逋būtakes refuge; to retreat, flee, hide, escape
其qíone's own
邑yìhome town, village, community
人rénpopulation; and people
三sānis, of three
百bǎihundred
戶hùhouseholds, families
無wúavoid, escape; do not
眚shěngcalamities, evil consequence

You can't win this one. The opponent is stronger. Return home, give way. Your community—even a small one—remains free of guilt because you didn't drag them into a losing battle.

Classical commentary

《象》曰：不克訟，歸逋竄也。自下訟上，患至掇也。

The Image says: "Unable to prevail in contention, one returns and flees into hiding." Contending from below against those above — calamity arrives as if picked up by hand.

3

食舊德貞厲終吉或從王事無成

食shíincorporating, subsisting on, sustained by
舊jiùlong-standing, conventional, familiar, classic
德dévirtues, qualities, characteristics
貞zhēnin order to persist; to be steadfast; persistence
厲lìdifficult, distressing, strict, hard to do
終zhōngbut in the end, eventually; the outcome
吉jíauspicious, promising, hopeful
或huòas, but, yet for someone; but sometimes
從cóngpursuing, following, attending, engaged in
王wángsovereign; the sovereign's, royal
事shìaffairs, business, tasks, matters, service
無wúno, is without; has no; there is no
成chéngachievement, accomplishment, completion

Live on what you've already earned, not on promises of future winnings. Danger here, but ultimate good fortune if you persevere. If serving a leader, complete your task without seeking credit.

Classical commentary

六三，食舊德，貞厲，終吉。或從王事，无成。

Six in the Third: One feeds on former virtue. Steadfast correctness in the face of danger; in the end there is good fortune. If one follows in the king's service, there is no completion.

4

不克訟復即命渝安貞吉

不bùnot being; in-; un-; im-
克kècapable of; adequate, able, possible
訟sòngcontending; to contend, compete, dispute
復fùreturning, coming back, revising, recovering
即jíto approach, pursue, take up, face
命mìnga higher law, order, purpose, calling, lot
渝yúwithdraw, amend, retract; change to, in
安ānto secure, settle for, be content with; peaceful
貞zhēnthe certain, genuine, true; persistence
吉jígood fortune; promising, auspicious, timely

You can't win, so you change your attitude instead. Submit to fate, find peace in perseverance. This inner shift—not the external outcome—brings good fortune.

Classical commentary

九四，不克訟。 初辯明也。 復即命渝，安貞吉。

Nine in the Fourth: Unable to prevail in contention. The Initial line distinguishes clearly. One returns and submits to the mandate, changing course. Peaceful correctness brings good fortune.

5

訟元吉

訟sòngthe contest, conflict; dispute; dissent
元yuánis most, supremely, extremely
吉jípromising, auspicious, fortunate, timely

Bringing conflict before a just arbiter who's powerful enough to enforce the right decision—this brings supreme good fortune. The key is the arbiter's integrity.

Classical commentary

九五，訟元吉。

Nine in the Fifth: Contention — sublime good fortune.

6

或錫之鞶帶終朝三褫之

或huòsomebody, someone; if perhaps, somehow
錫xīawards, confers, grants; awarded, granted
之zhīone; the, this, one's; one is
鞶pánthe leather big, champion's belt
帶dàiand ribbons, girdle, victory sashes
終zhōngby the end of, throughout
朝zhāothe morning
三sānone will be three times; three times
褫chǐstripped, deprived; stripped away, off
之zhīof them; they will be

Even if you win the belt, you'll lose it three times before morning. Victory in conflict that's pushed too far becomes hollow. The prize doesn't stay.

Classical commentary

上九，或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。

Top Nine: Perhaps one is bestowed a ceremonial belt, but before the morning is over it is stripped away three times.