Hexagram 7

師 Shī

The Army

☷ Earth above ☵ Water

Judgment 卦辭

貞。丈人吉。无咎。

師shīthe militia, reserves, preparedness, training

貞zhēnpersistence, firmness, resolve, commitment

丈zhàngthe mature, elder, responsible, respectable

人rénone's, man's, person's

吉jígood fortune, promise, hope, opportunity

無wúno; not, nothing; avoid

咎jiùblame; wrong; errors, mistakes

Commentary

The mass needs organization to become a force. This requires a strong leader—not through brutality but through character that inspires loyalty. Discipline achieved through respect, not fear. Such leadership brings good fortune without blame.

Classical Text

師卦坎下坤上師，貞，丈人吉，无咎。

Hexagram Shi: Kan below, Kun above. The Army. Correctness. An elder of stature brings good fortune. No blame.

Image 象

地中有水，師。君子以容民畜眾。

Water hidden within the earth—the military power of a people is invisibly present in the masses. The leader of character increases this latent power through generosity, so when danger comes, every citizen becomes a soldier.

Lines 爻辭

師出以律否臧凶

師shīthe militia, reserves

出chūsets out, goes forth, proceeds, departs

以yǐby, with, by means of, using, according to

律lǜcode, order, rule, regulation; a tune

否pǐif not, no; if out of; to deny, dismiss

臧zāngright; good order; secret, classified, strategic

凶xiōngunfortunate, ominous, foreboding

An army must set forth in proper order. If discipline breaks down at the start, the entire campaign fails. A just cause and valid orders are non-negotiable foundations.

Classical commentary

初六，師出以律，否臧凶。

Initial Six. The army marches forth with discipline. If discipline fails, whether for ill or for good, there is misfortune.

在師中吉無咎王三錫命

在zàiat, in; within

師shīthe militia; the militia's

中zhōngthe center, heart of; midst

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune

無wúnothing; not; no

咎jiùblame; wrong; a mistake, an error

王wángthe sovereign

三sānthree times

錫xīgrants, confers, presents, awards, bestows

命mìngdecrees, charges, commissions, directives

The leader stays in the midst of the army, sharing hardship and fortune. Good fortune, no blame. Recognition comes naturally—the king bestows honors because they're deserved.

Classical commentary

九二，在師中，吉，无咎，王三錫命。

Nine in the Second. Being in the center of the army — good fortune, no blame. The king bestows commands three times.

師或輿尸凶

師shīthe militia, reserves

或huòmay, might be; likely; perhaps, perchance

輿yúto transport, haul, carry, cart, sustain

尸shīdead bodies, corpses, fatalities, casualties

凶xiōngunfortunate, unhappy, brutal

The army carries corpses in the wagon—defeat. This happens when someone other than the rightful leader interferes with command. Multiple authorities mean no authority.

Classical commentary

《象》曰：師或輿尸，大无功也。

The Image says: The army perhaps carts back corpses — a great lack of merit.

師左次無咎

師shīthe militia's, reserves'

左zuǒin a fallback, secondary, backup; left hand

次cìencampment, camp, bivouac; retreat

無wúno; not; no done

咎jiùblame, error; wrong, a mistake; harm

The army retreats. No blame. Facing a superior enemy, orderly withdrawal is the only correct procedure. Knowing when not to fight is as crucial as knowing how.

Classical commentary

《象》曰：左次无咎，未失常也。

The Image says: Encamping to the left, no blame — one has not lost the constant way.

田有禽利執言無咎長子帥師弟子輿尸貞凶

田tiánthe fields; hunt

有yǒuholds, has; finds, captures, takes

禽qíngame, prey, birds, animals; quarry, captives

利lìworthwhile, rewarding, productive

執zhíto control, manage, contain, restrain

言yánthe talking, words, speech, rumors, gossip

無wúno; avoid; not

咎jiùblame; wrong; errors; make mistakes

長zhǎngthe elder, eldest, senior, experienced

子zǐson, brother, officer

帥shuàicaptains, commands, leads, governs, directs

師shīthe militia, reserves

弟dìthe younger, youngest, junior

子zǐson, brother, officer

輿yúwould only transport, haul, carry, cart

尸shīthe corpses, bodies, fatalities, casualties

貞zhēnpersistence, firmness, predictability, resolve

凶xiōngunfortunate, inauspicious; has pitfalls

Game appears in the field—now is the time to act. Let the experienced leader command. If the young and inexperienced take charge, the result is corpses. Persisting with wrong leadership brings disaster.

Classical commentary

《象》曰：長子帥師，以中行也。弟子輿尸，使不當也。

The Image says: The eldest son leads the army — he acts with centrality. The younger sons cart back corpses — the appointment was not fitting.

大君有命開國承家小人勿用

大dàthe great, successful, seasoned, mature

君jūnnoble, ruler, leader, chief

有yǒuassumes, takes, gains, claims, seizes, acquires

命mìngfull command; the mandate, charter

開kāiestablish, found, proclaim, institute, open

國guóthe domains, dominions, realms, states

承chéngand recognizes, accepts, adopts, upholds

家jiāthe clans, ruling families, households

小xiǎothe lesser, common, mediocre, petty

人rénpeople, persons, folk

勿wùare not at all; will not be; are denied

用yònguseful; used, employed; employment

Victory achieved. The great prince distributes rewards, establishes order. But inferior people must not be employed in this—they'll corrupt the peace that was won.

Classical commentary

上六，大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。

Top Six. The great sovereign issues commands: to open states and sustain noble houses. But petty persons must not be employed.