I Ching Hexagram 6 - Conflict
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 6 "Conflict"
訟 - Sòng
Thiên Thủy Tụng
Conflict
Upper Trigram: ☰ Qian, Heaven
Lower Trigram: ☵ Kan, Water
Other Titles: Stress, The Symbol of Contention, Strife, Litigation, Quarreling, Arguing, Lawsuit.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Conflict. You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Going through to the end brings misfortune. It furthers one to see the great man. It does not further one to cross the great water.
Legge: Stress indicates that despite sincere motivations, one still meets with opposition and obstruction. Maintain an apprehensive caution. To prosecute the contention to the bitter end will produce evil results. It is advantageous to see the Great Man. It is not advantageous to cross the great stream.
Blofeld: Conflict. Confidence accompanied by obstacles! With care, affairs can be made to prosper in their middle course, but the final outcome will be disaster. It is advantageous to visit a great man, but not to cross the great river (or sea).
Liu: Conflict; you have sincerity even though obstructed, stop halfway -- good fortune; follow to the end -- misfortune. It is of benefit to see a great man, but not to cross the great water.
Shaughnessy: Lawsuit: There is a return; pitying and tranquil, it succeeds to be auspicious, but in the end is inauspicious; beneficial herewith to see the great man; not beneficial to ford the great river.
Cleary (1): Contention; there is blockage of truth. Caution and moderation lead to good results, finality leads to bad results. It is beneficial to see a great person, not beneficial to cross a great river.
Cleary (2): …Wariness within leads to good results, but ending up that way is unfortunate … etc.
Wu: Litigation indicates an obstruction of trust. If the subject is vigilant, he will have good fortune. If he is libelous to the end, he will face foreboding. It will be advantageous to see the great man. It will not be advantageous to cross the big river.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Heaven and water go their opposite ways: the image of Conflict. Thus in all his transactions the superior man carefully considers the beginning.
Legge: The image of water moving away from heaven forms Stress. The superior man, in accordance with this, takes good counsel about the beginning of any enterprise.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes sky and water in opposition. The Superior Man does not embark upon any affair until he has carefully planned the start.
Liu: Heaven and water go in different directions, symbolizing Conflict. The superior man contemplates the beginning before undertaking an enterprise.
Cleary (1): When heaven and water go in different directions, there is contention. Superior people plan in the beginning when they do things.
Cleary (2): … When leaders do things, they plan to begin with.
Wu: Heaven and water go in opposite directions; this is Litigation. Thus the jun zi plans well before taking actions.
Line 1
初 六: 不 永 所 事 , 小 有 言 , 終 吉.
Wilhelm/Baynes: If one does not perpetuate the affair, there is a little gossip. In the end, good fortune comes.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows its subject not perpetuating the matter about which the contention is. She will suffer the small injury of being spoken against, but the end will be fortunate.
Blofeld: Provided that affairs are not pressed through to the end and that as little as possible is said about them, they will end propitiously.
Liu: One does not continue the affair (conflict). Even if there is some gossip, good fortune in the end.
Shaughnessy: Not permitting where it serves; there are a few words; in the end auspicious.
Cleary: One does not persist forever in an affair. There will be a little criticism, but it will turn out well.
Wu: Contention can never produce results. Although there are small talks about him, the outcome will be auspicious.
Line 2
九 二: 不 克 訟 , 歸 而 逋. 其 邑 人 三 百 戶, 无 眚．
Wilhelm/Baynes: One cannot engage in conflict; one returns home, gives way. The people of his town, three hundred households, remain free of guilt.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows its subject unequal to the contention. If he conceals himself where the inhabitants of his city are only three hundred families, he will fall into no mistake.
Blofeld: As the conflict cannot be resolved, he beats a hasty retreat. His clan, numbering three hundred households, also escapes harm.
Liu: One cannot continue in the conflict. Retreating, he goes home. Three hundred families in his town will avoid disaster.
Shaughnessy: Not succeeding at the lawsuit ; returning and fleeing, three hundred households of his city people are without inspection.
Cleary (1): Not pressing one’s contention, one returns home to escape: If there are three hundred families in one’s domain, there will be no trouble.
Cleary (2): Not victorious in contention, one goes home and hides. The local people number 300 families. There is no mistake or calamity.
Wu: He is not to win the litigation, He returns home to hide. The three hundred families in his village are not implicated.
Line 3
六 三 : 食 舊 德, 貞 厲, 終 吉 ． 或 從 王 事 , 无 成.
Wilhelm/Baynes: To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance. Danger. In the end good fortune comes. If by chance you are in the service of a king, seek not works.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject keeping in the old place assigned for her support, and firmly correct. Perilous as the position is, there will be good fortune in the end. Should she perchance engage in the king's business, she will not claim the merit of achievement.
Blofeld: He nourishes himself on the ancient virtues. Right determination leads to initial trouble followed by good fortune. Were he to seek public office now, he would not be able to attain it.
Liu: Depending upon ancient virtues. Continuing in this way leads to danger. In the end, good fortune. While working in public affairs, one should not seek achievement.
Shaughnessy: Eating old virtue; determination is dangerous. Someone follows the king's service, without completion.
Cleary (1): Living on past virtues, rectitude in danger will turn out well. If working in government, do not do anything.
Cleary (2): … If you are upright in danger, the end will be auspicious. If you pursue political affairs, nothing will be accomplished.
Wu: Living by the traditional virtue and being correct and firm will bring good fortune in the end. Should he enter into public service, he does not expect recognition of his success.
Line 4
九 四 : 不克 訟 , 復 即 命, 渝 , 安 貞 吉
Wilhelm/Baynes: One cannot engage in conflict. One turns back and submits to fate, changes one's attitude, and finds peace in perseverance. Good fortune.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, 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.
Blofeld: Since the conflict cannot be resolved, it is best to retreat and submit to heaven's will. Peaceful determination brings good fortune.
Liu: One cannot continue the conflict. Returning and changing one's attitude brings peace and good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Not succeeding at the lawsuit; returning and attending to the command, it changes to peace; determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Not pressing one’s contention, one abides by the decree of fate: Changing to rest in rectitude leads to good fortune.
Cleary (2): Contending unvictorious, return to destiny, change to rest in rectitude; then the outlook is good.
Wu: He is not to win the litigation. If his mind returns to reasoning and changes for the good, he will find comfort in being correct. It will be auspicious.
Line 5
九 五 : 訟, 元 吉 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: To contend before him brings supreme good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows its subject contending -- and with great good fortune.
Blofeld: Conflict followed by supreme good fortune.
Liu: Conflict. To submit the conflict to a great man brings great good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Lawsuit; prime auspiciousness.
Cleary: Contend; it will be very auspicious.
Wu: There is great fortune in Litigation.
Line 6
上 九 : 或 錫 之 鞶 帶 , 終 朝, 三 褫 之．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Even if by chance a leather belt is bestowed on one, by the end of a morning it will have been snatched away three times.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows how its subject may have the leather belt conferred on him by the sovereign, and thrice it shall be taken from him in a morning.
Blofeld: If a girdle of honor were bestowed upon him, he would be forced to strip it off thrice within one day.
Liu: Even if he receives an ornamental belt, it will be snatched away three times in one morning.
Shaughnessy: Someone awards him a leather belt, by the end of the morning thrice strips it.
Cleary: Even if one is given a badge of honor, it will be taken away thrice before the day is out.
Wu: He may have been presented with a leather belt. He flaunts it three times in one day.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 6 represents a situation where opposing forces are in direct confrontation. The image is that of a mountain, suggesting a time of tension and challenges.
You feel you are right but face conflict. Make yourself clear at the very beginning of the relationship, for the roots of conflict lie here. Consider what you want to achieve and avoid confrontation.
Seek to compromise instead of to win. Because even if you win, you will not gain anything out of it. Your opponent has superior strength, so surrender and retreat now. You can only find lasting peace by turning back.
If you insist on conflict to the end, the victory is not worth it. Others will have no respect for you, and the conflict will continue. It is easy to avoid a dispute now in order to gain a favorable outcome later.
