I Ching Hexagram 7 - Discipline
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 7 "Discipline"
師 - Shī
Địa Thủy Sư
Discipline
Upper Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Lower Trigram: ☵ Kan, Water
Other Titles: The Army, The Symbol of Multitude and of Army, Legions/ Leading, The Troops, Collective Force, Discipline, Soldiers, Group Action, A Disciplined Multitude, Ego Discipline, Willpower
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: The Army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.
Legge: Discipline indicates that with firm correctness and a leader of age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.
Blofeld: Persistence in a righteous course brings to those in authority good fortune and freedom from error.
Liu: The Army. The army demands perseverance and a strong person (leader). Good fortune. No blame.
Shaughnessy: The Troops: Determination for the senior man is auspicious; there is no trouble.
Cleary: For the leader of the army to be right, a mature person is good; then there is no error.
Wu: The Army indicates persevering. Led by the elder man, it will be auspicious.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: In the middle of the earth is water: the image of The Army. Thus the superior man increases his masses by generosity toward the people.
Legge: Water in the midst of the earth -- the image of Discipline. The superior man nourishes and educates the people, and collects from among them a mighty army.
Blofeld: The symbol of water surrounded by land. The Superior Man nourishes the people and treats them with leniency.
Liu: Water in the earth symbolizes the Army. The superior man increases his followers by benevolence toward the people.
Cleary (1): There is water in the earth, The Army. Thus does the superior person embrace the people and nurture the masses.
Cleary (2): … Leaders develop a group by admitting people.
Wu: There is water underneath the ground; this is The Army. Thus the jun zi receives people and shelters them.
Line 1
初 六 : 師, 出 以 律 , 否 臧, 凶.
Wilhelm/Baynes: An army must set forth in proper order. If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows the army going forth according to the rules for such a movement. If these be not good, there will be evil.
Blofeld: An army is built up through discipline; without it, corruption leading to disaster occurs.
Liu: An army should be put in correct order. If not, there will be disaster.
Shaughnessy: Troops go out in ranks; it is not good; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): The army is to go forth in an orderly manner: Otherwise, even good turns out bad.
Cleary (2): Negating the good leads to misfortune.
Wu: The army going to war requires strict observance of discipline. When the discipline is not enforced, there will be disaster.
Line 2
九 二 : 在 師, 中, 吉, 无 咎 , 王 三 錫 命 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: In the midst of the army. Good fortune. No blame. The king bestows a triple decoration.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows the leader in the midst of the army. There will be good fortune and no error. The king cherishes the myriad regions in his heart.
Blofeld: The general in the midst of his army enjoys good fortune and is free from error. Thrice he is honored by the King.
Liu: A general works within his army. Good fortune, no blame. The king confers a triple honor.
Shaughnessy: In the troops' midst; auspicious; there is no trouble; the king thrice awards the command.
Cleary (1): At the center of the army, good fortune, no error; the king gives orders thrice.
Cleary (2): Being in the middle of the army is lucky, blameless ... etc.
Wu: Being in the center of the army will be auspicious and blameless. The king has thrice bestowed praises upon him.
Line 3
六 三 : 師, 或 輿 尸, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon. Misfortune.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows how the army may possibly have many inefficient leaders. There will be evil.
Blofeld: The army carries wagon-loads of corpses -- disaster!
Liu: The army carries corpses. Misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Of the troops some join with the corpses; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): The army has casualties; bad luck.
Cleary (2): The army may have casualties; misfortune.
Wu: The army may have to cart back corpses. This will be foreboding.
Line 4
六 四 : 師, 左 次 , 无 咎 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The army retreats. No blame.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows the army in retreat. There is no error.
Blofeld: The army retreats and halts -- no error!
Liu: The army retreats at the proper time. No blame.
Shaughnessy: The troops camp on the left; there is no trouble.
Cleary: The army retreats and camps, there is no error.
Wu: The army halts its advance and chooses to camp. It will be blameless.
Line 5
六 五 : 田 有 禽 ． 利 執 言 ． 无 咎 ． 長 子 帥 師 ． 弟 子 輿 尸 ． 貞 凶 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: There is game in the field. It furthers one to catch it.
Without blame. Let the eldest lead the army. The younger transports corpses; then perseverance brings misfortune.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, 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.
Blofeld: Wild beasts roam the field. To avoid error, speech should be guarded. The eldest son is in command; the younger son carts away the corpses. Persistence would lead to calamity.
Liu: Much game in the field. It benefits to capture it. No blame. The army is led by the eldest son. The younger son carries corpses. Continuing brings misfortune.
Shaughnessy: In the fields there is game; beneficial to shackle prisoners; there is no trouble. The eldest son leads the troops, the younger son carts corpses; determination is inauspicious.
Cleary (1): There are animals in the fields. It is beneficial to take up words. A mature person is to lead the army; if it is an immature person, there will be casualties, for even if he is righteous the outlook is bad.
Cleary (2): A mature person leads the army. If the leader is immature, there will be casualties, and even if the leader is right, the prospects are bad.
Wu: There are prisoners of war in the field. It will be advantageous to uphold the mission of the military action. No blame. The eldest son commands the army. A younger son carts back corpses. Even with perseverance, it will be foreboding.
Line 6
上 六: 大 君 有 命． 開 國 承 家, 小 人 勿 用．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The great prince issues commands, founds states, vests families with fiefs. Inferior people should not be employed.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows the great ruler delivering his charges, appointing some to be rulers of states, and others to undertake the headship of clans. But inferior men should not be employed in such positions.
Blofeld: The mandate is given to a great prince so that the work may go forward satisfactorily. A man of mean ability would be useless, for he would merely spread disorder through the realm.
Liu: The king issues directives, establishes states, and awards fiefs to certain families. Inferiors should not be given power.
Shaughnessy: The great man's lord has a mandate, to open the state and uphold the families; the little man should not use it.
Cleary (1): The great leader has orders, to establish states and families; do not employ petty people.
Cleary (2): A great leader has orders to establish states and families that continue. Small people are not to be employed.
Wu: The great king has given his order. This is the time to reconstruct the nation and resettle families. Little men should not be appointed to office.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 7 delves into the composition of the army, highlighting the significance of a morally upright purpose referred to as "firm correctness." When a leader employs the masses with this moral integrity, they have the potential to fulfill the ruler's intentions. The emphasis on strength in the second line is met with an appropriate counterpart in the ruler's position.
An army runs best on strong and wise leadership. To achieve your goals, you must marshal your resources and the people around you. You have to assume leadership in this particular situation. Most importantly, you must know precisely what it is you wish to achieve. Without clear goals and strategy, you will fail.
You are strong and wise enough to overcome difficulties. Share the good and bad with your followers at the start to gain trust. A dangerous situation requires the most experienced leader to maintain discipline. Employ only the best of them or your effort will be wasted.
