Sòng Strife Contention [hexagram 6]

Yang line Yang - controlling line Yang line Yin line Yang line Yin line

Litigation
Heaven over
Water
Metal Metal element

Earth Fire
Míng yí [36] Overshadow; Darkening
Opposite
Water Heaven
[5] Halting; Needing
Inverse
Wind Fire
Jiā rén [37] Relationship; Domesticity
Mutual

Lunar month: 3 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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, 窒. 惕. . , . Sòng: yǒu fú, zhì. tì zhōng jí. zhōng xiōng. lì jiàn dà ren, bù lì shè dà chuān.

Song intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune, while, if he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil. It will be advantageous to see the great man; it will not be advantageous to cross the great stream.

: 讼, , 讼. 讼窒, 惕, . ; 讼. ; . ; . Tuàn zhuàn: Sòng, shǎng gāng xià xiǎn, xiǎn ér jiànsòng. sòng yǒu fú zhì, tì zhōng jí, gāng lái ér dé zhòng yě. Zhōng xiōng; sòng bù kě chéng yě. Lì jiàn dà ren; shàng zhōng zhèng yě. bù lì shè dà chuān; rù yú yuān yě.

The upper portion of Song is (the trigram representing) strength, and the lower (that representing) peril. (The coming together of) strength and peril gives (the idea in) Song. ‘Song intimates how, though there is sincerity in one’s contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune:’ - a strong (line) has come and got the central place (in the lower trigram). ‘If he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil:’ - contention is not a thing to be carried on to extremity. ‘It will be advantageous to meet with the great man:’ - what he sets a value on is the due mean, and the correct place. ‘It will not be advantageous to cross the great stream:’ - one (attempting to do so) would find himself in an abyss.

: , 讼; . Xiàng zhuàn: Tiān yú shuǐ wéi háng, sòng; jūn zǐ yǐ zuò shì móu shǐ.

(The trigram representing) heaven and (that representing) water, moving away from each other, form Song. The superior man, in accordance with this, in the transaction of affairs takes good counsel about his first steps.

young yang young yang young yang young yin young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Lake
[10] Slow advance; Fulfillment
Change
: , , . Chū liù: bù yǒng suǒ shì, xiǎo yǒu yán, zhōng jí.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject not perpetuating the matter about which (the contention is). He will suffer the small (injury) of being spoken against, but the end will be fortunate.

: , 讼. , . Xiàng zhuàn: Bù yǒng suǒ shì, sòng bù kě cháng yě. Suī yǒu xiǎo yán, qí biàn míng yě.

‘He does not perpetuate the matter about which (the contention is):’ - contention should not be prolonged. Although ‘he may suffer the small (injury) of being spoken against,’ his argument is clear.

young yang young yang young yang young yin changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Earth
[12] Stagnation; Hindrance
Change
: 讼, 逋, , 眚. Jiǔ èr: bù kè sòng, guī ér bū, qí yì rén sān bǎi hù, wú shěng.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject unequal to the contention. If he retire and keep concealed (where) the inhabitants of his city are (only) three hundred families, he will fall into no mistake.

: 讼, . , 患. Xiàng zhuàn: Bù kè sòng, guī ér bū yě. Zì xià sòng shǎng, huàn zhì duō yě.

‘He is unequal to the contention; he retires and keeps concealed, stealthily withdrawing from it:’ - for him from his lower place to contend with (the stronger one) above, would be to (invite) calamity, as if he brought it with his hand to himself.

young yang young yang young yang changing yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Wind
Gòu [44] Reaction; Encountering
Change
: , , , , . Liù sān: shí jiù dé, zhēn lì, zhōng jí, huò cóng wáng shì, wú chéng.

The third ‘six’, divided, shows its subject keeping in the old place assigned for his support, and firmly correct. Perilous as the position is, there will be good fortune in the end. Should he perchance engage in the king's business, he will not (claim the merit of) achievement.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Shí jiù dé, cóng shǎng jí yě.

‘He confines himself to the support assigned to him of old:’ - (thus) following those above him, he will have good fortune.

young yang young yang changing yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Water
Huàn [59] Dissolution; Dispersion
Change
: 讼, 复即渝, . Jiǔ sì: bù kè sòng, fù jí mìng yú, ān zhēn jí.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, 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.

: 复即, 渝; . Xiàng zhuàn: Fù jí mìng, yú ān zhēn; bù shī yě.

‘He returns to (the study of Heaven’s) ordinances, changes (his wish to contend), and rests in being firm and correct:‘ - he does not fail (in doing what is right).

young yang changing yang young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Water
Wèi jì [64] Unfinished; Almost complete
Change
: 讼. Jiǔ wǔ: sòng yuán jí.

S% DF (The) %> fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject contending - and with great good fortune.

: 讼, . Xiàng zhuàn: Sòng yuán jí, yǐ zhōng zhèng yě.

‘He contends; - and ’with great fortune: - this is shown by his holding the due mean and being in the correct place.

changing yang young yang young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Water
Kùn [47] Confinement; Exhaustion
Change
: 鞶带, . Shǎng jiǔ: huò xī zhī pán dài, zhōng cháo sān chǐ zhī.

The topmost ‘nine’, undivided, shows how its subject may have the leathern belt conferred on him (by the sovereign), and thrice it shall be taken from him in a morning.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yǐ sòng shòu fú, yì bù zú jìng yě.

‘He receives the robe through his contention:’ - but still be is not deserving of respect.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also