Conflict
Heaven (乾 Qián) above, Water (坎 Kǎn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 6, 訟 (Sòng), represents Conflict.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 6 (訟 Sòng). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/song). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
訟：有孚，窒。惕中吉。終凶。利見大人，不利涉大川。
Oriens Editorial Translation: There is trust, yet it is obstructed. Be wary. Good fortune midway; pursuing it to the end brings misfortune. It is favorable to see a great person, but not to cross the great river.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
天与水违行,讼。君子以作事谋始。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) heaven and (that representing) water, moving away from each other, form Sung. The superior man, in accordance with this, in the transaction of affairs takes good counsel about his first steps.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：不永所事，小有言，終吉。
James Legge: 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.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：不克訟，歸而逋，其邑人三百戶，无眚。
James Legge: 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.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：食舊德，貞厲，終吉，或從王事，无成。
James Legge: 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.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：不克訟，復即命渝，安貞吉。
James Legge: 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.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
九五：訟元吉。
James Legge: The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contending;—and with great good fortune.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。
James Legge: 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.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Conflict can prompt a careful question about disputes: what is actually being contested, what would escalation cost each side, and what would a settlement both parties can live with look like? The figure's own wariness — stopping short of pressing a case to the bitter end, its picture of arbitration — is part of the text's historical world, retained as material rather than instructions about any real disagreement.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing on this page predicts outcomes and nothing is legal advice. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 6 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.