The Army
Earth (坤 Kūn) above, Water (坎 Kǎn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 7, 師 (Shī), represents The Army.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 7 (師 Shī). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/shi). 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)
師：貞，丈人，吉无咎。
Oriens Editorial Translation: The army: steadfastness. With a mature leader, good fortune; no blame.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
地中有水,师。君子以容民畜众。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) the earth and in the midst of it that representing water, form Sze. The superior man, in accordance with this, nourishes and educates the people, and collects (from among them) the multitudes (of the hosts).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：師出以律，否臧凶。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows the host going forth according to the rules (for such a movement). If these be not good, there will be evil.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：在師中吉，无咎，王三錫命。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows (the leader) in the midst of the host. There will be good fortune and no error. The king has thrice conveyed to him the orders (of his favour).
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：師或輿尸，凶。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows how the host may, possibly, have many inefficient leaders. There will be evil.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：師左次，无咎。
James Legge: The fourth SIX, divided, shows the host in retreat. There is no error.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：田有禽，利執言，无咎。長子帥師，弟子輿尸，貞凶。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, 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.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。
James Legge: The topmost SIX, divided, shows the great ruler delivering his charges, (appointing some) to be rulers of states, and others to undertake the headship of clans; but small men should not be employed (in such positions).
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.
The Army can prompt a careful question about organization: what requires a disciplined structure rather than individual improvisation, and what does authority inside such a structure rest on? The figure's repeated emphasis on a qualified leader and on order among the ranks reads here as part of the text's historical world — retained as material of the figure, not as management advice or commentary on any real conflict.
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.
This reflection predicts nothing about any conflict. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 7 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.