Hexagram 6: Conflict

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Qian (Heaven) · Lower trigram: Kan (Water)

Judgment

Sincerity obstructed calls for caution. Good fortune in moderation, but misfortune if carried to the end. Favorable to see a great person; not favorable to cross the great river.

Image

Heaven and water move in opposite directions: conflict. The noble one plans carefully at the outset of any undertaking.

Meaning of Hexagram Conflict

Conflict (訟) is hexagram #6 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Qian (Heaven) and lower trigram Kan (Water). It represents disputes arise; caution and seeking mediation are advised over confrontation. When this hexagram is cast, the querent should meditate on the judgment and image to grasp what the Yi is saying about the current situation.

The Six Lines Explained

First Line (Six at the Beginning)

"Bu yong suo shi — If one does not perpetuate the affair, there is a little gossip; in the end, good fortune"

Do not prolong the dispute: a little bad talk, but the end is good. Even with backing (the correspondence with the fourth line), stop early rather than let the quarrel run on to your later cost.

Second Line (Nine in the Second Place)

"Bu ke song — One cannot engage in conflict; one returns home and gives way; the people of his town, three hundred households, remain free of guilt"

Do not litigate; withdraw and keep to a modest place, and calamity is avoided. The lesson of recognising your weaker position and stepping back from conflict with someone stronger.

Third Line (Six in the Third Place)

"Shi jiu de — To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance; danger, but in the end good fortune"

Live quietly on the merit already earned; stay upright despite fear, and the end is good. If you must serve a superior, expect no personal credit. A lesson in contentment and not contending amid gossip.

Fourth Line (Nine in the Fourth Place)

"Bu ke song, fu ji ming — One cannot engage in conflict; one turns back and submits to fate, changes one's attitude, and finds peace in perseverance"

When contention cannot succeed, return to what is right, change your intention and rest in correctness. Let go of the quarrel once you see you hold no advantage.

Fifth Line (Nine in the Fifth Place)

"Song, yuan ji — To contend before him brings supreme good fortune"

Whether you judge the dispute or stand within it, this is highly favourable. The ruling line: a capable, virtuous person in a position of fairness — either the impartial arbiter, or the one who meets such an arbiter.

Top Line (Nine at the Top)

"Huo xi zhi pan dai — Even if by chance a leather belt is bestowed, by the end of the morning it will have been snatched away three times"

Even a lucky victory (a belt of office bestowed) is quickly lost again. A warning that pressing a dispute to the bitter end brings no lasting gain, even in winning.

The Transformed Hexagram

Song has Kan (Water) below and Qian (Heaven) above — the inverse of Xu, Waiting. With a moving line it changes accordingly: a moving second line turns the lower Kan into Kun, giving Pi, Standstill (#12). Identify the specific moving line to read the correct transformed hexagram.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

A warning about disputes and friction at work. Avoid litigation and drawn-out argument; settle disagreements early so small matters do not grow large.

Love & Relationships

Song warns of conflict and misunderstanding in a relationship. Do not argue to the last just to be proved right — yielding and finding common ground serves the bond better.

Health

The hexagram's image of conflict can relate to nervous tension and digestive trouble from prolonged anxiety. Keep your mind steady and do not let strife damage your health.

Wealth

Avoid deals or partnerships prone to legal dispute in this period. If a financial matter is already contested, settle it amicably and early rather than let it drag on.

Frequently Asked Questions about Conflict

Is Song (Conflict) a bad hexagram?

It is counted among the unfavourable hexagrams, since its subject is dispute and litigation, which the I-Ching advises avoiding. The fifth line, in the seat of fair judgment, remains its bright point.

What should I do after casting Song?

Avoid dispute and litigation where you can. If conflict is unavoidable, settle it early (the spirit of the first and fourth lines) rather than pursuing it to the end.

Why does Song follow Xu (Waiting) in the sequence?

According to the Sequence of the Hexagrams, needs for food and provisions (Xu) breed competition, and competition leads to litigation (Song) — a chain of cause and effect in the order of the 64 hexagrams.