Hexagram 6, Sòng (Conflict): Line 5

讼卦九五 · 天水讼 · 中文版

九五:讼元吉。

The line (Legge)

S. The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contending - and with great good fortune.

Small Image commentary

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

象曰:讼元吉,以中正也。

In plain words

Disputing: supreme good fortune. The fifth line is central and correct in the place of honour: it is the one who hears and judges disputes. With a fair judge, a dispute can be settled in the best way. The Small Image says this is because it is central and correct.

Applying it to your situation

If you have to judge a dispute between others, this line suggests staying central and not taking sides. Have your own likes and dislikes slipped into your judgment?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the fifth place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. It holds the centre of the upper trigram. Its partner is line 2; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Sòng changes into Hexagram 64 Wèi Jì (Before Completion). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·讼之未济.

The hexagram

Hexagram 6 Sòng (Conflict). The Judgment: 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.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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