Hexagram 6

Song — Litigation

Heaven over Water · Heaven above, Water below · 天水讼

Also known as: Conflict

The Judgement

讼卦：有孚，窒。惕中吉。终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。

With sincerity, yet blocked. Wary caution that holds to the middle is auspicious; pressing on to the end is inauspicious. It is favourable to see a person of authority, not favourable to cross the great stream.

AI commentarySong shows Heaven and Water moving in opposite directions, upper and lower at odds; it stands for lawsuits, arguments and quarrels. Heaven rises, Water sinks, and contention follows. The judgement warns that even the truthful and upright may find the way blocked. Only alert restraint that keeps to the middle brings an auspicious result; a dispute pushed to its conclusion turns inauspicious. It favours seeking a fair person of authority, not crossing the great stream into danger. In divination it signals disputes and lawsuits: restrain contention, settle by the middle way, plan early to forestall quarrels, and never push a suit all the way through.

AI plain readingHexagram 6, Song (Litigation), shows Heaven above and Water below moving in opposite directions: Heaven rises, Water sinks, and their paths split. That is why it stands for lawsuits, arguments and disputes. The judgement says that even when you are honest and in the right, your way may be blocked. Staying alert and holding to the middle is auspicious; fighting the matter to the very end is inauspicious. It helps to put the issue before a fair-minded person of authority, but avoid risky ventures. If you draw this hexagram, expect disputes and possibly legal trouble. The wise course is to cool tempers, settle through moderation and head off quarrels early, never forcing a dispute through to the finish.

The Great Image

天与水违行，讼；君子以作事谋始。

Heaven moves one way and Water the other: this is Song. Seeing this, the noble person lays plans at the very start of any undertaking.

The Six Lines

1st Line (six)

初六：不永所事，小有言，终吉。

Do not let the matter drag on. A few sharp words are exchanged, yet it is auspicious in the end.

AI commentaryThe line does not drag the dispute out but withdraws early. Though a few sharp words pass, it is auspicious in the end. When a quarrel first arises, one who reads the signs and stops short of excess keeps it small.

AI plain readingThis line advises you not to let a dispute drag on. Step back early, even if a few sharp words have been exchanged, and the matter ends well. When a disagreement first appears, see where it is heading and stop before going too far; kept small, it turns out fine.

Timing: Friction is only beginning; drop the minor quarrel now, even if a few words are exchanged, and the phase ends well.
Money: Step back early from a small money disagreement; despite a minor loss, the reading points to a good outcome.
Career: When a workplace disagreement surfaces, concede the minor point rather than escalate; there may be grumbling, but the project ends well.
Relationships: A small lovers' tiff is best dropped early rather than argued through; a few cross words pass and affection returns.
Home & Household: At home, end a squabble over chores before it grows; brief bickering is the only cost, and household harmony returns.
Health: Attend to a minor complaint as soon as it appears; tradition reads this as passing bother followed by ease.
Marriage: Before a minor row with your spouse or partner-to-be hardens, drop it; words may fly, but you stay on good terms.
Exams & Study: Avoid getting stuck on one puzzling question or disputed mark; set it aside early, and results turn out well despite hiccups.
Travel: If a booking or route dispute comes up, let it go quickly; the trip has small annoyances but finishes smoothly.
Disputes & Legal Matters: Withdraw from a legal dispute at its outset instead of prolonging it; early settlement reads as auspicious despite some argument.
Finding a Person: Follow the first sound lead and drop doubtful clues; after a few twists, the search is read as eventually successful.
The Decision Point: When a dispute is just beginning, read the signs and stop early; do not prolong it, and despite some sharp words the end is auspicious.

2nd Line (nine)

九二：不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚。

Unable to prevail in the suit, one turns back and slips away to a modest town of three hundred households; no calamity follows.

AI commentaryLosing the dispute, the line retreats to a small town of three hundred households, lowering its own standing to avoid harm, so no calamity follows. One who is outmatched and withdraws rather than contending with the strong escapes trouble.

AI plain readingThis line describes losing a dispute and choosing to step back. Instead of fighting on, you withdraw to a humbler position, like settling in a modest town of three hundred households, and so avoid disaster. When the other side is clearly stronger, knowing when to retreat keeps you safe.

Timing: Circumstances are stronger than you right now; step back and keep a low profile, and you pass through this phase unharmed.
Money: Do not chase disputed money against a better-funded party; the reading favours guarding what you hold and keeping savings from harm.
Career: If a more powerful rival or boss blocks you, yield ground and accept a humbler role; this spares you real damage.
Relationships: When a partner's will is stronger, stop fighting for the upper hand; a yielding stance keeps your heart at peace.
Home & Household: Avoid confronting a dominant relative or landlord; keep to your own corner, maintain what you have, and the household stays settled.
Health: Do not push through when your body is losing ground; withdraw into rest, which tradition links with gradual easing.
Marriage: If marital decisions pit you against a stronger family, take the humbler position; avoiding a showdown keeps the union unharmed.
Exams & Study: Against stronger competitors, aim for a realistic target and work within your level; overreaching invites trouble, while modesty keeps results steady.
Travel: On the road, officials, drivers or hosts have the advantage; giving way politely keeps the journey free of trouble.
Disputes & Legal Matters: If the other side is stronger, consider withdrawing or settling modestly; the reading treats retreat as the way to avoid harm.
Finding a Person: When obstacles outweigh your means, slow down and stop forcing the search; with patience, news can arrive in time.
The Decision Point: When you are outmatched, withdraw rather than contend with the stronger side; accepting a humbler position is what keeps you free of calamity.

3rd Line (six)

六三：食旧德，贞厉，终吉，或从王事，无成。

Living on long-held virtue; holding to what is right amid danger, it is auspicious in the end. If one serves in the king's affairs, one takes no credit for the result.

AI commentaryContent with long-held virtue and its proper station, the line holds to what is right through danger; serving a superior, it credits those above. In a dispute, keeping one's place, claiming no credit and stirring no trouble is auspicious in the end.

AI plain readingThis line advises living on what you have honestly earned and staying within your role. Hold to what is right even when the situation is risky, and things end well. If you assist a superior, let the credit go to them. In a dispute, keeping your place and not stirring up trouble pays off.

Timing: Keep to familiar ground and your existing commitments; the period carries some risk, but steady conduct brings a good end.
Money: Live on established income instead of chasing gains or contesting others' holdings; despite anxious moments, the reading sees capital preserved.
Career: Do your assigned work well and let your manager take the credit; claiming achievement now backfires, while quiet reliability proves auspicious.
Relationships: Rely on the trust already built rather than starting fresh arguments; the bond weathers rough patches and ends in reconciliation.
Home & Household: Honour family arrangements as they stand and avoid reopening old grievances; the household passes through a tense spell and settles peacefully.
Health: Keep to a steady, familiar routine and avoid drastic changes; with patient care, tradition reads this as eventual ease and recovery.
Marriage: Build on existing goodwill and do not compete for the upper hand; after some turbulence, the match turns out well.
Exams & Study: Stick with methods that have served you, without rushing or rivalry; the course is hard, but the reading points to success.
Travel: Choose familiar routes and arrangements and keep out of local quarrels; for all the hazards, this line favours a safe arrival.
Disputes & Legal Matters: Stand on your record and do not grab credit or provoke fresh claims; though risky, the process reads as ending well.
Finding a Person: Search calmly through known contacts and familiar places without panic; after several setbacks, news of the person eventually comes.
The Decision Point: Amid a dispute, rest on long-held virtue, keep your place and claim no credit; despite danger on the way, it is auspicious in the end.

4th Line (nine)

九四：不克讼，复即命渝，安贞吉。

Unable to prevail in the suit, one returns to one's rightful lot, lets go of the quarrel, and rests in steadfast correctness: auspicious.

AI commentaryUnable to win, the line turns inward, drops the urge to dominate, and settles into its rightful lot, so it is auspicious. After losing, self-reflection that changes strife into calm and returns to the right path turns danger into an auspicious outcome.

AI plain readingThis line describes a fight you cannot win. Rather than pushing harder, you stop, look honestly at yourself, and drop the urge to come out on top. By accepting your rightful place and returning to the proper path, you turn strife into calm, and risk gives way to an auspicious result.

Timing: This is a phase in which pushing harder gains nothing; a pause to rethink and a steadier course make it auspicious.
Money: If a money contest turns against you, stop pouring funds in; returning to sound habits is auspicious for protecting savings.
Career: Losing a workplace power struggle calls for a change of stance; cooperate, refocus on your duties, and danger turns to safety.
Relationships: If arguments go nowhere, stop trying to win and look at your own part; returning to gentleness restores harmony.
Home & Household: When family tension will not resolve, ask what you contributed; choosing calm over argument brings peace to the household.
Health: Straining against your limits wears you down; ease off and trade restlessness for rest, a shift tradition associates with gradual healing.
Marriage: If disagreements over the engagement or marriage escalate, rethink your stance and seek accord; reconciling this way makes the union good.
Exams & Study: Forcing yourself through anxious, competitive cramming backfires; calm down, return to solid step-by-step work, and success comes within reach.
Travel: When plans keep clashing with circumstances, drop the original itinerary and proceed carefully; the reading points to a safe return.
Disputes & Legal Matters: If the case is going against you, reconsider your position and accept a good-faith settlement; changing course reads as auspicious.
Finding a Person: Frantic searching yields nothing; once you return to a calm, methodical plan, the reading holds the person can still be found.
The Decision Point: When you cannot win, turn back and examine yourself; changing contention into calm and returning to the right path turns danger into an auspicious outcome.

5th Line (nine)

九五：讼，元吉。

Litigation: supremely auspicious.

AI commentaryCentral and correct in the place of honour, this line hears disputes. Holding to the middle and to what is right, it judges fairly and clearly; hence supremely auspicious. Complete impartiality brings a fair settlement, the highest way of handling litigation.

AI plain readingThis line pictures the one who hears the dispute from a central, upright position. Holding to the middle and to what is right, this person settles disputes fairly and clearly, so the line is supremely auspicious. If you weigh right and wrong impartially, a fair resolution follows, the ideal way to handle any dispute.

Timing: Your standing is strong and central; acting with fairness and clear sight makes this an exceptionally auspicious phase.
Money: Handle shared funds and contracts with complete fairness and open records; partners trust you, and the tradition sees outstanding gain.
Career: When you manage people or settle workplace disagreements, judge impartially and openly; colleagues accept your rulings and your standing rises greatly.
Relationships: Treat your partner fairly and see both sides clearly instead of keeping score; this balanced approach brings warmth and deep harmony.
Home & Household: Lead the household impartially, hearing everyone out first; under such even-handed care, family life flourishes in every respect.
Health: Care for yourself in a balanced way and seek a clear assessment of any problem; tradition reads this as strongly favourable.
Marriage: Meet each other as equals and decide shared matters openly; tradition holds that such even-handedness makes a committed partnership truly flourish.
Exams & Study: Stay composed, read each exam question clearly and answer squarely; a mind this steady lets you perform at your very best.
Travel: Travel with balance and judgement, dealing fairly with everyone en route; this line favours trips and moves that run unusually smoothly.
Disputes & Legal Matters: Whether you mediate or a fair-minded judge presides, impartial hearing favours a just settlement; the reading is supremely auspicious.
Finding a Person: Investigate clearly and thoroughly, checking every fact without bias; a fair, open inquiry gives a strong chance of finding the person.
The Decision Point: Weigh right and wrong from a central, impartial position; a dispute settled with such fairness is highly auspicious, the finest way to handle a quarrel.

6th Line (nine)

上九：或锡之鞶带，终朝三褫之。

Even if a sash of high rank is awarded, it is taken back three times before the morning is over.

AI commentaryPushing litigation to the extreme, the line wins by luck and gains a sash of rank, only to lose it three times before the morning ends. Honour won by contention cannot be kept and ends in disgrace: a grave warning against extremes.

AI plain readingThis line shows a dispute pushed to the very end. You might win by luck and receive an honour, pictured as a ceremonial sash, only to lose it three times before the morning is out. Glory sought through fighting may come briefly, but you cannot keep it, and disgrace follows. It is a stern warning.

Timing: Victories won by fighting on to the very end do not hold; any gain is soon reclaimed, leaving you discredited.
Money: Tradition reads profit squeezed out through aggressive claims as lost in the end, along with your good name.
Career: At work, a promotion or title seized by battling colleagues is stripped away before long, and you end up disgraced.
Relationships: Winning every argument with a partner costs more than it gains; the upper hand is brief and closeness suffers.
Home & Household: In family disputes, pushing until you prevail wins only the moment; resentment lingers and the household loses its peace.
Health: Overriding your body's limits through sheer will may work briefly; tradition reads persistent overexertion as ending in harm, so pace yourself.
Marriage: A partner pressured into your wedding plans may give way once, but the affection between you pays the price.
Exams & Study: Obsessive cramming or contesting every grade gives a brief edge that does not hold; pushing to extremes ends in loss.
Travel: Insisting on your own way against everyone on a journey invites trouble; a brief win turns into danger on the road.
Disputes & Legal Matters: Pursuing litigation to the end is strongly discouraged; the reading holds that even a lucky win is lost and disgrace follows.
Finding a Person: When tracing someone, never pressure contacts or obsess over one hunch; any brief lead vanishes and the trail goes cold.
The Decision Point: Do not seek honour by fighting to the extreme; anything gained through contention cannot be kept, and the tradition reads it as ending in disgrace.

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