Song · Conflict

Judgment

有孚窒惕，中吉，终凶。

Sincerity meets obstruction, so remain cautious. Stopping midway brings good fortune; pressing on to the end brings misfortune.

The Chinese above is the received classical text. The English below it is a plain-language rendering written for this site — not a scholarly translation. The classical wording is terse and genuinely open to more than one reading, so where interpretations diverge we follow the mainstream one.

The Image (Da Xiang)

天与水违行，讼，君子以作事谋始。

天和水背道而行，这是讼卦，容易招致纠纷争讼的卦象，君子应当懂得做事要在开始时就谋划周全。

The Six Lines

• First line不永所事，小有言，终吉。初六 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Second line不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚。九二 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Third line食旧德，贞厉，终吉，或从王事，无成。六三 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fourth line不克讼，复即命，渝安贞，吉。九四 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fifth line讼，元吉。九五 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Top line或锡之鞶带，终朝三褫之。上九 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.

Modern Interpretive Reference

Quality: Inauspicious

Tendency: Conflict and irreconcilable positions.

Guidance: Avoid escalation. Seek mediation or fair arbitration rather than victory.

This section is editorial reflection written for this site, not classical commentary. Hexagram qualities are not fixed outcomes — context and response matter more than the label. For cultural reflection only; not a basis for any decision.