Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 6 — Heaven over Water (天水訟) - Conflict
訟
Upper Canon 上經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
訟：有孚，窒惕，中吉，終凶。
Conflict. You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.
Image
象傳
象曰：天與水違行，訟；君子以作事謀始。
Heaven and water go their separate ways: the image of Conflict. Thus in all his transactions the superior man considers the beginning.
Interpretation
詮釋
訟卦象徵爭端與訴訟。天水違行，立場不合。暗示著即使自己有理，也應適可而止，避免爭鬥到底。
Dispute and litigation. Conflicting paths. Suggests that even if right, one should seek resolution midway rather than pushing to the bitter end.
Six Lines
爻辭
Six at the beginning
初六
不永所事，小有言，終吉。
If one does not perpetuate the affair, there is a little gossip. In the end, good fortune comes.
不要長久糾纏爭訟，雖有閒話但最終吉祥。及早收手為佳。
Don't prolong the dispute. Though there's gossip, the end is fortunate. Better to stop early.
Nine in the second place
九二
不克訟，歸而逋，其邑人三百戶，無眚。
One cannot engage in conflict. One returns home and gives way. The people of his town, three hundred households, remain free of guilt.
無法勝訴，返回躲避。鄉人免於災禍。退讓可保平安。
Unable to win the lawsuit, return and yield. The townspeople are spared disaster. Yielding preserves peace.
Six in the third place
六三
食舊德，貞厲，終吉。或從王事，無成。
To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance. Danger. In the end, good fortune comes. If by chance you are in the service of a king, seek not works.
守住舊業，堅持正道雖危但終吉。服務君王不求功勞。
Holding to what you have and maintaining righteousness is dangerous but brings fortune. In serving a ruler, seek no credit.
Nine in the fourth place
九四
不克訟，復即命，渝，安貞，吉。
One cannot engage in conflict. One turns back and submits to fate. One changes one's attitude and finds peace in perseverance. Good fortune.
不能勝訴，回歸本分，改變態度安於正道，吉。
Unable to win, return to your station. Change your attitude, find peace in correctness. Good fortune.
Nine in the fifth place
九五
訟，元吉。
To contend before him brings supreme good fortune.
訴訟大吉。有公正裁判則爭訟可得圓滿解決。
Litigation brings supreme fortune. With a fair judge, conflicts can be resolved satisfactorily.
Nine at the top
上九
或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。
Even if by chance a leather belt is bestowed upon one, by the end of a morning it will have been snatched away three times.
即使獲得榮耀，一日內被剝奪三次。爭訟到底終無所得。
Even if honor is gained, it's stripped away three times in one day. Fighting to the bitter end gains nothing.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 6