Hexagram 7 as yes or no
Hexagram 7 Troops as a yes-or-no answer
As an answer to a yes-or-no question Shi says yes on two conditions, both in the judgment: the matter must be correct (貞), a cause you can state openly, and it must be led by a seasoned person (丈人). The Tuan commentary admits the cost: 'to afflict the world with this and have the people follow' is justified only when the cause is just. If you cannot name the cause or the leader, the answer is not yet.
A changing line in the lower trigram, the water, concerns the force itself: line one says yes if the rules are set first, line two is the clearest yes, from the one actually in command, and line three is a no, because the leadership is wrong or divided. A changing line in the upper trigram, the earth, concerns the mandate: line four says retreat today, line five says yes, the cause is just, provided you give the charge to one fit person, and line six says the campaign is over and the decision now is about rewards, not action.
The hexagram in brief
Water held within the earth: an army, a disciplined multitude. Success needs a seasoned, upright leader and strict order; force is justified only for a right cause.
Lead with discipline and clear command, choose experienced hands, and keep the cause just.
The judgment
師：貞，丈人，吉无咎。Sze indicates how, in the case which it supposes, with firmness and correctness, and (a leader of) age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.
Which line changed?
A changing line sharpens the answer. Each line of 師 Troops has its own page:
- 初六Six at the beginningmarching by rule · discipline · disorder is misfortune
- 九二Nine in the second placein the midst of the army · the king's favour · the commander
- 六三Six in the third placecarting corpses · misfortune · no achievement
- 六四Six in the fourth placecamping on the left · retreat · no loss
- 六五Six in the fifth placegame in the field · the eldest son commands · the wrong appointment
- 上六Six at the topthe great ruler's command · founding states · do not use small people
The same hexagram for
Questions
- Does hexagram 7, Troops, mean yes or no?
- As an answer to a yes-or-no question Shi says yes on two conditions, both in the judgment: the matter must be correct (貞), a cause you can state openly, and it must be led by a seasoned person (丈人). The Tuan commentary admits the cost: 'to afflict the world with this and have the people follow' is justified only when the cause is just. If you cannot name the cause or the leader, the answer is not yet.
- What does Hexagram 7, 師 Troops, mean?
- Water held within the earth: an army, a disciplined multitude. Success needs a seasoned, upright leader and strict order; force is justified only for a right cause.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).