Hexagram 7, line 6
上六Line 6 of Troops
Six at the top · 師 shī
爻辭 The line text
大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。The topmost line, divided, shows the great ruler delivering his charges, (appointing some) to be rulers of states, and others to undertake the headship of clans; but small men should not be employed (in such positions).
大君有命，以正功也。小人勿用，必亂邦也。'The great ruler delivers his charges:'—thereby he rightly apportions merit. 'Small men should not be employed:'—they are sure to throw the states into confusion.
In plain words
'The great ruler issues his command: he founds states and establishes houses; small people are not to be employed.' Line six is yin at the top of Kun, the end of the campaign, the settlement after victory. The great ruler rewards those who served — some with states, some with family estates — and the small Image calls this 'setting the merits straight' (以正功也). The second clause is the hexagram's last warning: those who were useful in war but are of low character must be rewarded with goods, not with power, because 'they would surely throw the state into disorder' (必亂邦也). Cheng Yi stresses that the end of a collective effort is the most dangerous moment for its leader, when the loyalty of the capable and the appetite of the unscrupulous both come due.
If this line is changing
The effort is over and it is time to divide the credit; reward everyone who contributed, but give responsibility only to those whose character you trust, however useful the others were.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 坤 Kun (the Receptive) (earth).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 3: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
師 Troops becomes ䷃ 4 蒙 Immaturity
A spring at the foot of a mountain: youthful ignorance that can be taught. Success comes to the learner who asks sincerely — the teacher does not chase the student.
What it becomes4 · 蒙 ImmaturityméngThe six lines of 師 Troops
- 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
Read 師 Troops for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six at the top of hexagram 7, Troops, mean?
- 'The great ruler issues his command: he founds states and establishes houses; small people are not to be employed.' Line six is yin at the top of Kun, the end of the campaign, the settlement after victory. The great ruler rewards those who served — some with states, some with family estates — and the small Image calls this 'setting the merits straight' (以正功也). The second clause is the hexagram's last warning: those who were useful in war but are of low character must be rewarded with goods, not with power, because 'they would surely throw the state into disorder' (必亂邦也). Cheng Yi stresses that the end of a collective effort is the most dangerous moment for its leader, when the loyalty of the capable and the appetite of the unscrupulous both come due.
- What does hexagram 7 become when line 6 changes?
- Troops becomes hexagram 4, 蒙 Immaturity: A spring at the foot of a mountain: youthful ignorance that can be taught. Success comes to the learner who asks sincerely — the teacher does not chase the student.
- Is line 6 of Troops in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).