Hexagram 6 · Conflict

讼 · Sòng

Hexagram 6, Conflict (讼, Sòng), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Water below and Heaven above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “有孚，窒惕，中吉；终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with contention and the call for fair, halfway resolution. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Water (坎) — depth, danger and constancy in flow
Upper trigram: Heaven (乾) — creative strength and initiative
Symbol: ䷅ · Name: 讼 (Sòng) · Number: 6 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   不永所事，小有言，终吉。
   The Image says: “不永所事”，讼不可长也；虽“有小言”，其辩明也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚。
   The Image says: “不克讼”，归逋，窜也；自下讼上，患至掇也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   食旧德，贞厉，终吉；或从王事，无成。
   The Image says: “食旧德”，从上吉也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   不克讼；复即命，渝，安贞，吉。
   The Image says: “复即命，渝”，“安贞”不失也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   讼，元吉。
   The Image says: “讼，元吉”，以中正也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   或锡之鞶带，终朝三褫之。
   The Image says: 以讼受服，亦不足敬也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 6?

Hexagram 6 is Conflict (讼, Sòng), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Water below and Heaven above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Conflict?

The judgment of Conflict reads, in the Chinese original: “有孚，窒惕，中吉；终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。”. Its Great Image reads: “天与水违行，讼。君子以作事谋始。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Conflict symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Conflict is associated with contention and the call for fair, halfway resolution. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.