Hexagram Image: [Upper Trigram: Kūn (Earth), Lower Trigram: Kǎn (Water)]
Upper Trigram: Kūn (Earth) Lower Trigram: Kǎn (Water)
Judgment: Shī: The army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.
Symbolism: Discipline, organization, collective strength, leadership
Meaning of the Hexagram
The Shī hexagram symbolizes the army and organized collective action. The character “Shī” represents military forces, discipline, and organized strength. This hexagram is composed of the lower trigram Kǎn (Water) and the upper trigram Kūn (Earth), symbolizing water contained within the earth, like an organized army operating within disciplined boundaries.
On a philosophical level, the Shī hexagram explores the wisdom of discipline and collective action. True wisdom is not just individual brilliance but also the ability to organize and coordinate collective efforts. The Shī hexagram reminds us that effective collective action requires strong leadership, discipline, clear purpose, and perseverance to achieve success.
Analysis of the Judgment
“Shī: The army” establishes the central theme of the hexagram—organized collective action.
“The army needs perseverance” emphasizes that collective endeavors require persistent effort and determination to succeed.
“and a strong man” highlights the importance of capable leadership in guiding collective action.
“Good fortune without blame” indicates that when properly led and disciplined, collective action brings positive results without negative consequences.
Overall, the judgment emphasizes that organized collective action requires perseverance, strong leadership, and proper discipline to achieve good fortune without blame, thus transforming individual efforts into powerful collective achievement.
Line Statements
Initial Six: An army must set forth in proper order. If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.
- Symbolism: Army setting forth in order, disorder brings misfortune
- Interpretation: An army must set forth in proper order. If the order is not good, misfortune threatens
- Application: Emphasizes the fundamental importance of proper organization, procedures, and preparation at the beginning of any collective endeavor, warning that disorder at this stage leads to problems
Nine in the Second Place: In the midst of the army. Good fortune. No blame. The king bestows a triple decoration.
- Symbolism: In midst of army, good fortune, king bestows triple decoration
- Interpretation: In the midst of the army. Good fortune. No blame. The king bestows a triple decoration
- Application: Describes the positive position of being fully integrated within a collective effort, suggesting that proper participation in the group brings recognition and reward
Six in the Third Place: Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon. Misfortune.
- Symbolism: Army carrying corpses in wagon, misfortune
- Interpretation: Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon. Misfortune
- Application: Warns against the negative consequences of improper leadership or misguided collective action, suggesting that such approaches lead to loss and failure
Six in the Fourth Place: The army retreats. No blame.
- Symbolism: Army retreating, no blame
- Interpretation: The army retreats. No blame
- Application: Acknowledges that strategic withdrawal is sometimes the appropriate course in collective endeavors, emphasizing that such prudent retreats are not blameworthy but often necessary
Six in the Fifth Place: There is game in the field. It furthers one to catch it. Without blame. Let the eldest lead the army. The younger carries corpses; then perseverance brings misfortune.
- Symbolism: Game in field, eldest leading army, younger carrying corpses
- Interpretation: There is game in the field. It furthers one to catch it. Without blame. Let the eldest lead the army. The younger carries corpses; then perseverance brings misfortune
- Application: Emphasizes the importance of proper leadership based on experience and capability, warning that inappropriate leadership (symbolized by the younger carrying corpses) leads to misfortune
Top Six: The great prince issues commands, founds states, vests families with fiefs. Inferior people should not be employed.
- Symbolism: Great prince issuing commands, inferior people not employed
- Interpretation: The great prince issues commands, founds states, vests families with fiefs. Inferior people should not be employed
- Application: Describes the highest level of organization and delegation in collective endeavors, emphasizing the importance of assigning responsibilities based on capability and character, not employing those lacking proper qualifications
Interpretation Guide Table
| Area | Key Points | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Career | Value teamwork and coordination, respect organizational hierarchy, follow established procedures, focus on collective goals | Auspicious with discipline |
| Wealth | Implement systematic financial planning, follow proven investment strategies, coordinate with financial advisors, focus on disciplined execution | Auspicious with discipline |
| Relationships | Establish clear roles and expectations, coordinate efforts with partner, maintain relationship discipline, focus on mutual support | Auspicious with discipline |
| Health | Follow structured health regimens, coordinate with healthcare professionals, maintain health discipline, focus on systematic improvement | Auspicious with discipline |
| Family | Establish family structure and rules, coordinate family activities, maintain household discipline, focus on collective family welfare | Auspicious with discipline |
| Education | Follow structured learning programs, coordinate with teachers/mentors, maintain study discipline, focus on systematic knowledge building | Auspicious with discipline |
Hexagram Transformations
Derived Hexagram: Varies depending on changing lines Mutual Hexagram: Bǐ hexagram Opposite Hexagram: Sòng hexagram Nuclear Hexagram: Jìng hexagram
Najia and Five Elements
The Shī hexagram has the upper trigram Kūn which belongs to earth, and the lower trigram Kǎn which belongs to water. In the Najia system, Kūn trigram is assigned to Kūn Palace Bǐng Wǔ, and Kǎn trigram is assigned to Kǎn Palace Rén Zǐ.
In terms of Five Elements relationships, the lower trigram Kǎn is water, and the upper trigram Kūn is earth. Earth controls water, symbolizing containment and discipline (earth’s containment of water). This also echoes the theme of the army described in the Shī hexagram, suggesting that collective strength (water) requires structure, discipline, and containment (earth) to be effective, like an army operating within disciplined boundaries.
Modern Application Examples
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Team Management: A manager leading a project team receives the Shī hexagram. This reminds them that effective team management requires organization and discipline (“Shī: The army”), as well as persistent effort (“The army needs perseverance”) and strong leadership (“and a strong man”). “Good fortune without blame” encourages them that proper team management brings positive results without negative consequences. “Initial Six: An army must set forth in proper order…” emphasizes the fundamental importance of establishing clear team structures, roles, and procedures at the project’s beginning, warning that disorganization leads to problems. “Nine in the Second Place: In the midst of the army…” suggests that being fully engaged with the team rather than distant brings success and recognition. “Six in the Third Place: Perchance the army carries corpses…” warns against poor leadership practices or misguided team directions that could lead to project failure. “Six in the Fourth Place: The army retreats…” acknowledges that strategic pivots or pulling back from unproductive approaches is sometimes necessary and appropriate. “Six in the Fifth Place: There is game in the field…” emphasizes the importance of assigning leadership roles based on experience and capability, warning that inappropriate leadership assignments lead to failure. “Top Six: The great prince issues commands…” highlights the importance of proper delegation and assignment of responsibilities based on team members’ capabilities and character. Overall, the Shī hexagram advises them to approach team management with clear organization, persistent effort, strong leadership, full engagement, strategic flexibility, appropriate role assignments, and proper delegation, thus transforming individual efforts into powerful collective achievement.
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Organizational Structure: A business founder establishing company structure receives the Shī hexagram. “Shī: The army” directly relates to their task of creating organizational structure. “The army needs perseverance” reminds them that building effective structure requires consistent effort over time. “and a strong man” emphasizes the need for clear executive leadership. “Good fortune without blame” encourages them that proper organizational design brings success without negative consequences. “Initial Six: An army must set forth in proper order…” emphasizes the critical importance of establishing proper organizational foundations, reporting relationships, and procedures from the beginning, warning that structural flaws at this stage lead to ongoing problems. “Nine in the Second Place: In the midst of the army…” suggests that leadership should be engaged with operations rather than completely removed, bringing success and respect. “Six in the Third Place: Perchance the army carries corpses…” warns against dysfunctional organizational designs or misaligned incentive structures that could lead to business failure. “Six in the Fourth Place: The army retreats…” acknowledges that sometimes restructuring or abandoning certain organizational approaches is necessary and appropriate. “Six in the Fifth Place: There is game in the field…” emphasizes the importance of placing experienced leaders in key positions, warning that inappropriate leadership appointments lead to failure. “Top Six: The great prince issues commands…” highlights the importance of proper delegation and division of responsibilities based on capabilities and character. Overall, the Shī hexagram perfectly describes effective organizational design: clear structure, consistent implementation, strong leadership, engaged management, strategic flexibility, appropriate appointments, and proper delegation. It advises them to approach organizational structure with these principles, thus creating a cohesive and effective company.
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Personal Discipline: An individual seeking to develop personal discipline receives the Shī hexagram. “Shī: The army” relates to their goal of establishing personal discipline and organization. “The army needs perseverance” emphasizes that developing discipline requires consistent effort over time. “and a strong man” highlights the need for strong internal leadership and self-direction. “Good fortune without blame” encourages them that proper self-discipline brings positive results without excessive restriction. “Initial Six: An army must set forth in proper order…” emphasizes the importance of establishing clear routines, systems, and habits from the beginning, warning that disorganization leads to failure. “Nine in the Second Place: In the midst of the army…” suggests that fully committing to disciplined practices rather than half-measures brings success and self-respect. “Six in the Third Place: Perchance the army carries corpses…” warns against harmful or misguided approaches to discipline that could lead to burnout or failure. “Six in the Fourth Place: The army retreats…” acknowledges that sometimes strategic breaks or adjusting disciplinary approaches is necessary and appropriate. “Six in the Fifth Place: There is game in the field…” emphasizes the importance of prioritizing areas where discipline will be most effective, warning against misplaced effort. “Top Six: The great prince issues commands…” highlights the importance of organizing different aspects of life according to their importance and one’s capabilities. Overall, the Shī hexagram advises them to approach personal discipline with clear structure, consistent effort, strong self-leadership, full commitment, strategic flexibility, appropriate prioritization, and proper life organization, thus transforming scattered efforts into powerful personal achievement.
