Line 1 Yin
Do not prolong the matter; let a little argument reach an ending.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 06 · Sòng
Conflict and Dispute
Being right is not enough; pursuing a dispute to its limit causes harm.
☰ Above: Qian · Heaven☵ Below: Kan · Water
Meaning
Heaven and water take different courses. When sincerity meets obstruction, seek fair judgment, clarify agreements early, and leave a way to stop.
FOR REFLECTION
Are you trying to resolve the issue or defeat the other person?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yang
Unable to win the dispute, withdraw rather than expose your community to harm.
Line 3 Yin
Rely on established worth through difficulty; serve without claiming the achievement.
Line 4 Yang
When victory is unavailable, change course and return to rightful responsibilities.
Line 5 Yang
Judgment from a balanced position makes fairness the proper aim.
Line 6 Yang
An awarded belt is repeatedly taken away: honors won through contention are unstable.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 訟James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 6
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.