Hexagram 6 of 64
Conflict
訟 (Sòng)
Dispute (sòng) — contention that must not be forced to conclusion
DisputeAs shown in classical I Ching texts
Composition
Upper Trigram
Creative, initiating, strong — the power that begins things
Outer situation / environment
Lower Trigram
Deep, flowing, dangerous — penetrating through persistence
Inner situation / your state
Interaction
Heaven above Water — sky meeting rain & rivers. The outer energy of heaven shapes the inner disposition of water.
Meaning
Inner sincerity meets outer obstacle. Seek compromise; avoid bringing conflict to conclusion by force.
Classical Judgment
“Conflict. You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.”
The classical judgment is the original oracle text — the answer the I Ching gives when this hexagram appears.
The Image
Heaven and water go their opposite ways. The superior one, in all transactions, carefully considers the beginning.
The Image is a nature scene associated with this hexagram — a symbolic picture that distils its essence. In classic texts, meditating on the Image was considered the proper way to absorb the hexagram's teaching.
Nuclear Hexagram
Lines 2–5 of this hexagram form an inner hexagram called the nuclear hexagram. It reveals the hidden seed or underlying dynamic within the situation — what lies at the core beneath the surface.
#37 — Hidden within
The Family
家人 (Jiā Rén) · Community
In a Reading
When hexagram 6 appears in your reading, the I Ching is drawing your attention to the quality of dispute. Sit with the Image — “Heaven and water go their opposite ways” — and consider how this pattern is playing out in your current situation. The Judgment offers the oracle’s direct guidance on how to move with this energy rather than against it.
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