I Ching hexagram 7
I Ching hexagram 7: The Army
师 shī · earth above water
Water hidden beneath the earth, like troops among the people: discipline and an experienced leader decide the outcome.
- The judgment
- Steadiness under a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No harm.
"Sze indicates how, in the case which it supposes, with firmness and correctness, and (a leader of) age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error."
- What it says to you
- Water gathers under the earth, the way an army once lived among farmers until it was called up. Six lines, and only one is solid: the general in the second place, holding the whole force together. The judgment is short. Order your effort around a seasoned leader, keep to what is right, and it goes well. The lines read like a field manual. March out by the rules, or things fail. When the leader is trusted, the king sends commendation three times. When too many people try to command, the carts come back carrying the dead. Retreat in good order is no disgrace. If you're organizing people, choose one experienced leader, give that person real authority, keep the rules clear, and don't let the inexperienced share the command.
Matter by matter
- Love
- Commitment and clear roles help; too many outside voices in the relationship cause damage.
- Work
- Organize under one capable leader. Clear rules and single command win; divided authority fails.
- Money
- Discipline and planning. Follow a sound plan and keep control in one experienced hand.
- A yes or no question
- Yes, with a condition: proceed only under experienced leadership and clear rules.
The six lines of The Army
A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.
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Bottom line, broken
The army goes out by the rules. Without good order, misfortune.
How you begin decides everything. Set clear rules and make sure your reason for acting is sound before you start. A sloppy launch dooms even a strong effort.
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Second line, solid
In the midst of the army: good fortune, no harm. The king gives commendation three times.
You're the trusted center of the effort. Lead from among your people, close to the work. Those above you have full confidence in you, so act with it.
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Third line, broken
The army may cart home corpses. Misfortune.
Too many people are giving orders, or the wrong person has taken charge. Expect losses unless command is fixed. Settle who leads before going further.
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Fourth line, broken
The army withdraws and camps. No mistake.
Pulling back is the right call here, and there is no shame in it. A tidy retreat preserves your strength for later. Sometimes the wise campaign is the one you pause.
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Fifth line, broken
There is game in the field; it pays to seize it. No harm. Let the eldest lead the army; if younger men cart home corpses, even steadiness meets misfortune.
There's a real problem to deal with, and you're entitled to act. Put the experienced person in charge. Letting the inexperienced share command will turn a just cause into a loss.
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Top line, broken
The great ruler issues the charge, founding states and houses. Do not use small men.
The work is done, and now rewards and roles are handed out. Give real responsibility only to people of character. Reward the others, but don't put them in charge.
About hexagram 7
What does I Ching hexagram 7 mean?
Hexagram 7, The Army, puts earth above water. Water hidden beneath the earth, like troops among the people: discipline and an experienced leader decide the outcome. Its judgment reads: Steadiness under a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No harm.
Is hexagram 7 a yes or a no?
Yes, with a condition: proceed only under experienced leadership and clear rules.
What does hexagram 7 mean for love?
Commitment and clear roles help; too many outside voices in the relationship cause damage.
What does hexagram 7 mean for work?
Organize under one capable leader. Clear rules and single command win; divided authority fails.
Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks
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The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.