師 The Army

The Hexagram

Judgment

Image

Changing lines

• Line 1

  Six at the beginning means:

  An army must set forth in proper order.

  If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.

  At the beginning of a military enterprise, order is imperative. A just and
  valid cause must exist, and the obedience and coordination of the troops must
  be well organized, otherwise the result is inevitably failure.

• Line 2

  Nine in the second place means:

  In the midst of the army.

  Good fortune. No blame.

  The king bestows a triple decoration.

  The leader should be in the midst of his army, in touch with it, sharing good
  and bad with the masses he leads. This alone makes him equal to the heavy
  demands made upon him. He needs also the recognition of the ruler. The
  decorations he receives are justified, because there is no question of personal
  preferment here: the whole army, whose center he is, is honored in his
  person.

• Line 3

  Six in the third place means:

  Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon.

  Misfortune.

  Here we have a choice of two explanations. One points to defeat because
  someone other than the chosen leader interferes with the command; the
  other is similar in its general meaning, but the expression, "carries corpses in
  the wagon," is interpreted differently. At burials and at sacrifices to the dead it
  was customary in China for the deceased to whom the sacrifice was made to
  be represented by a boy of the family, who sat in the dead man's place and was
  honored as his representative. On the basis of this custom the text is
  interpreted as meaning that a "corpse boy" is sitting in the wagon, or, in
  other words, that authority is not being exercised by the proper leaders but has
  been usurped by others. Perhaps the whole difficulty clears up if it is inferred
  that there has been an error in copying. The character fan, meaning "all," may
  have been misread as shih, which means "corpse. " Allowing for this error,
  the meaning would be that if the multitude assumes leadership of the army
  (rides in the wagon), misfortune will ensue.

• Line 4

  Six in the fourth place means:

  The army retreats. No blame.

  In the face of a superior enemy, with whom it would be hopeless to engage in
  battle, an orderly retreat is the only correct procedure, because it will save the
  army from defeat and disintegration. It is by no means a sign of courage or
  strength to insist upon engaging in a hopeless struggle regardless of
  circumstances.

• Line 5

  Six in the fifth place means:

  There is game in the field.

  It furthers one to catch it.

  Without blame.

  Let the eldest lead the army.

  The younger transports corpses;

  Then perseverance brings misfortune.

  Game is in the field–it has left its usual haunts in the forest and is
  devastating the fields. This points to an enemy invasion. Energetic combat
  and punishment are here thoroughly justified, but they must not degenerate
  into a wild melee in which everyone fends for himself. Despite the greatest
  degree of perseverance and bravery, this would lead to misfortune. The army
  must be directed by an experienced leader. It is a matter of waging war, not of
  permitting the mob to slaughter all who fall into their hands; if they do,
  defeat will be the result, and despite all perseverance there is danger of
  misfortune.

• Line 6

  Six at the top means:

  The great prince issues commands,

  Founds states, vests families with fiefs.

  Inferior people should not be employed.

  The war has ended successfully, victory is won, and the king divided estates
  and fiefs among his faithful vassals. But it is important that inferior people
  should not come into power. If they have helped, let them be paid off with
  money, but they should not be awarded lands or the privileges of rulers, lest
  power be abused.