Shi

Judgment

師 貞 丈人 吉 无咎

The fortune of the man who commands the army is good and he has no faults.

Interpretation

The hexagram "師" (Shi) is the seventh hexagram in the I Ching, also known as "The Book of Changes." Here is an explanation in English:

Hexagram Shi (The Army)

貞 (Zhen): Correctness, integrity, steadfastness

丈人 (Zhang Ren): The great man, elder

吉 (Ji): Good fortune

无咎 (Wu Jiu): No blame, no fault

Interpretation: Hexagram Shi represents the concept of an army and the organization, discipline, and leadership required for its success. It emphasizes the importance of correctness, integrity, and steadfastness in actions. The presence of the great man or elder signifies wise and capable leadership, which brings good fortune and success. Maintaining proper conduct and adhering to principles ensures that there is no blame or fault.

This hexagram highlights the need for strong, ethical leadership and discipline to achieve success in any collective endeavor, whether it be an actual army or any organized group effort.

初六 師出以律,否臧凶

Initial Six: The teacher leads according to the law, obstacles are harmful and dangerous.

'Sa' means army. 'Yul' refers to military discipline. In the 'Baekseo Zhouyi,' 'Bu' is read as 'Bul.' 'Bu' should naturally be read as 'Bul.' 'Jang' means to follow or uphold. When a general leads an army to battle, strict military discipline must be maintained; otherwise, defeat is inevitable. A person who receives this line in divination is in a situation where they must uphold discipline while marching to war. One must be strict with oneself and act righteously according to the principles of heaven and human ethics; otherwise, misfortune will follow.

九二 在師中,吉,无咎.王三錫命

Nine Second: In the teacher’s company, good fortune, no blame. The king grants three commands.

The character "Quadruple" refers to the central army, and "three" means many, implying repeated or multiple occurrences. "Sukmyeong" means the royal order given to ministers. If the general is in the central army, it is a favorable sign, and the king will issue repeated commands encouraging the army to advance. The person drawing this hexagram is currently in a situation where the general is at the center of operations, and the king is issuing commands. The person should be aware of their position and fulfill their responsibilities. The work they are asking about will be successful and without fault.

六三 師或輿尸,凶

Six Third: The teacher is with the corpse, it is dangerous.

The situation involves an army losing soldiers in battle, symbolizing an unfortunate and dangerous scenario. The situation suggests that without great caution, failure is imminent. It is best to avoid proceeding with the matter in question as it will lead to failure.

六四 師左次,无咎

Six Fourth: The teacher is positioned on the left, no blame.

The term "Cha" refers to a position or a camp, and "Joo" means to stay. The army is stationed in a position that is geographically advantageous, having gained the upper hand over the enemy. The person asking about the hexagram is in a situation where they hold the advantageous position, and both spatial and temporal conditions are favorable. The task will be successful.

六五 田有禽,利執言,无咎,長子帥師,弟子輿尸,貞凶

Nine Fifth: The field has animals, benefit in expressing words, no blame, the eldest son leads the army, the younger son carries the corpse, persistence brings danger.

Executing the king’s orders, the commander captures enemies in war, gaining benefits, while the deputy suffers losses transporting the wounded and dead. The task at hand will be advantageous for leaders but perilous for those below.

上六 大君有命,開國承家,小人勿用

Top Six: The great ruler has commands, opens the country and maintains the family, do not use the small people.

After victory, the king rewards nobles with lands and titles, but foot soldiers gain nothing despite their toil. The task at hand will sail smoothly like a ship on fair winds, granting honor and wealth to the prominent, though the lowly reap no reward.