Water gathered within the earth: a hidden reserve of power, like an army drawn from ordinary people. Shi is about organizing many people toward one goal, with discipline and under capable leadership. It calls for a just cause, clear structure and a leader whom people trust. Force is a last resort, and must be handled with care.
Judgment
師：貞，丈人吉，无咎。
The army: steadfastness. With a seasoned leader, good fortune and no blame.
Image
地中有水，師；君子以容民畜眾。
Water inside the earth: the army. Taking this as a model, the noble one shelters the people and builds up the multitude.
- Organized collective effort
- Discipline
- Trustworthy leadership
- Serving a just cause
- Responsible use of force
- discipline
- organization
- leadership
- strategy
- loyalty
- order
- A shared effort needs clear order and a trusted leader.
- The cause must be just for the effort to hold together.
- Strength gathered in reserve should be used sparingly.
The six lines
Lines are numbered from the bottom. In a reading, only the lines that are changing apply to your cast.
Line 1Six at the beginning 初六
Line text
師出以律，否臧凶。
The army marches out under rules. Without discipline: misfortune.
At the start of any collective effort, order and a clear purpose are essential. Starting in confusion leads to failure, however good the intentions.
- Order from the start
- Clear purpose
- Launching without a plan
- A well-organized start that carries the whole effort
Line 2Nine in the second place 九二
Line text
在師中吉，无咎，王三錫命。
In the middle of the army: good fortune, no blame. The king confers commendations three times.
The leader stays close to the people doing the work and shares their conditions. This earns trust from below and recognition from above.
- Leading from within
- Earned recognition
- Leading from a distance
- Recognition for being in the thick of things
Line 3Six in the third place 六三
Line text
師或輿尸，凶。
Perhaps the army carts corpses home. Misfortune.
Leadership is muddled or taken over by people without the competence for it. The result is defeat. Clarify who leads.
- Confused leadership
- Incompetence
- Too many voices in charge
- Clarifying roles before losses mount
Line 4Six in the fourth place 六四
Line text
師左次，无咎。
The army withdraws and camps. No blame.
Facing a superior force or poor conditions, an orderly retreat is the wise choice. Pulling back to regroup is not failure.
- Strategic withdrawal
- Regrouping
- Fighting on when conditions are against you
- Preserving strength for a better moment
Line 5Six in the fifth place 六五
Line text
田有禽，利執言，无咎。長子帥師，弟子輿尸，貞凶。
There is game in the fields: favorable to seize it. No blame. The eldest son leads the troops; the younger son carts corpses. Steadfastness: misfortune.
Action is justified, as against wild animals trampling the fields, but it must be led by the experienced and stopped once the task is done. Giving command to the unqualified invites disaster.
- Justified action
- Choosing the right leader
- Handing responsibility to the wrong person
- Firm, limited action under capable leadership
Line 6Six at the top 上六
Line text
大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。
The great lord issues orders, founding states and endowing houses. Small-minded people should not be used.
The effort is complete and rewards are distributed. Reward people fairly, but do not hand lasting authority to those who would misuse it.
- After victory
- Fair rewards and wise appointments
- Empowering the wrong people in the aftermath
- Building a lasting order after the struggle
Related hexagrams
Have a question on your mind?
Cast a readingChinese text: Zhouyi 周易 (received classical text). English rendering and notes: Site rendering. About our sources
Commentary
Water hidden in the earth is like the strength of a people, invisible in peacetime and mobilized in need. Shi deals with any situation that requires organizing many people: a team, a project, a campaign. The reading may suggest that success depends on discipline, a clear chain of responsibility and a leader with genuine authority and experience.
The judgment insists on steadfastness and an experienced leader; the image adds generosity toward the people who carry the effort. An army that is not cared for will not hold. In relation to a question, Shi may emphasize organizing your resources, clarifying who is responsible for what, and making sure the goal is worth the effort it demands.