What is Hexagram 6, Conflict?
Hexagram 6, Conflict (訟 Sòng), is built from Heaven (乾 Qián) over Water (坎 Kǎn), and the Wilhelm-Baynes translation reads its themes as conflict, compromise, caution. The classical sources describe it as a pattern in the Book of Changes (易經 Yìjīng), a situation to recognise, not a verdict to obey.
Key Takeaways
- Hexagram 6 is built from Heaven (乾 Qián) over Water (坎 Kǎn).
- Its central themes, conflict, compromise, caution, mediation, sit in the Wilhelm-Baynes lineage.
- The classical pairing matches the hexagram to Amazonite as the meditation stone.
- Read alongside BaZi, Kua, and Compass School sector mapping for a fuller picture.
- This is a pattern, not a verdict, the I-Ching frames reflection, not prediction.
The Judgment
Conflict. You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Going through to the end brings misfortune.
The Image
Heaven and water go their opposite ways: the image of Conflict. Thus in all affairs the superior person carefully considers the beginning.
Master Wei Lin's Interpretation
Interpretation by Master Wei Lin, Chinese Metaphysics Scholar, pattern recognition, not fortune-telling
Heaven moves upward; water flows downward, they move in opposite directions, and this opposition is the root of conflict. When you cast this hexagram, the I-Ching is reflecting tension, disagreement, or inner contradiction in your situation. The counsel is clear: do not push the conflict to its conclusion. Find a mediator. Meet halfway. The person who insists on being completely right often ends up completely alone. Where might compromise serve you better than victory?
The Six Lines
When a changing line appears in your reading, its text carries special guidance for your situation.
Line 1 (bottom)
“If one does not perpetuate the affair, there is a little gossip. In the end, good fortune comes.”
Line 2
“One cannot engage in conflict; one returns home, gives way. The people of one's town, three hundred households, remain free of guilt.”
Line 3
“To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance. Danger. In the end, good fortune comes. If you follow in the service of a king, do not seek works.”
Line 4
“One cannot engage in conflict. One turns back and submits to fate, changes one's attitude, and finds peace in perseverance. Good fortune.”
Line 5
“To contend before the prince brings supreme good fortune.”
Line 6 (top)
“Even if by chance a leather belt is bestowed on one, by the end of a morning it will have been snatched away three times.”
🔮 Crystal for Hexagram 6
Amazonite
Hold Amazonite while meditating on Conflict. Its energy resonates with the themes of conflict, compromise, caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hexagram 6 (Conflict) mean?
In the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I-Ching (易經 Yìjīng), Hexagram 6, Conflict (訟 Sòng), is read through Heaven (乾 Qián) over Water (坎 Kǎn). The classical sources describe its themes as conflict, compromise, caution. This is pattern recognition, not prediction.
What is the Judgment for Conflict?
The Judgment reads: "Conflict. You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Going through to the end brings misfortune.", the Judgment is the I-Ching's classical summary of the situation the hexagram describes, and what the present moment is asking of the reader.
What is the Image for Conflict?
The Image reads: "Heaven and water go their opposite ways: the image of Conflict. Thus in all affairs the superior person carefully considers the beginning.", in the classical sources the Image is the elemental picture, the upper and lower trigrams in conversation, that the reader holds while sitting with the hexagram.
What crystal pairs with Hexagram 6?
Amazonite is the traditional pairing for Conflict. The classical Chinese gemology lineage associates this stone with the hexagram's central themes, hold it during meditation on the reading. This is reflective practice, not divination-as-prediction.
How is Hexagram 6 read in BaZi or Feng Shui?
An I-Ching cast is one consultation. The fuller reading, Four Pillars (四柱 Sì Zhù), Kua personal feng shui, and Compass School sector mapping, reads the hexagram alongside the chart. Master Wei Lin's Master Reading section synthesizes the Book of Changes alongside BaZi and the other Chinese metaphysics traditions.
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