Hexagram 6: Contention
Outer trigram (upper)
Càn
Heaven · Metal
Inner trigram (lower)
Khảm
Water · Water
Judgment
訟：有孚，窒，惕．中吉，終凶．利見大人，不利涉大川.
Tụng: Hữu phu, trất, dịch. Trung cát, chung hung. Lợi kiến đại nhân, bất lợi thiệp đại xuyên.
Translation
Contention: one is sincere and truthful, yet meets obstruction and injustice, and so grows anxious and fearful. Holding to a moderate course — stopping once the matter has been clarified — brings good fortune, but pursuing the dispute to the bitter end brings misfortune. It is beneficial to seek out a person of fair judgment and follow their counsel; without that, proceeding is as risky as fording a great river, and brings no advantage.
Commentary
The image of this hexagram can be read as follows: the one above (the trigram Qian) is yang and strong, pressing down on the one below, while the one below (the trigram Kan) is yin and hidden with danger — conditions bound to give rise to dispute. The Judgment describes the case of a sincere and truthful person who is wronged and slandered, with no one to clear their name, and so grows anxious and is driven to seek redress. If that person holds to a moderate course, as line 2 does by occupying the central position — meaning they stop once their name is cleared — the outcome is good. But if they pursue the matter relentlessly, determined to win at all costs and refusing to let go, the outcome will be bad.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：不永所事，小有言，終吉.
Translation
Do not let the dispute drag on. There may be a little criticism at first, but the outcome is good.
Commentary
Line 1, yin and yielding, sits at the bottom, supported by the strong yang line 4 above it responding to it — so it has something to rely on. But it should not use that support to stir up trouble and drag the dispute out. A little criticism may come, but if one lets the matter rest there, one's name is eventually cleared, and the result is good.
Line 2 (yang)
九二：不克訟，歸而逋．其邑人三百戶，无眚.
Translation
One should not pursue the dispute; better to withdraw and avoid it. One's own town has only three hundred households — meaning one's standing and strength are modest — and by withdrawing, one avoids disaster.
Commentary
Line 2 is in the lower position — central but not correctly placed — sitting in the middle of the lower trigram Kan (danger) and hemmed in by the two yin lines 1 and 3, so its position is weak. Being yang and strong by nature, it might wish to contend with line 5, but it cannot match that strength, since line 5 is central, correctly placed, and occupies the high position. For one below to contend with one above is like an egg striking a stone — unwise. Far better to withdraw and avoid the confrontation; doing so brings no blame.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：食舊德，貞厲，終吉．或從王事，無成.
Translation
Rest content and live on the merit one has already earned; hold to what is right while staying watchful and cautious, and the result will be good. If called to serve under a superior, one should not expect personal credit for the achievement.
Commentary
Line 3 is yin and yielding, yet incorrectly placed — a yin line occupying a yang position — and sits precariously at the top of the lower trigram Kan (danger), surrounded by lines 2 and 4, both yang and inclined to stir up conflict. This is why line 3 must remain constantly watchful and cautious; understanding this and staying guarded, it will ultimately find peace.
Line 4 (yang)
九四：不克訟，復即命，渝，安貞吉.
Translation
One cannot win this dispute. Better to return to what is right, change one's mind, and settle into correct conduct — this brings good fortune.
Commentary
This line is yang and strong, but neither central nor correctly placed, giving the image of someone eager to contend. Yet there is no one it can actually contend with: it cannot challenge line 5, which sits above in the position of honor; it cannot challenge line 3, which is yielding and has already conceded; it cannot challenge line 2, which is strong, correct, central, and clear-sighted enough to have already avoided the dispute; and line 1 has already sided with it. Left with no one to contend against, it must abandon its eagerness for conflict, follow what is right, settle down, and hold to correct conduct — and this brings good fortune.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：訟，元吉.
Translation
Whether judging a dispute or bringing one, the outcome is highly auspicious.
Commentary
Line 5 occupies the position of highest honor — strong, clear-sighted, central, and correct. If it represents the one judging the case, it is a person of virtue and ability, like the legendary judge Bao Cong; if it represents the one bringing the case, that person meets with a judge of virtue and ability. Nothing could be more favorable.
Line 6 (yang)
上九：或錫之鞶帶，終朝，三褫之.
Translation
Even if one wins the case and is granted the great sash of office, it will be stripped away three times before the morning is out.
Commentary
This yang line, at the very top of the hexagram of Contention, represents someone who loves to contend and pushes the dispute to its extreme. Because position 6 is incorrectly placed, even if such a person happens to win, whatever is gained will soon be lost entirely — in the end, there is no real advantage.