Hexagram 7 of 64
The Army
shi · 师
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 7, The Army, is summarized by the Judgment: The Army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.
- ◈Its structure is Earth above Water; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: discipline, organization, leadership, strategy.
By the Numbers
- #7
- King Wen Order
- The Army in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Earth above Water.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 7, Shī (师), is the hexagram of The Army — the organized application of force under disciplined command. It is composed of Kūn (☷ Earth) above and Kǎn (☵ Water) below. The image: the earth contains water. Just as the earth holds within it the hidden rivers and springs that sustain all life, an army holds within it the concentrated power of the people. Water, contained and directed, nourishes; water, uncontained and undirected, destroys. The same is true of force.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初六 · 师出以律
March with discipline
- L2
九二 · 在师中
In the army — the general
- L3
六三 · 师或舆尸
Army carries corpses
- L4
六四 · 师左次
Army retreats — no blame
- L5
六五 · 田有禽
Field has prey — speak truth to power
- L6
上六 · 大君有命
The ruler's mandate — reward and establish
Deep Reading
Force needs correctness before command
Shi is about organized force, but its first condition is not force itself. The Judgment begins with correctness, and the first line requires discipline. Without a just purpose and a clear order, collective energy becomes a mob rather than an army.
- •The army is a symbol for any concentrated group power.
- •Discipline turns danger into usable protection.
- •Correctness is the difference between authority and violence.
- •The cost of bad command is borne by the people being led.
The general serves from within
The only yang line sits in the second place, not at the top. This gives Shi one of its key leadership lessons: the commander is strong, but still serves within a larger mandate. Authority works when competence, humility, and legitimate appointment meet.
- •Line two is the capable general embedded in the army.
- •Line three warns of leadership that sends people into harm unprepared.
- •Line four permits strategic retreat without blame.
- •Line six asks that victory be followed by careful appointment.
Reading Shi in a live question
- Team leadership
- Set rules, roles, and a just purpose before mobilizing people. Energy without order will scatter or harm the group.
- Crisis response
- Use force or pressure only with discipline and clear limits. Retreat can be a valid strategy when conditions are wrong.
- Choosing commanders
- Put qualified people in command. Friendship, status, or enthusiasm cannot replace competence.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- This reading follows the Zhouyi Shi Judgment, Image, Tuan commentary, and line statements, especially discipline, the elder, the centered general, and righteous command.
- Zhouyi: Shi Judgment, Image, Tuan Zhuan, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Shi is presented as symbolic guidance about organization and authority, not as approval of violence or real-world military action.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Yes, with discipline. Organize your resources carefully.
Upper Trigram
Earth
Lower Trigram
Water
The Judgment (King Wen)
The Army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.
The Image
In the middle of the earth is water: the image of the Army. Thus the superior man increases his masses by generosity toward the people.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 7 (The Army)?
The Army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 7?
Hexagram 7 acts with the upper trigram Earth and the lower trigram Water.
What are the core themes of The Army?
The core themes and meanings include: discipline, organization, leadership, strategy.