Hexagram 6 Sòng (訟): Conflict, meaning and six lines
The sixth hexagram of the I Ching: Water beneath Heaven, conflict and dispute. Judgment, six lines, changing lines and a cautious reading of the hexagram of Conflict.
Key points
| Number | 6 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 訟 (Sòng) |
| Approximate pronunciation | soong |
| Name (translation tradition followed here) | Song, Conflict |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Kan, Water |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Qian, Heaven |
| Lines, bottom to top | yin / yang / yin / yang / yang / yang |
| Paired hexagram | No. 5, Xu, Waiting |
Hexagram 6: Sòng (訟), name and composition
Hexagram 6 speaks of conflict, dispute and lawsuit. The character contains the idea of speech: one pleads, one contests. It describes less the victory than the way one conducts oneself when opposition sets in.
Hexagram No. 6 is written 訟 (in simplified characters: 讼) and transcribed Sòng in pinyin; it is pronounced roughly “soong”. It is made of two trigrams stacked on top of each other: below, on the inside, Kan (Water); above, on the outside, Qian (Heaven). The overall image is therefore Heaven above Water.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yin (broken), yang (solid), yin (broken), yang (solid), yang (solid), yang (solid). In the King Wen sequence it forms a pair with hexagram 5 (Xu, Waiting), which is the same figure turned upside down.
The judgment in brief
The judgment is ambivalent: one is sincere, but blocked, and anxiety keeps watch. Stopping halfway is good; going through to the end is bad. It is useful to consult a wise person, and inadvisable to cross the great river, that is to say to embark on great undertakings in this climate.
General meaning
Heaven is above, Water below: heaven tends upward while water flows downward. Two movements that move apart without ever meeting: this is the image of disagreement. The text does not condemn dispute, but advises not to feed it. It is better to avoid a conflict than to win it, and a victory wrested by force may last only a morning.
The hexagram invites you to look at your own faults, to seek a just arbiter (the fifth line) and to return to peaceful relations. For a real dispute, a lawyer or a mediator remains the right person to turn to: the I Ching gives no legal advice.
The six lines, one by one
The lines are counted from bottom to top. Here, summarised in our own words, is the image the ancient text attaches to each one; the last column gives the hexagram obtained if that line alone changes.
| Line | Nature | Image in brief | If it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yin (broken) | Do not let the matter drag on: a few words exchanged, but the outcome is good. | No. 10 (Lü) |
| 2 | yang (solid) | Unable to win: withdrawing and returning home spares your own people. | No. 12 (Pi) |
| 3 | yin (broken) | Living off past merits and staying cautious in difficulty; not wanting to accomplish everything. | No. 44 (Gou) |
| 4 | yang (solid) | Losing, coming back to reason and changing one’s attitude: the peace regained is favorable. | No. 59 (Huan) |
| 5 | yang (solid) | A just arbiter at the heart of the conflict: a very good sign for whoever defends an honest cause. | No. 64 (Wei Ji) |
| 6 | yang (solid) | An honorary belt snatched away three times in one morning: what is won through quarrelling does not last. | No. 47 (Kun (exhaustion)) |
Changing lines
A changing line is a line that the casting marks as unstable: one reads its own text, then it turns into its opposite, which gives a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. A changing yang line is called “nine”, a changing yin line “six”. Without any changing line, one keeps to the general judgment.
For Song, a changing line locates your place in the conflict: drop the matter early, withdraw, stay modest, return to reason, trust a just third party, and do not boast of a gain obtained through quarrelling.
A modern reading, with caution
Today, Song is often read in relation to a disagreement at work, within the family or with a neighbour. A cautious reading keeps two ideas: stop before the relationship is exhausted, and seek a trustworthy third party. It invites you to ask what is really at stake, beyond being right. The hexagram does not say who will prevail.
Questions to reflect on
- What is really at stake for me in this disagreement?
- What would I gain by stopping halfway?
- Who could play the role of a just arbiter?
- How much of the tension comes from me?
Mistakes to avoid
- Believing that winning at any price settles the root of the problem.
- Keeping a conflict alive out of pride, like the two opposing movements of the image.
- Asking the I Ching for a legal verdict: it gives none.
- Withdrawing without having said what matters, which prolongs the tension.
Names, translations and a reminder
The name “Song, Conflict” follows one translation tradition among others. Other translations speak of Lawsuit, Dispute or Litigation; the character 訟 is linked to the idea of pleading. Compare two translations if you can.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, consulted as a tool for reflection, never as a prediction; it replaces no medical, legal, financial or safety advice. This page summarises the text in our own words.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 6 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of conflict. It invites us to measure how far to go, to avoid escalation and to seek a just arbiter rather than victory at any price.
Is Song always unfavorable?
It is not simple: the beginning and the middle of a conflict can be bearable, but the text warns against carrying it through to the end.
Can this hexagram be used for a real lawsuit?
No. For a real dispute, consult a lawyer or a mediator. The I Ching can help you reflect on your own attitude, not decide whether to take legal action.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 6?
Kan (Water) below, on the inside, and Qian (Heaven) above, on the outside.
What is the paired hexagram of number 6?
Number 5, Xu, Waiting: in the King Wen sequence, hexagrams go in pairs, the second being the same figure turned upside down.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.