Hexagram 7 Shī (師): The Army, meaning and six lines
The seventh hexagram of the I Ching: Water beneath Earth, the organisation of a group under a leader. Judgment, six lines, changing lines and a cautious reading of The Army.
Key points
| Number | 7 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 師 (Shī) |
| Approximate pronunciation | shuh |
| Name (translation tradition followed here) | Shi, The Army |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Kan, Water |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Kun, Earth |
| Lines, bottom to top | yin / yang / yin / yin / yin / yin |
| Paired hexagram | No. 8, Bi, Holding Together |
Hexagram 7: Shī (師), name and composition
Hexagram 7 speaks of an army, in the ancient sense of a troop organised under a leader. Its images are military, but commentators read in it above all a reflection on the organisation of a group and on the authority needed to lead it. War is only the most visible example.
Hexagram No. 7 is written 師 (in simplified characters: 师) and transcribed Shī in pinyin; it is pronounced roughly “shuh”. It is made of two trigrams stacked on top of each other: below, on the inside, Kan (Water); above, on the outside, Kun (Earth). The overall image is therefore Earth above Water.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yin (broken), yang (solid), yin (broken), yin (broken), yin (broken), yin (broken). In the King Wen sequence it forms a pair with hexagram 8 (Bi, Holding Together), which is the same figure turned upside down.
The judgment in brief
The judgment is brief: perseverance, under the guidance of a mature and firm man, is favorable and without fault. In other words, a collective undertaking succeeds if it is guided by an experienced person whose authority is recognised.
General meaning
Water lies beneath Earth: like reserves hidden in the ground, the strength of a people stays underground until the moment it is mobilized. A single yang, in the second place, is surrounded by five yin: a leader among the crowd. The text stresses the rightness of the cause, discipline, and trust between the leader and those who follow. It also reminds us that mobilization has a cost, and that command is not entrusted to just anyone.
The hexagram is not a call to violence. It speaks of organisation, motivation and limits: it is the hexagram of teams, associations, and any effort that depends on a framework.
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) | The army sets out with a rule: without discipline, even a good cause goes wrong. | No. 19 (Lin) |
| 2 | yang (solid) | In the heart of the troop, the leader is supported by the authority that chose them: a good sign, without fault. | No. 2 (Kun) |
| 3 | yin (broken) | The army risks returning with its dead: disorder in command is costly. | No. 46 (Sheng) |
| 4 | yin (broken) | The army withdraws: a reasonable retreat is not a fault. | No. 40 (Xie) |
| 5 | yin (broken) | There are good reasons to act, but direction must return to a mature person; entrusting it to an inexperienced younger man leads to loss. | No. 29 (Kan) |
| 6 | yin (broken) | The leader completes the task, rewards and organises; they set aside people without scruples. | No. 4 (Meng) |
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 Shi, a changing line locates your role in the group: set a rule, hold the centre, avoid disorder, know when to fall back, choose a mature leader, and finally reward without surrounding yourself with dubious people.
A modern reading, with caution
Today, Shi is often read as the hexagram of leadership, teams and collective projects. A cautious reading keeps three ideas: a clear cause, a rule known to everyone, and a leader who deserves trust. The images of war are metaphors. If you face real violence, this text is not a resource: call 17 (in France) or 112 (the emergency number throughout the European Union), or 3919 (in France, for violence against women).
Questions to reflect on
- Which simple rule would make my group stronger?
- Who among us has the experience and the legitimacy to lead?
- Is my cause clear enough for others to follow it?
- Is this the moment to advance, or to withdraw without shame?
Mistakes to avoid
- Reading the warlike images literally, or as an incitement to violence.
- Entrusting leadership to someone without experience because they are enthusiastic.
- Relying on a good cause without discipline.
- Forgetting the human cost of a collective effort.
Names, translations and a reminder
The name “Shi, The Army” follows one translation tradition among others. Other translations speak of The Multitude, The Host or The Troops; the character 師 also means “master” in other uses. 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 7 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of organising a group under a leader. The images are military, but it is mainly read as a reflection on command, discipline and trust.
Does Shi encourage war?
No. The text stresses the rightness of the cause, discipline and limits. It also speaks of withdrawing and of not entrusting power to just anyone.
Why one yang among five yin?
The second line, the only solid line, represents the leader surrounded by the crowd. It is the centre around which the group organises itself.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 7?
Kan (Water) below, on the inside, and Kun (Earth) above, on the outside.
What is the paired hexagram of number 7?
Number 8, Bi, Holding Together: 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.