6. Conflict

Judgment

讼：有孚，窒惕，中吉，终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。

You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune; going through to the end brings misfortune. It furthers one to see the great person; it does not further to cross the great water.

Image

天与水违行，讼；君子以作事谋始。

Heaven and water go their opposite ways: the image of conflict. The noble person, in all transactions, carefully plans the beginning.

Lines

1. Line 1, yin (six)

   初六：不永所事，小有言，终吉。

   If one does not perpetuate the affair, there is a little gossip—in the end, good fortune. Settle early.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚。

   One cannot engage in conflict; one returns home and gives way—three hundred households remain free of guilt. A wise retreat protects the whole.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：食旧德，贞厉，终吉。或从王事，无成。

   To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance; danger, in the end good fortune. Serve without seeking credit.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：不克讼，复即命，渝，安贞，吉。

   One cannot engage in conflict; one turns back and submits to fate, changes one's attitude, and finds peace in perseverance. Changing position is not defeat.

5. Line 5, yang (nine)

   九五：讼，元吉。

   To contend before a just arbiter brings supreme good fortune. Seek a fair third party: mediation, arbitration.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：或锡之鞶带，终朝三褫之。

   Even if a leather belt is bestowed, by the end of the morning it is taken away three times. What is won by litigation does not last.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of conflict, litigation and negotiation. Its core rule—'plan carefully at the beginning'—means the best dispute resolution happens before the contract is signed. For shareholder disputes, commercial litigation, broken partnerships, labour conflicts.

Psychological lens

Resonates with conflict de-escalation and BATNA thinking; the top line describes the winner's curse—winning the case, losing the relationship and reputation.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Designing joint-venture exit mechanisms Enterprise, Judgment
• Open conflict between team members Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Disagreement over contract terms Enterprise, Line 1, yin (six)
• Whether to litigate Enterprise, Judgment
• Responding to being sued Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Mediation or arbitration? Enterprise, Line 5, yang (nine)
• A shareholder dispute Enterprise, Line 2, yang (nine)
• Winning the case, losing the relationship Enterprise, Line 6, yang (nine)
• A conflict with a colleague Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)
• Prenuptial arrangements Individuals, Judgment
• Whether to end a marriage Individuals, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Someone owes you money Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)
• Arguments online Individuals, Judgment

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.