FREE I CHING READINGS

7

Shih / The Army The masses

This hexagram is made up of the trigrams K'an, water, and K'un, earth, and thus it symbolizes

the ground water stored up in the earth. In the same way military strength is stored up in the

mass of the people --invisible in times of peace but always ready for use as a source of

power. The attributes of the two trigrams are danger inside and obedience must prevail

outside.

Of the individual lines, the one that controls the hexagram is the strong nine in the second

place, to which the other lines, all yielding, are subordinate.
This line indicates a commander,

because it stands in the middle of one of the two trigrams.
But since it is in the lower rather

than the upper trigram, it represents not the ruler but the efficient general, who maintains

obedience in the army by his authority.

THE JUDGMENT

THE ARMY. The army needs perseverance

And a strong man.

Good fortune without blame.

An army is a mass that needs organization in order to become a fighting force. Without strict discipline

nothing can be accomplished, but this discipline must not be achieved by force. It requires a strong man

who captures the hearts of the people and awakens their enthusiasm.

In order that he may develop his

abilities he needs the complete confidence of his ruler, who must entrust him with full responsibility as

long as the war lasts. But war is always a dangerous thing and brings with it destruction and devastation.

Therefore it should not be resorted to rashly but, like a poisonous drug, should be used as a last recourse.

The justifying cause of a war, and clear and intelligible war aims, ought to be explained to the people by an

experienced leader. Unless there is a quite definite war aim to which the people can consciously pledge

themselves, the unity and strength of conviction that lead to victory will not be forthcoming.

But the

leader must also look to it that the passion of war and the delirium of victory do not give rise to unjust

acts that will not meet with general approval. If justice and perseverance are the basis of action, all goes

well.

To conform a working structure, a crowd must acts in an organized way, directed by a capable person

with enough leadership and control.

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.

Ground water is invisibly present within the earth. In the same way the military power of a people is

invisibly present in the masses. When danger threatens, every peasant becomes present in the masses.

When danger threatens, every peasant becomes a soldier; when the war ends, he goes back to his plow. He

who is generous toward the people wins their love, and a people living under a mild rule becomes strong

and powerful. Only a people economically strong can be important in military power. Such power must

therefore be cultivated by improving the economic condition of the people and by humane government.

Only when there is this invisible bond between government and people, so that the people are sheltered by

their government as ground water is sheltered by the earth, is it possible to wage a victorious war.

The water under the earth represents the hidden energy, the force that stays invisible but, in the precise

moment, will manifest itself. The earth is the symbol of passivity, it represents the external aspect, but in

its interior is all its potential that is not possible to see. In this case, the Earth symbolizes the state and

the water, the people.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

An army must set forth in proper order.

If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.

At the beginning of a military enterprise, order is imperative. A just and valid cause must exist, and the

obedience and coordination of the troops must be well organized, otherwise the result is inevitably failure.

A structure would not work without organization. In the case of making it without this basic condition, it

would disintegrate. The organization is the main element of any beginning.

Nine in the second place means:

In the midst of the army.

Good fortune. No blame.

The king bestows a triple decoration.

The leader should be in the midst of his army, in touch with it, sharing good and bad with the masses he

leads. This alone makes him equal to the heavy demands made upon him. He needs also the recognition of

the ruler. The decorations he receives are justified, because there is no question of personal preferment

here: the whole army, whose center he is, is honored in his person.

The triple decoration means that the leader has overcome the king's expectations. For that reason it has

been honored from heaven ("grace from heaven"), that implies the recognition comes from high spheres.

Also, having been honored from heaven represents the inspiration state with which he has acted. With

this brilliant action he has safeguarded all the spots of the territory.

Six in the third place means:

Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon.

Misfortune.

Here we have a choice of two explanations. One points to defeat because someone other than the chosen

leader interferes with the command; the other is similar in its general meaning, but the expression,

"carries corpses in the wagon," is interpreted differently. At burials and at sacrifices to the dead it was

customary in China for the deceased to whom the sacrifice was made to be represented by a boy of the

family, who sat in the dead man's place and was honored as his representative. On the basis of this custom

the text is interpreted as meaning that a "corpse boy" is sitting in the wagon, or, in other words, that

authority is not being exercised by the proper leaders but has been usurped by others. Perhaps the whole

difficulty clears up if it is inferred that there has been an error in copying. The character fan, meaning

"all," may have been misread as shih, which means "corpse." Allowing for this error, the meaning would be

that if the multitude assumes leadership of the army (rides in the wagon), misfortune will ensue.

A not well-organized structure can not be successful. A not well-driven army means lack of capacity and

misunderstanding in the handling of means, since they exist and the army represents them.

Six in the fourth place means:

The army retreats. No blame.

In the face of a superior enemy, with whom it would be hopeless to engage in battle, an orderly retreat is

the only correct procedure, because it will save the army from defeat and disintegration. It is by no means

a sign of courage or strength to insist upon engaging in a hopeless struggle regardless of circumstances.

The troops in retreat represent the change of plans in an endeavor. Retreating troops mean inferiority of

conditions to confront a situation. But there is no mistake, as the important thing is to secure the army. A

troop in retreat also symbolizes a serious risk to that is not necessary to be exposed; for that reason

retreating is the most convenient thing.

Six in the fifth place means:

There is game in the field.

It furthers one to catch it.

Without blame.

Let the eldest lead the army.

The younger transports corpses;

Then perseverance brings misfortune.

Game is in the field --it has left its usual haunts in the forest and is devastating the fields. This points to an

enemy invasion. Energetic combat and punishment are here thoroughly justified, but they must not

degenerate into a wild melee in which everyone fends for himself. Despite the greatest degree of

perseverance and bravery, this would lead to misfortune. The army must be directed by an experienced

leader. It is a matter of waging war, not of permitting the mob to slaughter all who fall into their hands; if

they do, defeat will be the result, and despite all perseverance there is danger of misfortune.

The enemy in the field means that, in the case of not facing him somehow, it will continue advancing; for

that reason the battle will be unavoidable. The enemy in the field also means that it is visible and has

manifested his way of operating.

Six at the top means:

The great prince issues commands,

Founds states, vests families with fiefs.

Inferior people should not be employed.

The war has ended successfully, victory is won, and the king divided estates and fiefs among his faithful

vassals. But it is important that inferior people should not come into power. If they have helped, let them

be paid off with money, but they should not be awarded lands or the privileges of rulers, lest power be

abused.

The objective has been obtained; therefore, it is necessary to administer it correctly. For that reason the

great sovereign appears granting domains and naming rulers. This means that the new state of things

should be restructured according to its nature; but this achievement should not be wasted placing in the

hierarchy unable or mediocre people.