Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes translation, 1950

   7. Shih / The Army

						above  K'UN  THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
						below  K'AN  THE ABYSMAL, WATER





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 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 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.

        ° 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. 

        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.

        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.

        ° 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.

        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.

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