Shi :: Army

Favorable for an elder: no misfortune

師

䷆

6 :: first

Marching in step narrowly avoids disaster.

The way an army (team) succeeds is through a chain of command. Cooperation and synchronicity avoid disaster. Keep in step with the music of the marching band. The foot soldier is only safe when following the officer's orders.

9 :: second

The commander is with the troops. Good fortune.
The prince sends rewards three times.

Everything is in its place. This line is a troop leader or a command center. The chain of command unifies everyone. Those with authority acknowledge the good work of those below and send repeated support and praise. Promotion is inevitable.

6 :: third

Wagons return full of corpses.¹ Disaster.

For an army, victory is always costly. Success and death are partners on all battlefields. War is sometimes the only path to liberty or survival. In order to succeed, extraordinary means may have to be taken.

9 :: fourth

Camp is made to the left. No misfortune.

A well-negotiated treaty is better than a bloody victory or defeat. You can find a favorable outcome from surrender or retreat. In this situation the commander of an army chooses the wisdom of compromise (left) to negotiate a peaceful settlement.

9 :: fifth

There is game in the field. Use captives.
Let the elder son replace the younger son as commander.²

Aggression (younger son) has its place on the battlefield but a genuine victory requires thoroughness. A complete military victory requires an experienced leader (elder son) who can fairly redistribute resources and complete the integration of the defeated army into the new order. To take command succeeds.

6 :: top

The prince gives permission to found a state and establish your house.
Make no use of the incompetent.³

When all has gone well and peace is won, establishing a new order is expected. Though you have fought and won, you do not have the skills (mandate) to make a lasting peace. You will need help from others and/or new skills to establish and maintain the peace.

Image

Shi compares the wellsprings of water in the earth with the political structure of a nation and particularly the chain of command in an army. In times of peace the army is hidden in the nation's ordinary people. Discipline, good leadership and caution transform a nation at peace into an army at war. Shi is about leading an army or any large group to complete success.

Auspices

Shi is a time for order and cooperation. Agreements and alliances foster good fortune. When Shi is divined teamwork and personal discipline can transform danger into success, but losses will occur.

Good for all teamwork, teaching, cooperative and volunteer endeavors, and marriages.

Bad for breaking rank, challenging superiors, and showing off.

Comment

The requirements of successful teamwork (army) are cooperation, self-disci-pline, coordination, and the effective use of a strong chain of command. Upper and middle ranking officers should communicate and make their goals clear to the troops.

Using plain force against an opponent is inferior to negotiating from the position of overwhelming confidence. A strategy that wins without fighting is, of course, the highest form of war.

If conflict is unavoidable, it is important to remember that a war is not over until all enmity is resolved. When battles are won it is still left to a truly great leader to merge the opponents into one new orderly nation.

Other Correspondences

Business: Mergers, signing contracts, new enterprises, and new management.

Disharmonies: Lower jiao imbalance and stress-related illness.

Prognosis: Good. The patient can improve through personal discipline (lifestyle change, rest, good diet, and routine exercise) and unquestioningly following the instructions of the physician.