Hexagram 6 of 64
Conflict 天水讼
☰☵ Heaven over Water
Dispute and yielding.
In the I Ching, Hexagram 6 describes conflict and the urge to fight a dispute to the end. It advises caution, because a fight pursued to its bitter end usually costs more than it gains. Seek a fair third party, and be willing to step back when your position is weak.
Judgment
有孚窒惕，中吉，终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。
Sincerity meets resistance. Caution brings middling fortune; pressing on to the end brings misfortune. It is favorable to seek a great person's judgment, and unfavorable to cross the great waters.
Image
天与水违行，讼；君子以作事谋始。
Heaven and water move in opposite directions: conflict. The noble person plans carefully before beginning anything.
The six lines
Read from the bottom line (the beginning) to the top line (the outcome). Each line gives the classical text, our English translation, and a plain-language reading.
初六：不永所事，小有言，终吉。
Do not drag the matter out. A little talk, but in the end, good fortune.
Settle the dispute while it is still small. A quick resolution avoids lasting damage.
九二：不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚。
Unable to win the case, you withdraw and keep out of sight. The three hundred households of your town are free of fault.
If you cannot win, retreat quietly. Stepping back protects you and the people around you.
六三：食旧德，贞厉，终吉。或从王事，无成。
Living on old merit: steady in danger, and in the end, good fortune. If you serve a greater cause, you achieve nothing.
Relying on past standing or old arrangements is precarious. Hold steady and do not push; the matter can still end well.
九四：不克讼，复即命渝，安贞吉。
Unable to win, you return to the decree and change your position. Peace comes from steadfastness, and good fortune follows.
When you cannot win, accept the settled outcome and find peace in it. Changing your stance can bring calm.
九五：讼，元吉。
A dispute settled before a fair judge brings sublime good fortune.
A conflict decided fairly, by someone with standing, leads to a good result.
上九：或锡之鞶带，终朝三褫之。
Perhaps a leather belt of honor is bestowed, and by morning it has been taken away three times.
A reward won through fighting can be taken back. Victories gained by conflict rarely last.
In practice
Love and relationships
Arguments turn into battles when each side wants to win. Make room for the other person's point. A dispute settled fairly protects the bond; a dispute won at any cost damages it.
Work and decisions
Conflicts with colleagues or over contracts call for a neutral third party and clear written terms. Avoid escalating in front of others.
Money
Legal and financial disputes cost time and money. Seek mediation first, and check the facts with a qualified professional before you act.
How to use this reading
Ask what you actually want from this dispute, and whether a settlement would give you most of it.
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.