Hexagram 7: The Army
師 · Shī
The Army needs perseverance and a strong person. Good fortune without blame.Judgment 卦辭
In the middle of the earth is water: the image of The Army. The noble one is generous toward the people and gains their trust.Image 象辭
Core Meaning of Hexagram 7
Hexagram 7 treats organized collective force — a campaign, a company, any group that must act as one. Water hidden inside the earth is strength held within the masses, usable only when disciplined and well-led. The hexagram insists on a worthy, principled leader and a righteous cause; an army without moral gravity is just a mob that consumes its own.
Hexagram 7 in a Reading
In a reading, your situation needs structure: clear hierarchy, defined roles, dependable people. If you lead, be competent and generous — win trust before you spend it. If you follow, choose your general carefully; serving a flawed cause invites blame. Righteousness plus discipline, not enthusiasm, is what carries group endeavors through.
Common Questions
What does hexagram 7 mean?
Hexagram 7 treats organized collective force — a campaign, a company, any group that must act as one. Read the full meaning above, or cast your own reading with our free online I Ching coins.
What is the structure of hexagram 7?
Hexagram 7 is built from the trigram Earth above and Water below — binary 010000 read from the bottom line to the top. The Army is King Wen number 7 of the 64 hexagrams.
Related Hexagrams
Other Hexagrams with Trigram Earth Above
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