Hexagram 6 訟, Line 3
訟
Hexagram 6 · third line, divided (six)
食舊德，貞厲，終吉。或從王事，无成。
The third line, divided, shows its subject keeping in the old place assigned for his support, and firmly correct. Perilous as the position is, there will be good fortune in the end. Should he perchance engage in the king's business, he will not (claim the merit of) achievement.
James Legge (1882), public domain.
Small image (小象)
食舊德，從上吉也。
If only this line changes, hexagram 6 becomes hexagram 44.
← Hexagram 6 訟: judgment and all lines
Character glossary
- 食shífood; to eat
- 舊jiùold, ancient; former, past
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 貞zhēnvirtuous, chaste, pure; loyal
- 厲lìwhetstone; to grind, to sharpen, to whet
- 終zhōngend; finally, in the end
- 吉jílucky, propitious, good
- 或huòor, either, else; maybe, perhaps, possib
- 從cóngfrom, by, since, whence, through
- 王wángking, ruler; royal; surname
- 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; acci
- 无wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 成chéngto accomplish; to become; to complete, t
- 上shàngabove, on top, superior; to go up; to at
- 也yěalso, too
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.