7. Shi | The Army
- Line 1 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 2 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 3 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 4 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 5 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 6 (from bottom): yin (broken)
师：贞，丈人吉，无咎。
Translation: 师 / The Army: 贞，丈人auspicious，no blame。.
Reading note: This is the judgment of Shi (The Army), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
初六：师出以律，否臧凶。
Translation: First Six: 师出以律，否臧misfortune。.
Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “misfortune” marks serious risk.
九二：在师中，吉，无咎。王三锡命。
Translation: Second Nine: 在师中，auspicious，no blame。王三锡命。.
Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
六三：师或舆尸，凶。
Translation: Third Six: 师或舆尸，misfortune。.
Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.
六四：师左次，无咎。
Translation: Fourth Six: 师左次，no blame。.
Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.
六五：田有禽，利执言，无咎。长子帅师，弟子舆尸，贞凶。
Translation: Fifth Six: 田有禽，利执言，no blame。长子帅师，弟子舆尸，even uprightness faces misfortune。.
Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “misfortune” marks serious risk.
上六：大君有命，开国承家，小人勿用。
Translation: Top Six: 大君有命，开国承家，小人do not act yet。.
Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.