Hexagram 30 Line 6: 上九
Position: Line 6 (Upper Trigram)上九 —Yang ⚊ (Solid)Register: blameless
Classical Chinese Text
上九 王用出征。有嘉。折首。獲匪其醜。无咎。
王wángthe sovereign
用yònguses
出chūissues
征zhēngto expedite
有yǒuthere are
嘉jiācommendations
折zhéand severed
首shǒuheads
獲huòthe captives
匪fěiare not
其qíof
醜chǒucategory
無wúno
咎jiùblame
Line Commentary
The king campaigns to discipline. Kill the leaders, spare the followers. Punishment's purpose is discipline, not revenge. Root out the source of the problem; tolerate what's harmless. Excessive severity defeats itself.
When This Line Changes
If Line 6 changes, Hexagram 30 Li (The Clinging) transforms into Hexagram 55 Feng (Abundance).
Parent Hexagram
The Clinging
Li離 (30)
Fire (離) over Fire (離)
Upper Trigram: ☲ Fire | Lower Trigram: ☲ Fire