师 · 众
Judgement
贞，丈人吉，无咎。
Steadfastness. The old man is auspicious; no blame.
The Image
地中有水，师。君子以容民畜众。
Water within the earth: the army. So the superior man bears with the people, each in their place.
The Lines
师出以律，否臧凶。
The army goes out by rule. Without rule, ill.
“师出以律”，失律“凶”也。
The army goes out by rule: to break the rule is ill.
在师中吉，无咎；王三锡命。
In the midst of the army: good fortune, no blame; the king thrice bestows the charge.
“在师中吉”，承天宠也；“王三锡命”，怀万邦也。
Good fortune in the midst of the army: he bears heaven’s favour; the king’s threefold charge embraces all lands.
师或舆尸，凶。
The army perhaps carries corpses. Ill.
“师或舆尸”，大无功也。
The army perhaps carries corpses: great failure.
师左次，无咎。
The army camps to the left. No blame.
“左次，无咎”，未失常也。
Camping left, no blame: nothing constant is lost.
田有禽，利执言，无咎；长子帅师，弟子舆尸，贞凶。
There is game in the field; it furthers to take captives. No blame. The eldest son leads the army; the younger son carries corpses. Steadfastness is ill.
“长子帅师”，以中行也；“弟子舆尸”，使不当也。
The eldest son leads: he walks the middle way. The younger son carries corpses: the charge was misplaced.
大君有命，开国承家，小人勿用。
The great lord issues commands: to found states and grant houses. Let none be given to the small man.
“大君有命”，以正功也；“小人勿用”，必乱邦也。
The great lord’s commands set merit right; to use the small man is to unsettle the land.
Reading
水藏在地中：军队是压在地下的大力。整卦讲的是纪律——万众依一令而动，而令属于年长而不躁的那位。此卦不信任未经组织的勇敢。