1. Not every conflict should be won · 象曰：天與水違行，訟；君子以作事謀始。
Conflict begins when trust is blocked and positions move apart.
讼是诚信受阻、立场相背时的争执。
In a small courtyard of neighbors, a disagreement over a shared storage room hardens into a contest. One person believes custom gives them priority; another points to a newer agreement.
在一个小院邻里之间，关于共用储物间的分歧逐渐变成争讼。 一方认为旧例给了自己优先权，另一方则指向较新的约定。
The Image gives us a clue: Heaven and Water move in opposite directions: Conflict. The noble person plans the beginning of affairs. We will read the six lines from the ground upward.
象曰：天與水違行，訟；君子以作事謀始。 我们从下往上读六爻，看看处境怎样一步步变化。
2. End it early · 不永所事，小有言，終吉。
A small quarrel is left unfinished before it hardens. A few words may linger, yet the bond can survive.
争执刚起就停下，虽然还留下几句难听话，关系仍有回转余地。
The dispute begins with a terse note on the storage door and a sharp reply in the group chat. A cousin says, 'Do not make this last.' They stop trading barbs after a few hard words. The sting remains, but the neighbors can still greet each other.
争执从储物间门上一张简短字条和群聊里一句尖锐回复开始。一位表亲说：‘别让这件事拖下去。’他们在几句难听话之后停止互相刺伤。不快还在，但邻里仍能打招呼。
Stop a small dispute early. What small argument could you end before it grows?
哪一场小争执，你可以在它变大前先停下？
3. Withdraw to protect · 不克訟，歸而逋，其邑人三百戶，無眚。
The weaker party leaves the dispute and returns to the household. Withdrawal keeps the conflict from harming everyone nearby.
争不过时就退回家中，免得把亲人和邻里一并拖进纷争。
One neighbor plans to bring the matter to the whole building association. Then they see the votes are not there. They withdraw the complaint, return to their own stairwell, and ask relatives not to spread it. The small courtyard of families avoids being pulled into harm.
一位邻居想把事情闹到整个楼栋业委会。后来发现票数并不支持自己。他撤回申诉，回到自家单元，也请亲友不要再扩散。小院里的一户户人家因此没有被拖进祸事。
When the contest cannot be won, withdraw before family and community are pulled into harm. When is stepping back protection rather than defeat?
什么时候退一步其实是保护，而不是认输？
4. Keep to sound work · 食舊德，貞厲，終吉。或從王事，無成。
The person sits again with the old work and proven stores. Holding to a modest duty is safer than fighting for credit.
重新守住旧业和可靠的资源；尽本分，比争功更能安稳渡险。
The withdrawing neighbor returns to familiar duties: watering the shared planters, repairing a loose railing, helping the courtyard committee. They serve the common work but do not demand credit or a title. This steady, unglamorous service holds through tension and ends well.
退让的邻居回到熟悉的职责：给共用花箱浇水，修好松动的栏杆，帮小院委员会做事。他们参与公共事务，却不要求功劳或头衔。这种踏实而不显眼的服务，在紧张中站住脚，最终有好结果。
Return to proven duties and resources. What old, reliable duty can steady you during conflict?
在冲突中，哪项可靠的老本分能让你站稳？
5. Return to the pact · 不克訟，復即命渝，安貞，吉。
The claimant steps back from an unwinnable case and renews a sound agreement. Changing course is the resolution.
主张站不住脚，就退回来重守约定；愿意改道，争端才有解。
The neighbor's case cannot be sustained as written. Instead of pushing harder, they return to the building's agreed rules, cross out the demand for sole use, and propose a rotating schedule. They sign it calmly. The revised commitment turns the conflict toward good fortune.
邻居的诉求按原样难以成立。他们没有继续硬推，而是回到楼栋共同认可的规则，划掉独占要求，提出轮换使用时间表。他们平静地签了字。修正后的承诺把争执转向好结果。
When the claim cannot stand, let the dispute go and renew a sound commitment. What promise could you revise to make peace possible?
哪一个主张或承诺，你愿意修正，让和解成为可能？
6. Seek fair judgment · 訟元吉。
At the center, a fair hearing gives each side room to speak. Justice here comes from balance, not louder argument.
来到公正的裁断面前，双方都能陈述；靠中正解决，不靠谁声音大。
The courtyard asks a respected retired teacher to hear both sides at an open table. She lets each speak without interruption, checks the old ledger and newer notes, and gives a clear, impartial ruling. Good fortune here comes from being heard fairly, not from winning loudly.
小院请来一位受人尊敬的退休教师，在公开桌边听双方陈述。她让每个人不受打断地说完，查对旧记录和新便条，给出清楚、中正的裁断。这里的吉来自被公正听见，而不是靠大声争赢。
Here fortune comes from centered, impartial judgment, not from fighting. Who could hear this fairly, and what would fair sound like?
公正、公开、能让双方听见的判断，使纠纷终于归位。 谁可以公正地听这件事？公正听起来会是什么样？
7. Do not wear victory · 或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。
A prize won through litigation sits loosely on the victor's shoulders. Honor seized this way can vanish overnight.
靠诉讼得来的奖赏披在肩上也不牢靠；争来的荣耀，转眼可能失去。
After a formal vote, one side wins control of the storage room and is given an ornate ceremonial belt at the courtyard festival. By noon, neighbors challenge the vote and strip the belt away. Honor won through conflict does not stay; treating victory as identity loses what was gained.
正式投票后，一方赢得储物间的管理权，并在小院节庆上获赠一条华丽腰带。到了中午，邻居们质疑投票，把腰带收回。靠争讼得来的荣耀留不住；把胜负当成身份，所得也会很快失去。
Even if a dispute brings reward, honor won through conflict is unstable. Where might a win become a burden you cannot keep?
把胜负当身份，所得很快又会被剥夺。 哪一场胜利，可能变成你留不住的负担？
8. Can you end the dispute well? · 訟：有孚，窒惕，中吉，終凶。利見大人，不利涉大川。
Even a sincere claim can become a destructive dispute.
有真实理由也可能陷入争执。
Heaven rises while Water descends. The longer victory is pursued, the more likely both sides are to lose what mattered.
天向上行，水向下流；越想把争胜延长，越容易失去原本想保护的东西。 六爻讲的是及早止讼、退让保全、守住旧有本分、回到正确承诺、交给中正者裁断，以及不把胜诉当成荣耀。
Ask yourself: Where in this conflict could early restraint protect what matters more than being right?
不妨问自己：在这场冲突中，哪里可以靠及早收住，护住比‘占理’更重要的东西？
