Hexagram 06

Sòng

The Gong speaks

Contention
If one has truth there is obstruction
Alert and central: auspicious
To the end: pitfall
Harvest: seeing great people
No harvest: crossing the great stream

The great image says:
Heaven associating with water is incompatible movement: contention.
The noble one, when he sets up affairs, plans ahead.

Heaven
Water

day 4 of a yang moon

The individual and society are in an eternal unavoidable conflict. It is a bad thing when it gets solved, that means that one of the two lost. It is important, that it stays alive. The individual has to fight for his values, that is the journey of the hero. Society has to fight for humanity's common ideals. Both make the world a better place. Both are represented here. The brave hero, the wise judge. When this fight has its rightful place, it keeps both heros and judges from turning into egoists, ranging from criminals to dictators.
Everyone knows this fight, both in the heart and outside. Day in day out.

Sòng. The left part of the character is YAN²: a mouth, KOU³, (2) with a tongue or making a sound (1), and maybe identical to YIN¹: making a sound. The right part is GONG¹, the highest one of the five titles of nobility in ancient China, the Gong or Kung. Probably the Gong was the ultimate authority to resort to when one needed a judge. The Gong is far enough from the people to be fair, a village-elder is too close. This part consists of divide, BA¹ (3) and either mouth, KOU³, or private, SI¹ (4). Divide might indicate the fair division of property and rights. According to Karlgren some of the forms of Gong seem to suggest a phallic interpretation (5). Gong's meaning is further: public, fair, impartial, father, (official place:) palace. Lawsuit, litigation, argue, demand, justice, publicly. Old: to accuse, regret, blame.

6 at 3: To feed on ancient virtue. Determination: danger. In the end: auspicious. If following king’s affairs: without accomplishment. Having earned one's merit is great, but don't make a habit of relying on it. It may help you get an official job, but not achievement. For achieving one has to renew and prove one's value day after day. Even so when one's merits are officially approved. (Changes to hex.44)		Above 9: Maybe a money-belt as reward. Before the end of a morning, 3 times stripped of it. Everything the soul wins by contention is temporary, it is too superficial. The soul needs eternal values, spiritual possessions. Do not want what others want, find what your soul really wants and needs. (Changes to hex.47)
9 at 2: Failing to contend. Returns and flees to his own town people, 300 families. Without mistake. Very often battling is a waste of time, even if you are right. Leave the place or mindset and tend to your own business, your people, your heart. It is the wisest thing to do – for everyone. Defer contention until there's actually something worth to be won. (Changes to hex.12)		9 at 5: Contending. Very auspicious. The only way to contend is by being an individual, independent. If you are true to yourself and correct to others, you are your own (and others) best advocate. You are the Gong. (Changes to hex.64)
Initial 6 : Do not perpetuate an affair. There is some talk. In the end: auspicious. You don't have to agree for the sake of peace. But you have to stay calm, whatever the situation. Say what you want to say, but without any contention, and without reacting to contention. (Changes to hex.10)		9 at 4: Failing to contend. Return and approach destiny. Change attitude. Determination about peace: auspicious. Solve contention by dissolving: return to your road and let loose - then you can find what you sought: agreement. Essentially contention is searching for the end of contention. Find it by not contending, which is a shortcut. (Changes to hex.59)
The Sabian Symbols for the hexagram-lines
6 at 3 corresponds to b 4: A man formally dressed and a deer with its horns folded When one sees the deer, one realizes what the man is wearing		Above 9 corresponds to h 4: A Hindu healer
9 at 2 corresponds to ` 4: Holly and mistletoe Just a little reminder.		9 at 5 corresponds to f 4: A little child learning to walk. Walking on own legs is being an individual.
Initial 6 corresponds to ^ 4: Two lovers strolling through a secluded walk		9 at 4 corresponds to d 4: A group around a campfire Leave worries and disputes and focus on a light without rules

For the meaning of Eminent - expansion. Harvest - determination click HERE
Central can also be translated as halfway. If it is also 'the golden mean' I do not know. That is probably a philosophical idea of later times, but the Yi has learned me not to underestimate those people of ancient times. It is further possible that alert stands on its own, and then it says: halfway is auspicious, to the end pitfall. The character 'end' indicates the end of a cycle, it also means new-year.
Line 4. destiny or fate or orders or mandate: what you want or have to do in your own life, not reacting to what others think or do.