1. Original Line Text
上六：大君有命，开国承家，小人勿用。
(Shàng liù: Dà jūn yǒu mìng, kāi guó chéng jiā, xiǎo rén wù yòng.)
2. Interpretation
“大君有命” (Dà jūn yǒu mìng):
The sovereign issues decrees after the war, signifying the exercise of authority and justice. Actions must be grounded in righteous legitimacy (e.g., “justifiable cause”).
“开国承家” (Kāi guó chéng jiā):
Rewards are granted to meritorious individuals:
开国 (kāi guó): Enfeoffing territories (creating lords/states).
承家 (chéng jiā): Bestowing official titles (establishing ministerial houses).
This reflects fair recognition of contributions and strategic stewardship of the future.
“小人勿用” (Xiǎo rén wù yòng):
A stern warning: Petty individuals (xiǎo rén) must never be empowered. Even if they contributed, reward them only with material benefits (e.g., wealth, titles), never with authority. As the Xiang commentary states: “Employing petty individuals disrupts the nation.”
3. Position and Symbolism
As the top line (上六) of the hexagram, it marks the post-war phase—a critical juncture for consolidating gains and restoring order.
A yielding line (阴爻) at the summit signifies the sovereign’s reliance on wise ministers to enforce justice and stability.
The hexagram structure (䷆, Earth over Water) embodies latent danger beneath peace: vigilance against xiǎo rén remains essential.
4. Core Lessons
Justice in Reward:
Fair enfeoffment and appointments (开国承家) cement legitimacy and loyalty.
The Peril of Misappointment:
Empowering xiǎo rén (incompetents/opportunists) guarantees chaos, echoing the fifth line’s “carrying corpses” (舆尸).
Merit-Based Authority:
Power must flow exclusively to the virtuous and capable (e.g., the commander in Line 2).
5. Modern Application
Leadership & Organizations:
Recognize contributions transparently (e.g., performance-based rewards) but rigorously vet character.
Never let nepotism or unqualified individuals (小人) influence core decisions.
Power Allocation:
Reward the worthy with responsibility, not just wealth; isolate malign influence at all costs.
Key Insight: This line transcends ancient warfare, revealing two eternal truths of governance:
Rewards must align with merit (开国承家 → fair incentives).
Power must exclude the unworthy (小人勿用 → absolute safeguard).
Neglect invites ruin.