Hexagram 10 of 64 · King Wen order
履Treading
Lǚ · ䷉ · above: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián · below: Lake ☱ 兌 Duì
This hexagram signifies the correct way to conduct oneself in potentially dangerous or superior company through etiquette and careful steps.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
履虎尾，不咥人，亨。
(Lî suggests the idea of) one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. In Li we have (the symbol of) weakness treading on (that of) strength.
2. (The lower trigram) indicates pleasure and satisfaction, and responds to (the upper) indicating strength. Hence (it is said), 'He treads on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him; there will be progress and success.'
3. (The fifth line is) strong, in the centre, and in its correct place. (Its subject) occupies the God-(given) position, and falls into no distress or failure;—(his) action will be brilliant.
The Image 象
上天下澤，履；君子以辯上下，定民志。
(The trigram representing) the sky above, and below it (that representing the waters of) a marsh, form Lî. The superior man, in accordance with this, discriminates between high and low, and gives settlement to the aims of the people.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
素履，往無咎。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error.
Small Image: 'He treads his accustomed path and goes forward:'—singly and exclusively he carries out his (long-cherished) wishes.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 6, Conflict.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
履道坦坦，幽人貞吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject treading the path that is level and easy;—a quiet and solitary man, to whom, if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'A quiet and solitary man, to whom, being firm and correct, there will be good fortune:'—holding the due mean, he will not allow himself to be thrown into disorder.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 25, Innocence.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
眇能視，跛能履，履虎尾，咥人，凶。武人為于大君。
The third SIX, divided, shows a one-eyed man (who thinks he) can see; a lame man (who thinks he) can walk well; one who treads on the tail of a tiger and is bitten. (All this indicates) ill fortune. We have a (mere) bravo acting the part of a great ruler.
Small Image: 'A one-eyed man (who thinks that he) can see:'—he is not fit to see clearly. 'A lame man (who thinks that he can) tread well:'—one cannot walk along with him. 'The ill fortune of being bitten' arises from the place not being the proper one for him. 'A (mere) bravo acting the part of a great ruler:'—this is owing to his aims being (too) violent.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 1, The Creative.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
履虎尾，愬愬，終吉。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject treading on the tail of a tiger. He becomes full of apprehensive caution, and in the end there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'He becomes full of apprehensive caution, and in the end there will be good fortune:'—his aim takes effect.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 61, Inner Truth.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
夬履，貞厲。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the resolute tread of its subject. Though he be firm and correct, there will be peril.
Small Image: 'He treads resolutely; and though he be firm and correct, there is peril:'—this is due to his being in the position that is correct and appropriate to him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 38, Opposition.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
視履考祥，其旋元吉。
The sixth NINE, undivided, tells us to look at (the whole course) that is trodden, and examine the presage which that gives. If it be complete and without failure, there will be great good fortune.
Small Image: 'There will be great good fortune,' and that in the occupancy of the topmost line:—this is great matter for congratulation.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 58, The Joyous, Lake.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦15. Modesty 謙
every line changedInverse 綜卦9. The Taming Power of the Small 小畜
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.