Hexagram 10: Treading → Hexagram 31: Influence

Treading
Heaven / Lake
Influence
Lake / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 6).

Line 1

初九 素履往。无咎。

simple
treading
wǎngforward
nothing
jiùwrong

Nine at the beginning means: Simple conduct. Progress without blame.

Line 2

九二 履道坦坦。幽人貞吉。

tread
dàoway
tǎnlevel
tǎnsmooth
yōuobscure
rénone's
zhēnpersistence
promising

Nine in the second place means: Treading a smooth, level course. The perseverance of a dark man Brings good fortune.

Line 3

六三 眇能視。跛能履。履虎尾。咥人凶。武人為于大君。

miǎoone-eyed
néngcan
shìto see
lame
néngcan
to walk
treading
tiger
wěitail
diéthe bitten
rénone's
xiōngmisfortune
military
rénone
wéiacts
in the place of
great
jūnsuperior

Six in the third place means: A one-eyed man is able to see, A lame man is able to tread. He treads on the tail of the tiger. The tiger bites the man. Misfortune. Thus does a warrior act on behalf of his great prince.

Line 6

上九 視履考祥。其旋元吉。

shìstudy
footsteps
kǎoexamine
xiángomens
if
xuáncome full circle
yuánsupreme
good fortune

Nine at the top means: Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs. When everything is fulfilled, supreme good fortune comes.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramHeaven LakeThe Creative → The Joyous
Lower TrigramLake MountainThe Joyous → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

烏鵲食穀,張口受哺;蒙被恩福,長大成就;柔順利貞,君臣合好。

Crows and magpies eat grain, opening their mouths to be fed. Covered with kindness and blessing; they grow and come to maturity. Gentle and steadfast in constancy; lord and minister join in harmony.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Heaven above the lake nourishes the young. Crows and magpies eat grain, opening their mouths to receive food from their parents. Cloaked in blessing and grace, the fledglings grow to full stature. Softness and constancy bring auspicious steadiness; ruler and minister unite in harmony. The imagery of birds feeding their young extends into the political realm: just as parent birds nourish fledglings, wise governance nurtures subjects until they mature into capable beings. From Treading to Influence, the lake rests upon the mountain, receptive and open. Proper conduct cultivated over time produces mutual responsiveness — the heart opened through patient care.

The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store

Related Pages