Hexagram 10: Treading → Hexagram 52: Keeping Still Mountain

Treading
Heaven / Lake
Keeping Still Mountain
Mountain / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

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 4

九四 履虎尾。愬愬終吉。

treading
tiger
wěitail
pleading
pleading
zhōngwill end
promise

Nine in the fourth place means: He treads on the tail of the tiger. Caution and circumspection Lead ultimately to good fortune.

Line 5

九五 夬履。貞厲。

guàidetermined
tread
zhēnpersistence
stressful

Nine in the fifth place means: Resolute conduct. Perseverance with awareness of danger.

Trigram Changes

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

Yilin Verse

五軛四軏,優得饒有;陳力就列,騶虞喜悅。

Five yokes and four axle-bars; abundance and plenty overflow. Exerting one is strength, filling one is rank; the Zou Yu dances with delight.

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

Commentary

Heaven above the lake, and the work animals are yoked in abundance. Five yokes and four axle-pins — more than enough equipment to carry the load. Each person deploys his abilities and takes his proper place in the ranks, and the Zou Yu — the benevolent beast of the Shijing's 'Zou Yu' ode — appears in delight. The phrase 'display one's abilities and take one's station' (陳力就列) comes from the Analerta (Jilun chapter), where Confucius insists that officials must either contribute or step down. From Treading to Keeping Still, the doubled mountain stands firm. When each person finds the right position and stays, the result is not stagnation but the joyous order that makes even mythical beasts rejoice.

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