Hexagram 56: The Wanderer → Hexagram 12: Standstill

The Wanderer
Mountain / Fire
Standstill
Heaven / Earth
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

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

Line 1

初六 旅瑣瑣。斯其所取災。

the wanderer
suǒis mean
suǒand frivolous
as such
this
suǒplace
draws
zāiadversity

Six at the beginning means: If the wanderer busies himself with trivial things, He draws down misfortune upon himself.

Line 3

九三 旅焚其次。喪其童僕。貞厲。

the wanderer
fénburns
this
camp
sàngand lose
this
tóngyoung
servant
zhēnpersistence(ing)
is difficult

Nine in the third place means: The wanderer's inn burns down. He loses the steadfastness of his young servant. Danger.

Line 4

九四 旅于處。得其資斧。我心不快。

the wanderer
is
chùthe shelter
having secured
his
resources
and an ax
but lamenting 'my...
xīnheart
is not
kuàihappy

Nine in the fourth place means: The wanderer rests in a shelter. He obtains his property and an ax. My heart is not glad.

Line 5

六五 射雉。一矢亡。終以譽命。

shèshooting
zhìthe pheasant [as a gift for the local noble]
one
shǐarrow
wángis lost
zhōngbut in the end
for the sake of
praise
mìngand commission

Six in the fifth place means: He shoots a pheasant. It drops with the first arrow. In the end this brings both praise and office.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramMountain HeavenKeeping Still → The Creative
Lower TrigramFire EarthThe Clinging → The Receptive

Yilin Verse

輔相之好,无有休息。時行雲集,所在遇福。

The bond between minister and aide knows no rest. Timely clouds gather where they go; blessings are found in every place.

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

Commentary

Fire on the mountain, and a worthy minister finds his counterpart. The bond between 'auxiliary and minister' knows no rest — their partnership is tireless, their cooperation unceasing. When the time comes, clouds gather naturally and blessings follow wherever they settle. The verse celebrates the rare harmony between a capable traveler and a receptive host, a wanderer who finds his proper station. From The Wanderer to Standstill, the paradox deepens: heaven and earth separate, communication ceases. Yet the verse is entirely auspicious. Perhaps the minister's fortune lies precisely in withdrawing: in a time of Standstill, the wise man retreats from public life, and his private alliance with a true companion becomes his shelter. Fortune is found not in the world's approval but in the right relationship.

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