I Ching Hexagram 10 - Treading
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 10 "Treading"
履 - Lǚ
Thiên Trạch Lý
Treading
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☰ Qian, Heaven
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☱ Dui, Lake
Other Titles: Cautious Advance, Conduct, The Symbol of Stepping Carefully, Proper Conduct, Cautious Treading, Proceeding Cautiously, Watch Your Step, Proceed at Your Own Risk, Advancing With Care.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Legge: Cautious Advance suggests the idea of one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Treading. Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success. [For the weak to take a stand against the strong is not dangerous here, because it happens in good humor and without presumption, so that the strong man is not irritated but takes it all in good part. Such simplicity and unpretentiousness is faith derived from reality -- neither from love of happiness nor fear of unhappiness, but free of fear and hope. The concern here is with the art of action by means of proper conduct, and presupposes being childlike in its highest sense.]
Blofeld: Though he treads upon the tiger's tail, it does not bite him. Success! [The general idea of this hexagram is that success can be won, but that the situation is dangerous enough to require extreme caution. The `tiger' MAY not bite, but on the other hand, as lines three and five demonstrate, we cannot be certain of this. To consort with rulers and people in high places may be most beneficial; but, should we fail to please, they may make us regret our temerity.]
Liu: Treading: Stepping on the tail of a tiger, but it does not bite one. Success. [You should act only after you have planned carefully, and then with resolution.]
Shaughnessy: Treading on a tiger's tail; not a real man; receipt.
Cleary (1): Even when they tread on a tiger’s tail, it doesn’t bite people. This is developmental.
Cleary (2): Someone treads on a tiger’s tail without being bitten, thus getting through.
Wu: Treading after a tiger without being bitten indicates pervasion.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Heaven above, the lake below: the image of Treading. Thus the superior man discriminates between high and low, and thereby fortifies the thinking of the people.
Legge: The image of the sky above, and below it the waters of a marsh, form Cautious Advance. The superior man, in accordance with this, discriminates between high and low, and gives settlement to the aims of the people.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes a body of water lying open to the sky. The Superior Man consults both high and low and thereby steadies the people's will.
Liu: The heaven above and the lake below symbolize Treading. The superior man differentiates between high and low, and thus fixes the minds of the people.
Cleary (1): Above is the sky, below is a lake: Treading. Thus do superior people distinguish above and below, and settle the will of the people.
Cleary (2): … Leaders stabilize the wills of the people by distinguishing positions.
Wu: Heaven above and marshes below, this is Treading. Thus the jun zi discriminates various levels of governmental services and sets the goals of the people.
Line 1
初 九: 素 履, 往 , 无 咎 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Simple conduct. Progress without blame.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error.
Blofeld: Simple in his conduct, he goes forth -- no error!
Liu: Simplicity of conduct. Continue. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Counter treading; in going there is no trouble.
Cleary(1): Treading plainly, going without fault.
Cleary(2): Plain treading; to go is blameless.
Wu: Treading ahead in a blind manner will be blameless.
Line 2
九 二: 履 道 坦 坦 , 幽 人 貞 吉 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Treading a smooth, level course. The perseverance of a dark man brings good fortune.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows its subject treading a path that is level and easy -- a quiet and solitary man, to whom, if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: The recluse treads his path peacefully. Righteous persistence will bring good fortune.
Liu: Treading in a safe and peaceful way. The man in seclusion carries on. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Treading the road so sincerely; the dark man's determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Treading the path evenly, the aloof person is upright and fortunate.
Cleary (2): Treading the road; it is level. The person in obscurity is fortunate if upright.
Wu: The trodden road is open and broad. A person in seclusion with perseverance will have good fortune.
Line 3
六 三: 眇, 能 視 ; 跛, 能 履 ． 履 虎 尾 , 咥 人, 凶 ． 武 人 為 于 大 君 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: 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.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, 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 the tiger and is bitten. All this indicates ill fortune. We have a mere bravo acting the part of a great ruler.
Blofeld: Though a man have but one eye he can still see; though he be lame, he can still walk; but he who treads upon the tiger's tail will get bitten -- disaster! [Here the significance of the line runs counter to the benign significance of the hexagram; in all such cases, it is the line which provides the main indication of what is going to happen with regard to the matter forming the subject of the enquiry.] The warrior undertakes things for his lord. [This is no time to stand up to our superiors (tread on the tiger’s tail); it is a time for obedience.]
Liu: A one-eyed man can see; a lame man can walk. But when they step on the tail of a tiger, the tiger will bite. Misfortune. The warrior conducts himself like a great prince.
Shaughnessy: The blind are able to see, the lame are able to tread. Treading on a tiger's tail; for a real man inauspicious. A military man is united with the great lord.
Cleary(1): Able to see with a squint, able to walk with a limp. When they tread on the tiger’s tail, it bites people. Inauspicious. A soldier becomes a ruler.
Cleary(2): The squint-eyed can see, the lame can walk. Treading on a tiger’s tail, they get bitten, unfortunately. A military man becomes a civil leader.
Wu: A person can look with one injured eye. A person can tread with one lame leg. He will get bitten by treading behind a tiger. It will be foreboding. He is like a warrior trying to be a ruler.
Line 4
九 四: 履 虎 尾 ． 愬 愬 終 吉 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He treads on the tail of the tiger. Caution and circumspection lead ultimately to good fortune.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, 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.
Blofeld: To tread with impunity upon a tiger's tail, breathless caution is required -- good fortune in the end. [This is an occasion for doing something dangerous, provided we are very cautious.]
Liu: He steps on the tail of the tiger. Caution and fearfulness. Good fortune in the end. [Trouble or disaster threaten and one must be very careful.]
Shaughnessy: Treading on a tiger's tail so panicky; in the end auspicious.
Cleary(1): Treading on the tail of a tiger, with caution it will turn out well.
Cleary(2): Treading on a tiger’s tail with utmost caution turns out lucky.
Wu: Treading after a tiger is awesome, but it will be auspicious in the end.
Line 5
九 五: 夬 履 貞 厲 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Resolute conduct. Perseverance with awareness of danger.
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows the resolute tread of its subject. Though he be firm and correct, there will be peril.
Blofeld: He treads delicately. Persistence could lead to trouble.
Liu: Continue in a decisive manner. Danger. [There is now a tendency to rush and be careless. By all means stop this, or troubles will mount and disaster will come.]
Shaughnessy: Resolute treading; determination is dangerous.
Cleary (1): Treading decisively. Even if one is upright, there is danger. [It is necessary to be upright and undivided, to master oneself in danger, so that one can avoid the problem of losing what has been gained. This is treading the Path in which there is no one but oneself.]
Cleary (2): Decisive treading is correct yet dangerous.
Wu: He decides on treading. Despite perseverance, he is in a difficult situation. [Use your power wisely and judiciously, or you will fall.]
Line 6
上 九: 視 履, 考 祥 ． 其 旋, 元 吉 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs. When everything is fulfilled, supreme good fortune comes.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, 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.
Blofeld: If they watch their step (or look to their conduct) and heed the omens, sublime good fortune will be theirs.
Liu: Observe your conduct and examine the signs carefully. There will be great good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Looking and treading crafty and soaring its revolving; prime auspiciousness.
Cleary: Observing the treading, considering what is felicitous, the return is auspicious.
Wu: Examination of the treading records gives a sense of completion. If errors in treading are avoided, there will be great fortune.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 10 depicts a situation where you tread on the tail of the tiger, but it does not bite you. You are in a tricky situation that calls for care and caution. Stay with the old and tested ways, as you are dealing with powerful people. Treat them with respect to keep them on your side. Success comes if you act tactfully and patiently.
A good amount of progress is made when you advance without making demands on others. Always keep a sharp awareness of your position. If you are aware of all the dangers around you, a successful outcome is assured.
