Hexagram 10, Lǚ (Treading): Line 1

履卦初九 · 天泽履 · 中文版

初九:素履,往无咎。

The line (Legge)

The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error.

Small Image commentary

'He treads his accustomed path and goes forward:' - singly and exclusively he carries out his (long-cherished) wishes.

象曰:素履之往,独行愿也。

In plain words

Treading simply; going on, there is no fault. "Simply" means plainly, in one's natural colour. The first line is at the bottom, not pulled along by outside things, and acts from its own heart. The Small Image says going on simply means carrying out one's own wishes alone.

Applying it to your situation

If you are just starting out, this line suggests acting as you are, without needing show. What is your simplest original intention?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the first place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 4; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Lǚ changes into Hexagram 6 Sòng (Conflict). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·履之讼.

A recorded case from Takashima

Lü to Song: business is slow; move to Tokyo?: A Yokohama merchant whose trade had slumped thought of moving to Tokyo to start afresh. The first line of Lü, "plain steps forward", led Takashima to advise him to keep to his old business: prices rise and fall, and that is normal.

The hexagram

Hexagram 10 Lǚ (Treading). The Judgment: (Lu suggests the idea of) one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.

Next: Line 2

English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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