Hexagram 10
履 Lǚ
Treading
☰ Heaven above ☱ Lake
Judgment 卦辭
虎尾。不咥人。亨。
Commentary
You're stepping on the tiger's tail. It doesn't bite. Success—but only because your conduct is correct. The situation is genuinely dangerous. The weak follows the strong and worries it. Your manner, not your power, determines whether you survive.
Classical Text
履兌下乾上 履虎尾，不咥人，亨。
Lü (Treading), Dui below, Qian above. Treading upon the tail of a tiger, it does not bite the person. Success.
Image 象
上天下澤，履。君子以辯上下，定民志。
Heaven above, lake below—natural hierarchy. The person of character discriminates between high and low, clarifying distinctions so people know where they stand. Order requires acknowledged differences.
Lines 爻辭
素履往無咎
Simple conduct, going forward plainly. No blame. When you act without pretension, staying within your natural sphere, you move safely.
Classical commentary
初九，素履，往无咎。
Initial Nine: Treading in plainness. Going forth, there is no blame.
履道坦坦幽人貞吉
The path is level and smooth. The solitary person finds good fortune through perseverance. Steady and unassuming progress on a clear road.
Classical commentary
九二，履道坦坦，幽人貞吉。
Nine in the Second: The way of treading is smooth and level. For the secluded person, correctness brings good fortune.
眇能視跛能履履虎尾咥人凶武人為于大君
The one-eyed thinks he can see. The lame thinks he can walk. He treads on the tiger's tail and gets bitten. Misfortune. This is the warrior who oversteps toward the great ruler—overconfidence destroys him.
Classical commentary
《象》曰：眇能視，不足以有明也。跛能履，不足以與行也。咥人之凶，位不當也。武人為于大君，志剛也。
The Image says: The one-eyed can see, but not well enough to have true clarity. The lame can walk, but not well enough to truly travel. The misfortune of biting the person is because the position is not appropriate. A martial person acts as a great ruler—the will is set on firmness.
履虎尾愬愬終吉
Treading on the tiger's tail with extreme caution—success in the end. Fear is appropriate here. Careful fear leads to good fortune.
Classical commentary
九四，履虎尾，愬愬，終吉。
Nine in the Fourth: Treading upon the tiger's tail, apprehensive and cautious—in the end, good fortune.
夬履貞厲
Resolute treading. Perseverance brings danger. You're determined, but determination alone isn't enough. The situation remains precarious despite your firmness.
Classical commentary
九五，夬履，貞厲。
Nine in the Fifth: Resolute treading. Correctness brings danger.
視履考祥其旋元吉
Look back at your conduct, examine the omens. If you can complete the circle with integrity, supreme good fortune.
Classical commentary
上九：視履考祥，其旋元吉。
Top Nine: Surveying one's treading and examining the omens—when it comes full circle, there is sublime good fortune.