The 64 Hexagrams / 56
Hexagram 56 · ䷷
The Wanderer
旅 · Lǚ
Upper Fire 離Lower Mountain 艮
The Judgment · 卦辭
小亨,旅貞吉。
Lü intimates that (in the condition which it denotes) there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveller be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.
The Image · 大象
山上有火,旅;君子以明慎用刑,而不留獄。
(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for fire form Lü. The superior man, in accordance with this, exerts his wisdom and caution in the use of punishments and not allowing litigations to continue.
Plain-English Meaning
The wanderer. Travelling or in unfamiliar ground; be modest, careful and correct.
The Judgment
Small success comes to the wanderer who stays steady.
The Image
Like fire on a mountain, be clear and careful in judgement, and don't let matters drag on.
Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.
The Lines · 爻辭
- 初六 · Line 1旅瑣瑣,斯其所取災。The first SIX, divided, shows the stranger mean and meanly occupied. It is thus that he brings on himself (further) calamity.象曰:旅瑣瑣,志窮災也。
- 六二 · Line 2旅即次,懷其資,得僮僕貞。The second SIX, divided, shows the stranger, occupying his lodging-house, carrying with him his means of livelihood, and provided with good and trusty servants.象曰:得童僕貞,終无尤也。
- 九三 · Line 3旅焚其次,喪其僮僕,貞厲。The third NINE, undivided, shows the stranger, burning his lodging-house, and having lost his servants. However firm and correct he (try to) be, he will be in peril.象曰:旅焚其次,亦以傷矣。以旅與下,其義喪也。
- 九四 · Line 4旅于處,得其資斧,我心不快。The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the traveller in a resting-place, having (also) the means of livelihood and the axe, (but still saying), 'I am not at ease in my mind.'象曰:旅于處,未得位也。得其資斧,心未快也。
- 六五 · Line 5射雉一矢亡,終以譽命。The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject shooting a pheasant. He will lose his arrow, but in the end he will obtain praise and a (high) charge.象曰:終以譽命,上逮也。
- 上九 · Line 6鳥焚其巢,旅人先笑後號咷。喪牛于易,凶。The sixth NINE, undivided, suggests the idea of a bird burning its nest. The stranger, (thus represented), first laughs and then cries out. He has lost his ox(-like docility) too readily and easily. There will be evil.象曰:以旅在上,其義焚也。喪牛于易,終莫之聞也。
English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.