Hexagram 10
天泽履
Treading
Hexagram 10, Lu, is about conduct and navigating danger with grace.
Upper Trigram
☰
乾 (金)
Lower Trigram
☱
兑 (金)
Palace
艮 Palace
Shi / Ying Lines
Shi: Line 5 · Ying: Line 2
The 乾 trigram (金) sits above the 兑 trigram (金), forming 天泽履. This hexagram belongs to the 艮 Palace.
Judgment (卦辞)
Treading. Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success.
Judgment text follows the Wilhelm–Baynes translation (The I Ching or Book of Changes, Princeton University Press), quoted for commentary.
Image (象辞)
Heaven above, the lake below: the image of Treading. Thus the superior man discriminates between high and low.
Line Texts (爻辞)
Simple conduct. Progress without blame. (素履，往无咎)
Treading a smooth, level path. The dark man perseveres. (履道坦坦，幽人贞吉)
A one-eyed man sees, a lame man treads. The tiger bites. Misfortune. (眇能视，跛能履，履虎尾，咥人，凶)
He treads on the tiger's tail. Caution leads to good fortune. (履虎尾，愬愬，终吉)
Resolute conduct. Perseverance with awareness of danger. (夬履，贞厉)
Look to your conduct and weigh favorable signs. (视履考祥，其旋元吉)
Hexagram 10 in Career & Decisions
Career risk: 'Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs' before bold moves.
Hexagram 10 as a yes / no answer
Depends on timing
The hexagram counsels timing and care: the answer depends on how and when you proceed.
The I Ching reads situations, not fixed outcomes — your reading can weigh the moving lines with this leaning.
In-Depth Analysis[+]
Hexagram 10, Lu, is about conduct and navigating danger with grace. 'Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man.' Through correct conduct, you emerge unscathed. The tiger represents powerful forces that can destroy you if you misstep. The six lines explore styles of conduct: simplicity is safe, the humble walk smoothly, overconfidence leads to disaster, caution saves, review brings deepest fortune. When consulting the I Ching, Lu appears with dangerous situations. Your conduct is everything.
Historical Stories[+]
Yan Ying of Qi turned every diplomatic trap into a demonstration of the host's pettiness.
Nelson Mandela's conduct during imprisonment and negotiations with the apartheid regime.
Practical Applications[+]
Difficult conversations: With volatile people, your conduct determines the outcome.
Career risk: 'Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs' before bold moves.
Public life: Every action is scrutinized. Proper conduct is your shield.
Classical Sources for Hexagram 10
卜筮正宗 (The Orthodox Manual of Divination)清 (Qing Dynasty, 1644–1912)
The Eighteen Questions framework, the classification of hexagram patterns by life domain (career, wealth, relationships, health, travel, litigation), and the methodological rules for interpreting conflicting lines.
Related Hexagrams
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Wonder how Hexagram 10 applies to your situation?
Ask the I Ching about Hexagram 10