I Ching · Hexagram 10 of 64
Hexagram 10: Lu （履） — Treading
Heaven above and marsh below, the highest over the lowest: the image of rank and order. Lu means ritual, the code of human conduct, and the hexagram treats the art of living with others. Its theme is that we walk on the tiger's tail, a step always dangerous, and that only a gracious manner joined to what is right keeps us from being bitten.
At a glance
| Hexagram | 10 of 64 |
|---|---|
| Name | Lu 履 · Treading |
| Upper trigram | Qian （乾）· Heaven |
| Lower trigram | Gen （艮）· Mountain |
| Structure | Heaven over Mountain |
| Lines | 6 lines |
The Judgment （卦辞）
Treading on the tiger's tail; it does not bite the man. Success.
ExplainedLu is practice and conduct, the outward form of a person's life. The tiger's tail stands for the touchy, vulnerable temper of others, which makes us so easy to injure and to be injured. The oracle teaches that the road is everywhere a tiger's tail and that the safeguard is ritual: offend no one, provoke no one, so that even one accidentally trodden on does not turn and bite. Ritual is not empty ceremony but the practical art of keeping people from tearing at one another.
Tuan Zhuan — Commentary on the Judgment （彖传）
Lu: the yielding treads upon the firm. Joyous, yet responding to Heaven: therefore treading on the tiger's tail does not bite the man, and there is success. Firm, central and right, he treads the imperial place without inward fault: that is light.
ExplainedThe yielding treads upon the firm: the inner is soft and the outer is hard as a wall of bronze, so the soft foot strikes iron. Joy below answering Heaven above means one speaks with a gracious face and yet speaks what accords with truth; either alone still treads on the tiger's paws. Firm and central, and firm and right, the person who holds the center within and walks upright without may stand even in the emperor's place without inward fault.
Xiang Zhuan — Image Commentary （大象）
Above, heaven; below, the marsh: Lu. Thus the gentleman distinguishes high and low and settles the will of the people.
ExplainedHigh heaven over low marsh shows the ordering of above and below. The gentleman distinguishes the two clearly, so that each knows his place and role; when the ranks are clear the people's will is settled and society does not turn upside down.
The Six Lines （六爻）
The lines are read from the bottom upward. Each carries its own text, a Small Image commentary, and a plain-English reading.
Line 1 · YangLine 1
Simple treading: going brings no blame.
Small ImageSimple treading in going: he walks alone according to his wish.
ExplainedOne who treads in simplicity keeps to his own way, living apart from others as a hermit, neither doing harm nor doing good. He neither offends nor serves, and earns only freedom from blame.
Line 2 · YangLine 2
The path of treading is level and broad; the quiet one, steadfast, is fortunate.
Small ImageThe quiet one, steadfast and fortunate: he is not disordered within.
ExplainedTo walk the level, open road one must first become a quiet person, whose heart is still and undisturbed. When the heart is not disordered the way widens and human dealings go smoothly, and the sages protect him.
Line 3 · YinLine 3
One-eyed, yet he can see; lame, yet he can tread. He treads on the tiger's tail, and it bites him: misfortune. A warrior acts on behalf of the great prince.
Small ImageOne-eyed and seeing: not enough for true clear sight. Lame and treading: not enough for true walking. The misfortune of being bitten: his place is wrong. The warrior serving the great prince: his will is too firm.
ExplainedHalf-blind yet insisting he sees, lame yet insisting he walks: the foolish who trust themselves and the lowly who seize authority. Such a one treads on the tiger's tail and is bitten. A warrior who serves the great prince may rise for a season by force, and falls as quickly.
Line 4 · YangLine 4
Treading on the tiger's tail, fearful and trembling: in the end, good fortune.
Small ImageTrembling and good fortune at the end: his will is carried out.
ExplainedTo be perpetually afraid, as though on the edge of an abyss, is the beginning of safety. Treat every person, even a spouse, with the care of one who knows the bond could break at any moment, and though it is hard at first, the end is good.
Line 5 · YangLine 5
Resolute treading: steadfastness is perilous.
Small ImageResolute treading, steadfast and perilous: his place is right and fitting.
ExplainedThe resolute person decides and acts, and is valuable in the highest place, yet even then steadfastness brings peril. Such a path demands a true position and a spotless record; those below must not borrow that boldness, and it remains a way of danger even when right.
Line 6 · YangLine 6
Looking back upon the treading, examining the auspicious course of all he has gone through: supreme good fortune.
Small ImageSupreme good fortune above: there is great celebration.
ExplainedTo look back over the road walked and review how every step was handled, seeking always a more harmonious way, is supreme good fortune. The aim is not advantage but grace: even a failed bargain should leave goodwill intact.
Key takeaway
We walk on the tiger's tail: only graciousness joined to what is right keeps us from being bitten.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hexagram 10 (Lu) mean in the I Ching?
Heaven above and marsh below, the highest over the lowest: the image of rank and order. Lu means ritual, the code of human conduct, and the hexagram treats the art of living with others. Its theme is that we walk on the tiger's tail, a step always dangerous, and that only a gracious manner joined to what is right keeps us from being bitten.
What is the judgment of Hexagram 10?
Treading on the tiger's tail; it does not bite the man. Success. Lu is practice and conduct, the outward form of a person's life. The tiger's tail stands for the touchy, vulnerable temper of others, which makes us so easy to injure and to be injured. The oracle teaches that the road is everywhere a tiger's tail and that the safeguard is ritual: offend no one, provoke no one, so…
What do the six lines of Hexagram 10 say?
Line 1: Simple treading: going brings no blame. Line 2: The path of treading is level and broad; the quiet one, steadfast, is fortunate. Line 3: One-eyed, yet he can see; lame, yet he can tread. He treads on the tiger's tail, and it bites him: misfortune. A warrior acts on behalf of the great prince. Line 4: Treading on the tiger's tail, fearful and trembling: in the end, good fortune. Line 5: Resolute treading: steadfastness is perilous. Line 6: Looking back upon the treading, examining the auspicious course of all he has gone through: supreme good fortune.
What is the main lesson of Hexagram 10 (Treading)?
We walk on the tiger's tail: only graciousness joined to what is right keeps us from being bitten.
Want the reading to be about you?
Enter your birth details to see your own BaZi (Four Pillars of Destiny) chart, your five-element balance and the key months ahead. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is stored.