Line 1 Yin
A petty and fussy traveler attracts trouble. Anxiety about scarcity need not make one's conduct small-minded.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 56 · Lǚ
The Traveler
In a temporary place, restraint and considerate conduct protect fragile support.
☲ Above: Li · Fire☶ Below: Gen · Mountain
Meaning
Fire on a mountain does not stay long. The traveler needs awareness of limits, care for helpers, and prudent resources; modest gains are often more practical than grand ambitions.
FOR REFLECTION
Without an established place, how can I preserve myself while respecting others?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yin
The traveler finds lodging, keeps possessions, and gains a trustworthy helper. Care for basic security and dependable relationships.
Line 3 Yang
The lodging burns and the helper is lost. Mishandling one's supports can make a temporary position more precarious.
Line 4 Yang
A temporary shelter and useful equipment are gained, yet the heart is uneasy. Possessions do not necessarily provide belonging.
Line 5 Yin
Shooting a pheasant costs an arrow, then brings recognition and a charge. A measured cost can accompany worthwhile contribution.
Line 6 Yang
The nest burns; laughter turns to tears and cattle are lost through carelessness. Forgetting one's temporary position endangers basic support.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 旅James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 56
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.