Hexagram 56 旅 - LÜ / THE WANDERER
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Trigrams#
- Upper Li, the Clinging, Fire
- Lower Gèn, Keeping Still, Mountain
The mountain (Gèn) stands still, while above it, the fire (Li) flames up and does not linger. Therefore, they do not remain together. Strangeness and separation are the lot of the wanderer.
The Judgment#
The Wanderer. Success through smallness. Perseverance is of good fortune to the wanderer.
As a wanderer and a stranger, one must not be brusque or highly ambitious. Since one does not have a large circle of acquaintances, one must not boast. One must be cautious and reserved; in this way, one protects oneself from evil. By being courteous toward others, one achieves success. The wanderer has no fixed abode; the road is his home. Therefore, he must ensure that he is inwardly upright and steadfast, that he stays only in good places, and associates only with good people. Then he will have good fortune and can travel his path unmolested.
The Image#
Fire on the mountain: the image of the Wanderer. Thus the superior man is clear-minded and cautious in applying punishments and does not protract litigation.
When grass burns on the mountain, it gives off a bright light. However, the fire does not linger; it moves on in search of new fuel. It is a rapidly passing phenomenon. It should be the same with punishments and lawsuits. They must be rapidly passing phenomena and must not be dragged out. Prisons should be places that hold people only temporarily, like guests. They must not become permanent dwellings for human beings.
The Individual Lines#
Six at the beginning means:#
If the wanderer busies himself with petty things, he brings misfortune upon himself.
A wanderer must not demean himself or get involved with vulgar things along the way. The lower and more defenseless his outward position is, the more he must maintain his inner dignity. For if a stranger thinks he can find a friendly welcome by lending himself to jokes and ridicule, he is mistaken. The only results are contempt and insulting treatment.
Six in the second place means:#
The wanderer comes to an inn. He has his property with him. He gains the perseverance of a young servant.
The wanderer described here is modest and reserved. Inwardly, he does not lose his core self, so he finds a place of rest. Outwardly, he does not lose the goodwill of others, so everyone furthers him, enabling him to acquire property. Furthermore, he attracts a loyal and trustworthy servant, which is of inestimable value to a wanderer.
Nine in the third place means:#
The wanderer’s inn burns down. He loses the perseverance of his young servant. Danger.
A violent stranger does not know how to behave. He meddles in affairs and disputes that do not concern him. As a result, he loses his resting place. He treats his servant in an aloof and arrogant manner, thereby losing his loyalty. When a stranger no longer has anyone to rely on, the situation becomes highly dangerous.
Nine in the fourth place means:#
The wanderer rests at a shelter. He acquires his property and an axe. My heart is not glad.
This describes a wanderer who knows how to be outwardly modest, even though he is inwardly strong and aspiring. Therefore, he finds at least a shelter where he can stay. He also succeeds in acquiring property. Yet, he is not safe with his possessions. He must constantly be on guard, ready to defend himself with weapon in hand. Consequently, he does not feel at ease. He remains acutely aware that he is a stranger in a strange land.
Six in the fifth place means:#
He shoots a pheasant, it falls with the first arrow. In the end, this brings praise and office.
Traveling statesmen used to introduce themselves to princes by presenting a pheasant as a gift. Here, the wanderer wishes to enter the service of a prince. For this purpose, he shoots a pheasant, bringing it down with his very first shot. Thus, he finds friends who praise and recommend him, and he is finally accepted by the prince, who confers an office upon him.
Circumstances often arise that compel a person to seek a home abroad. If one understands how to meet the situation and introduce oneself properly, one can find a circle of friends and a sphere of activity even in a foreign land.
Nine at the top means:#
The bird’s nest burns down. The wanderer laughs at first, then he must cry and lament. Through carelessness, he loses his cow. Misfortune!
The image of the bird whose nest burns down shows the loss of one’s resting place. If the bird was careless and imprudent while building its nest, this misfortune can happen. The same applies to the wanderer. If he gives himself up to jest and laughter, forgetting that he is a wanderer, he will later have to weep and lament. For if a person carelessly loses his cow-that is, his modest adaptability-it leads to evil.
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