Hexagram 10 履 changing to hexagram 48 井
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 3, 4, 6.
What to read
Four changing lines: read the two unchanged lines of the resulting hexagram; the lower one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Hexagram 48 井, line 2
井谷射鮒,瓮敝漏。
The second line, undivided, shows a well from which by a hole the water escapes and flows away to the shrimps (and such small creatures among the grass), or one the water of which leaks away from a broken basket.
Hexagram 48 井, line 5
井冽,寒泉食。
The fifth line, undivided, shows a clear, limpid well, (the waters from) whose cold spring are (freely) drunk.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 10 履 — judgment
履虎尾,不咥人,亨。
(Lî suggests the idea of) one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
Hexagram 48 井 — judgment
改邑不改井,无喪无得,往來井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶,凶。
(Looking at) Zing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.
The changing lines of hexagram 10
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 素履,往无咎。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error. |
| 3 | 眇能視,跛能履,履虎尾,咥人,凶。武人為于大君。 | The third line, divided, shows a one-eyed man (who thinks he) can see; a lame man (who thinks he) can walk well; one who treads on the tail of a tiger and is bitten. (All this indicates) ill fortune. We have a (mere) bravo acting the part of a great ruler. |
| 4 | 履虎尾,愬愬終吉。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject treading on the tail of a tiger. He becomes full of apprehensive caution, and in the end there will be good fortune. |
| 6 | 視履考詳,其旋元吉。 | The sixth line, undivided, tells us to look at (the whole course) that is trodden, and examine the presage which that gives. If it be complete and without failure, there will be great good fortune. |
English: James Legge (1882), public domain. Chinese: Zhou Yi.
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.