King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 11 泰 changing to hexagram 10 履

tài
→
lǚ

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 3, 4, 5, 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 10 履, line 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.

Hexagram 10 履, line 2

履道坦坦,幽人貞吉。

The second line, undivided, shows its subject treading the path that is level and easy;—a quiet and solitary man, to whom, if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 11 泰 — judgment

小往大來,吉亨。

In Thâi (we see) the little gone and the great come. (It indicates that) there will be good fortune, with progress and success.

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.

The changing lines of hexagram 11

LineChineseLegge
3无平不陂,无往不復,艱貞无咎。勿恤其孚,于食有福。The third line, undivided, shows that, while there is no state of peace that is not liable to be disturbed, and no departure (of evil men) so that they shall not return, yet when one is firm and correct, as he realises the distresses that may arise, he will commit no error. There is no occasion for sadness at the certainty (of such recurring changes); and in this mood the happiness (of the present) may be (long) enjoyed.
4翩翩,不富以其鄰;不戒以孚。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject fluttering (down);—not relying on his own rich resources, but calling in his neighbours. (They all come) not as having received warning, but in the sincerity (of their hearts).
5帝乙歸妹,以祉,元吉。The fifth line, divided, reminds us of (king) Tî-yî's (rule about the) marriage of his younger sister. By such a course there is happiness and there will be great good fortune.
6城復于隍,勿用師,自邑告命,貞吝。The sixth line, divided, shows us the city wall returned into the moat. It is not the time to use the army. (The subject of the line) may, indeed, announce his orders to the people of his own city; but however correct and firm he may be, he will have cause for regret.

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.