Hexagram 7 師 changing to hexagram 10 履
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 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 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.
Hexagram 10 履, line 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.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 7 師 — judgment
貞丈人吉,无咎。
Sze indicates how, in the case which it supposes, with firmness and correctness, and (a leader of) age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.
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 7
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 師出以律,否臧,凶。 | The first line, divided, shows the host going forth according to the rules (for such a movement). If these be not good, there will be evil. |
| 4 | 師左次,无咎。 | The fourth line, divided, shows the host in retreat. There is no error. |
| 5 | 田有禽,利執言,无咎。長子帥師,弟子輿尸,貞凶。 | The fifth line, divided, shows birds in the fields, which it will be advantageous to seize (and destroy). In that case there will be no error. If the oldest son leads the host, and younger men (idly occupy offices assigned to them), however firm and correct he may be, there will be evil. |
| 6 | 大君有命,開國承家,小人勿用。 | The topmost line, divided, shows the great ruler delivering his charges, (appointing some) to be rulers of states, and others to undertake the headship of clans; but small men should not be employed (in such positions). |
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.