Hexagram 10: Treading Carefully
Outer trigram (upper)
Càn
Heaven · Metal
Inner trigram (lower)
Đoài
Marsh · Metal
Judgment
履虎尾，不咥人，亨.
Lí hổ vĩ, bất diệt nhân, hanh.
Translation
Treading on the tiger's tail, yet the tiger does not bite — success.
Commentary
Above is strong yang, trigram Càn, heaven; below is yielding yin, trigram Đoài, a marsh. High and low are thus clearly distinguished, and this arrangement accords with the proper order of yin and yang — that is, with reason itself, with conduct rightly ordered. Having a gentle, yielding nature and following happily behind the strong and firm, one finds that even someone as fierce as a tiger walking ahead turns out gentle toward oneself — hence the saying: treading on the tiger's tail, yet the tiger does not bite. The Commentary on the Judgment adds further: line 5 of this hexagram is yang, yet balanced and correct, matching the most honored position — free of any flaw, and radiant with clarity.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yang)
初九：素履，往，无咎.
Translation
Stepping into the world while keeping one's original, unspoiled nature brings no fault.
Commentary
Line 1 is like someone newly stepping into life, still holding on to an unspoiled, simple nature — the sense behind the word 'plain' — not yet touched by worldly habits. Being a yang line, it belongs to the noble person, who has a genuine aspiration; as long as it holds fast to that aspiration, there is no fault.
Line 2 (yang)
九二：履道坦坦，幽人貞吉.
Translation
Like walking on a level road — holding steadily and alone to the right path brings good fortune.
Commentary
This yang line holds the central position; it is a worthy, noble person who calmly keeps to the balanced path without letting the mind grow troubled — this brings good fortune. Although line 5 above corresponds to it, line 5 is also yang, so the match does not truly harmonize (only a yin and a yang can properly seek out, unite with, and support one another) — which is why this line is described as walking alone.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：眇，能視；跛，能履．履虎尾，咥人，凶．武人為于大君.
Translation
One-eyed, yet claiming clear sight; lame, yet claiming a swift stride — acting this way is as dangerous as treading on the tiger's tail and getting bitten. This is a mere brute of a man demanding to do the work of a great ruler.
Commentary
This line is soft yin occupying a strong yang position — incorrect and off-center, with yang lines both above and below it. Without recognizing its own limited ability, it competes to keep pace with the yang lines, no different from a lame man boasting that he walks swiftly. This is the sort of brute who demands to act as a great ruler, and will meet disaster for it — like treading on the tiger's tail and being devoured.
Line 4 (yang)
九四：履虎尾，愬愬終吉.
Translation
Treading on the tiger's tail, but with proper caution and fear — so the outcome will be good.
Commentary
This line, yang sitting in a yin position, is likewise off-center and incorrect like line 3, and likewise follows right behind a strong yang line — likewise treading on the tiger's tail. Yet line 3 meets misfortune while line 4 meets good fortune, and the reason is this: line 3 is weak by nature, limited in ability, and clouded in judgment, yet occupies a yang position and pushes ahead recklessly; line 4, by contrast, is strong by nature, capable and clear-sighted, yet occupies a yin position, and so knows to be cautious and fearful.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：夬履，貞厲.
Translation
Acting with too much decisive force — even when in the right — can still turn dangerous.
Commentary
Line 5 is correct and balanced, and in itself excellent. But holding the most honored position in the hexagram of Treading — which speaks of how one conducts oneself in life — there is a risk that too much decisiveness turns into self-assurance and reliance on one's own power, which then becomes danger.
Line 6 (yang)
上九：視履，考祥，其旋，元吉.
Translation
Look back over one's whole conduct to judge fortune and misfortune — if it is entirely without flaw, great good fortune follows.
Commentary
This is the final line of the hexagram, marking the completion of one's conduct through life, so its text expresses the meaning of the whole hexagram rather than that of the last line alone. This is an exception, just as with the final line of the hexagram Small Restraint.