I Ching · Hexagram 10 of 64
10. Lǚ 履 · Treading
By Destiny Kua · Updated
Move carefully and politely around powerful people.
- Upper trigram
- Heaven 乾
- Lower trigram
- Lake 兌
What hexagram 10 means
Lǚ is treading carefully: the traditional image is stepping on a tiger's tail without being bitten. Heaven above a joyful lake shows courtesy between the strong and the weak. When you have to deal with powerful people or delicate situations, good manners and clear conduct keep you safe.
Hexagram 10 in daily life
At work
Tread carefully around senior people or sensitive issues. Courtesy is protection.
In relationships
Respect boundaries. Being clear and polite prevents a bite.
For yourself
Watch your conduct. Behaving well in small things builds safety in large ones.
The six changing lines
If your cast included changing lines (a 6 or a 9), read the matching lines below. Line 1 is the bottom line.
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | Simple, honest conduct. Move forward without blame. |
| Line 2 | Walking a smooth, quiet road. A calm person's persistence brings good fortune. |
| Line 3 | Overestimating yourself, like a one-eyed person who thinks they see clearly. You step on the tiger's tail and it bites. |
| Line 4 | Stepping on the tiger's tail, but with great care. Good fortune in the end. |
| Line 5 | Firm, decisive conduct, but stay aware of the danger. |
| Line 6 | Look back at how you've walked and weigh the signs. If it has been well done, supreme good fortune. |
The two trigrams
The lower trigram, Lake 兌 (Duì), stands for your inner state and the root of the situation. The upper trigram, Heaven 乾 (Qián), stands for the outer circumstances. In element terms this is Metal over Metal. Lake is the trigram of Kua 7 and Heaven is the trigram of Kua 6.
Related hexagrams
- Opposite (every line changed): 15. Qiān 謙 · Modesty
- Inverted (read upside down): 9. Xiǎo Chù 小畜 · Small Taming
- Trigrams swapped: 43. Guài 夬 · Breakthrough
Questions to reflect on
- Whose tail am I stepping on right now?
- What does respectful conduct look like here?
- Am I overestimating my position?
Our line summaries are written in plain English in our own words, based on the traditional meanings. For reflection and entertainment, not prediction or professional advice.