Transformation · lines 3 and 4
Small Things becomes Treading Carefully
What this change means
Lake below and Heaven above: when the third and fourth lines move, the restraint of the wind lifts and you're left walking a delicate path. The fourth line leads, asking for fairness and sincere trust, with the promise that early troubles fade bit by bit. The third line stands behind it as a warning: forcing your way ahead loosens the spokes of the cart and sets people who should be close against each other. The lesson is plain. Honesty carries you; pushing breaks things. The resulting hexagram, 10 Treading Carefully, describes a difficult situation in which careful, gentle conduct makes even potential rivals give way, and perhaps become allies. So move with awareness, keep your temper even where you've been strained, and let integrity rather than pressure open the road. Respect for the person who could block you may be what lets you pass.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 4 of 9 Small Things
If you act fairly, you may meet difficulties at first, but little by little the obstacles will fade until you reach your goal.
There is sincere trust. The blood goes, the fear leaves. No fault.
- Line 3 of 9 Small Things
Trying to advance at any cost only brings bigger obstacles from outside.
The spokes come loose from the cart. Husband and wife glare at each other.
- The judgment of 9 Small Things
You're facing a situation that promises success, but it isn't time yet. There are still obstacles on the way that you need to resolve. For now you can take small actions and wait for the right moment to act on a large scale.
Success. Dense clouds and no rain, from my western outskirts.
- The judgment of 10 Treading Carefully
You're facing a difficult situation. If you know how to conduct yourself properly, moving with awareness and gentleness, even people who could be rivals and stand in your way will give ground, and may even become your allies.
Stepping on the tiger's tail; it does not bite. Success.
The trigrams
The way back
10 Treading Carefully → 9 Small Thingslines 3 and 4
Other transformations of Small Things
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1 and 2
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1 and 3
- 42Increaselines 2 and 3
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1 and 4
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2 and 4
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1 and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 2 and 5
- 41Decreaselines 3 and 5
- 14Wealthlines 4 and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 1 and 6
- 63After the Endlines 2 and 6
- 60Thriftlines 3 and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 4 and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.