In practice
The judgment
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.
The poetry
Treading
Stepping on the tiger's tail; it does not bite. Success.
The image
Heaven above, the lake below: treading. So the noble person tells high from low and settles the will of the people.
The lines
- Line 6上九
If you watch for the favorable signs to know when to act, and then act decisively, you'll succeed.
Looking back over the steps taken, examining the signs. If it turns back on itself: great good fortune.
- Line 5九五
If you're aware of the danger in going ahead and you act with caution, you'll succeed.
A resolute step. Constancy is in danger.
- Line 4九四
You're getting involved in a risky venture, but your inner strength and firmness will help you succeed.
Stepping on the tiger's tail. Wary, wary; in the end, good fortune.
- Line 3六三
By overestimating your abilities, you may take on tasks you're not prepared for.
The one-eyed can see, the lame can walk. Stepping on the tiger's tail, and it bites. Misfortune. A warrior acts for the great prince.
- Line 2九二
Staying on your own with your projects, for now, will lead you to success.
Treading a level, open road. For one who lives apart, constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1初九
You're in a position out of view that will let you focus on your projects.
A plain step. Going: no fault.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Treading Carefully turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 12Declinelines 1 and 2
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1 and 3
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2 and 3
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1 and 4
- 42Increaselines 2 and 4
- 9Small Thingslines 3 and 4
- 64Transitionlines 1 and 5
- 21Bitinglines 2 and 5
- 14Wealthlines 3 and 5
- 41Decreaselines 4 and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1 and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 2 and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 3 and 6
- 60Thriftlines 4 and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, and 3
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, and 4
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 3, and 4
- 37The Tribelines 2, 3, and 4
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 2, 3, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 4, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 2, 4, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 3, 4, and 5
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 1, 3, and 6
- 49Renewallines 2, 3, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 4, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 4, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 3, 4, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 5, and 6
- 51Shocklines 2, 5, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 3, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 8Unionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 16Passionlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
履：履虎尾，不咥人，亨。
象曰：上天下澤，履；君子以辨上下，定民志。
初九：素履，往无咎。
九二：履道坦坦，幽人貞吉。
六三：眇能視，跛能履，履虎尾，咥人，凶。武人為于大君。
九四：履虎尾，愬愬終吉。
九五：夬履，貞厲。
上九：視履考祥，其旋元吉。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.