旅 Lǚ [56]

Month 4 Host : 5

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旅: 小亨, 旅贞吉. Lǚ: xiǎo hēng, lǚ zhēn jí.

Lu intimates that (in the condition which it denotes) there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveler be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.

彖传: 旅, 小亨, 柔得中乎外, 而顺乎刚, 止而丽乎明, 是以小亨, 旅贞吉也. 旅之时义大矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Lǚ, xiǎo hēng, róu dé zhòng hū wài, ér shùn hū gāng, zhǐ ér lì hū míng, shì yǐ xiǎo hēng, lǚ zhēn jí yě. lǚ zhī shí yì dà yǐ zāi!

‘Lu indicates that there may be some small attainment and progress:’ - the weak (line) occupies the central place in the outer (trigram), and is obedient to the strong (lines on either side of it). (We have also the attributes of quiet) resting closely attached to intelligence (in the component trigrams). Hence it is said, ‘There may be some small attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveler be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.’ Great is the time and great is the right course to be taken as intimated in Lu!

象传: 山上有火, 旅; 君子以明慎用刑, 而不留狱. Xiàng zhuàn: Shān shàng yǒu huǒ, lǚ; jūn zǐ yǐ míng shèn yòng xíng, ér bù liú yù.

(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for fire form Lu. The superior man, in accordance with this, exerts his wisdom and caution in the use of punishments and not allowing litigation to continue.

初六: 旅琐琐, 斯其所取灾. Chū liù: lǚ suǒ suǒ, sī qí suǒ qǔ zāi.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows the stranger mean and meanly occupied. It is thus that he brings on himself (further) calamity.

象传: 旅琐琐, 志穷灾也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǚ: suǒ suǒ, zhì qióng zāi yě.

‘The stranger is mean and meanly occupied:’ - his aim is become of the lowest character, and calamity will ensue.

六二: 旅即次, 怀其资, 得童仆贞. Liù èr: lǚ jí cì, huái qí zī, dé tóng pú zhēn.

The second ‘six’, divided, shows the stranger, occupying his lodging-house, carrying with him his means of livelihood, and provided with good and trusty servants.

象传: 得童仆贞, 终无尤也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dé tóng pú zhēn, zhōng wú yóu yě.

‘He is provided with good and trusty servants:’ - he will in the end have nothing of which to complain.

九三: 旅焚其次, 丧其童仆, 贞厉. Jiǔ sān: lǚ fén qí cì, sàng qí tóng pú, zhēn lì.

The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows the stranger, burning his lodging-house, and having lost his servants. However firm and correct he (try to) be, he will be in peril.

象传: 旅焚其次, 亦以伤矣. 以旅与下, 其义丧也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǚ fén qí cì, yì yǐ shāng yǐ. yǐlǚ yǔ xià, qí yì sàng yě.

‘The stranger burns his lodging-house:’ - and he himself also suffers hurt thereby. When, as a stranger, he treats those below him (as the line indicates), the right relation between him and them is lost.

九四: 旅于处, 得其资斧, 我心不快. Jiǔ sì: lǚ yú chù, dé qí zī fǔ, wǒ xīn bù kuài.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows the traveler in a resting-place, having (also) the means of livelihood and the ax, (but still saying), 'I am not at ease in my mind.'

象传: 旅于处, 未得位也. 得其资斧, 心未快也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǚ yú chù, wèi dé wèi yě. Dé qí zī fǔ, xīn wèi kuài yě.

‘The stranger is in a resting-place:’ - but he has not got his proper position. ‘He has the means of livelihood, and the ax:’ - but his mind is not at ease.

六五: 射雉一矢亡, 终以誉命. Liù wǔ: shè zhì yī shǐ wáng, zhōng yǐ yù mìng.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject shooting a pheasant. He will lose his arrow, but in the end he will obtain praise and a (high) charge.

象传: 终以誉命, 上逮也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhōng yǐ yù mìng, shàng dài yě.

‘In the end he will obtain praise and a (high) charge:’ - he has reached a high place.

上九: 鸟焚其巢, 旅人先笑后号啕. 丧牛于易, 凶. Shàng jiǔ: niǎo fén qí cháo, lǚ rén xiān xiào hòu hào táo. sàng niú yú yì, xiōng.

The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, suggests the idea of a bird burning its nest. The stranger, (thus represented), first laughs and then cries out. He has lost his ox(-like docility) too readily and easily. There will be evil.

象传: 以旅在上, 其义焚也. 丧牛于易, 终莫之闻也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yǐ lǚ zài shàng, qí yì fén yě. sàng niú yú yì, zhōng mò zhī wén yě.

‘Considering that the stranger is here at the very height (of distinction),’ with the spirit that possesses him, it is right he (should be marked by a bird) burning (its nest). ‘He loses his ox(-like docility) too readily and easily:’ - to the end he would not listen to (the truth about the course to be pursued).

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