Hexagram 56: Lǚ (The Wanderer)
火山旅 · 第 56 卦 · Fire over Mountain · 中文版
The Judgment
Lu intimates that (in the condition which it denotes) there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveller be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.
旅：小亨，旅贞吉。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
'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 traveller 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!
彖曰：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！
The Great Image
(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 litigations to continue.
象曰：山上有火，旅；君子以明慎用刑，而不留狱。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows the stranger mean and meanly occupied. It is thus that he brings on himself (further) calamity.
'The stranger is mean and meanly occupied:' - his aim is become of the lowest character, and calamity will ensue.
初六：旅琐琐，斯其所取灾。 象曰：旅琐琐，志穷灾也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): 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.
'He is provided with good and trusty servants:' - he will in the end have nothing of which to complain.
六二：旅即次，怀其资，得童仆贞。 象曰：得童仆贞，终无尤也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): 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.
'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.
九三：旅焚其次，丧其童仆，贞厉。 象曰：旅焚其次，亦以伤矣。以旅与下，其义丧也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the traveller in a resting-place, having (also) the means of livelihood and the axe, (but still saying), 'I am not at ease in my mind.'
'The stranger is in a resting-place:' - but he has not got his proper position. 'He has the means of livelihood, and the axe:' - but his mind is not at ease.
九四：旅于处，得其资斧，我心不快。 象曰：旅于处，未得位也。得其资斧，心未快也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): 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.
'In the end he will obtain praise and a (high) charge:' - he has reached a high place.
六五：射雉一矢亡，终以誉命。 象曰：终以誉命，上逮也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): 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.
'Considering that the stranger is here at the very height (of distinction),' with the spirit that possesses him, it is right he (should be emblemed 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).
上九：鸟焚其巢，旅人先笑后号咷。丧牛于易，凶。 象曰：以旅在上，其义焚也。丧牛于易，终莫之闻也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.