Hexagram 56
LüThe Wanderer
Fire (Li) · Mountain (Gen)
The image
Fire on the mountain: The image of THE WANDERER. Thus the superior man Is clear-minded and cautious In imposing penalties, And protracts no lawsuits.
This hexagram in one line
The mountain, Kên, stands still; above it fire, Li, flames up and does not tarry. Therefore the two trigrams do not stay together. Strange lands and separation are the wanderer's lot.
Core Meaning
The core judgment of this hexagram.
Fire rests on mountain
Hexagram Judgment
THE WANDERER. Success through smallness. Perseverance brings good fortune To the wanderer.
When a man is a wanderer and stranger, he should not be gruff nor overbearing. He has no large circle of acquaintances, therefore he should not give himself airs. He must be cautious and reserved; in this way he protects himself from evil. If he is obliging toward others, he wins success. A wanderer has no fixed abode; his home is the road. Therefore he must take care to remain upright and steadfast, so that he sojourns only in the proper places, associating only with good people. Then he has good fortune and can go his way unmolested.
Upper and Lower Trigrams
- Fire (Li)
- Fire · Clinging
- Mountain (Gen)
- Mountain · Stillness
Lines
What each of the six positions expresses.
Classics
Tuan CommentaryThe reasoning behind the judgment.
The Wanderer means success through smallness. The yielding attains the outside and follows the hard. Keeping still and attached to clarity, hence success through smallness. The Wanderer: perseverance brings good fortune to the wanderer because his will is not exhausted. The meaning of the time of the Wanderer is great indeed.
The Wanderer means small success. The yielding attains its place outside and follows the hard. Stillness joined to clarity is why small success is possible. Perseverance brings good fortune to the traveler because his purpose is not exhausted. The meaning of the Wanderer in its proper time is indeed great.
Great ImageThe image itself, read as a picture of the situation.
Fire on the mountain: The image of THE WANDERER. Thus the superior man Is clear-minded and cautious In imposing penalties, And protracts no lawsuits.
When grass on a mountain takes fire, there is bright light. However, the fire does not linger in one place, but travels on to new fuel. It is a phenomenon of short duration. This is what penalties and lawsuits should be like. They should be a quickly passing matter, and must not be dragged out indefinitely. Prisons ought to be places where people are lodged only temporarily, as guests are. They must not become dwelling places.
Further
Related hexagrams
Related Guides
- Hexagram CareerHexagram 56 (The Wanderer) in Career: I Ching Guidance for Work and Professional LifeWhat does Hexagram 56 (The Wanderer) mean for your career? When a man is a wanderer and stranger, he should not be gruff nor overbearing. He has no large circle of acquaintances, therefore he should not give himself air... Learn how the I Ching guides professional decisions, leadership, timing, and workplace dynamics.
- Hexagram StudyI Ching Hexagram Meanings: How to Read the 64 PatternsUnderstand how I Ching hexagram meanings work, from the overall pattern to the image, line statements, and modern interpretation.
Frequently asked questions
What does Lü / The Wanderer mean in the I Ching?
When a man is a wanderer and stranger, he should not be gruff nor overbearing. He has no large circle of acquaintances, therefore he should not give himself air...
How should I study Hexagram 56 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. A wanderer should not demean himself or busy himself with inferior things he meets with along the way. The humbler and more defenseless his outward position, the more should he pre...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
The Wanderer means small success. The yielding attains its place outside and follows the hard. Stillness joined to clarity is why small success is possible. Perseverance brings good fortune to the traveler because his pu...
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Original text from the I Ching; translation based on Richard Wilhelm's German version.