Reading
Judgment
Treading upon the tiger's tail.
It does not bite the person. Success.
The situation is essentially difficult. The strongest and the weakest are immediately together. The weak goes behind the strong and keeps busy with it. But the strong allows it and does it no harm, for the contact is cheerful and not hurtful.
The human situation is that one has to do with wild, inaccessible people. In this case one attains one's aim if one keeps to good custom in one's conduct. Good, agreeable forms of conduct lead to success even in dealings with irritable people.
Image
Above is heaven, below the lake: the image of Treading.
Thus the noble one distinguishes high and low
and thereby firms up the mind of the people.
Heaven and lake show a difference in height that has arisen of itself from their natures, and is therefore clouded by no envy. So too there must be differences of height among human beings. A universal equality cannot be carried through. What matters is that the differences of rank in human society not be arbitrary and unjust; for then envy and class struggle are the unavoidable consequence. If, on the contrary, the external differences of rank correspond to an inner justification, and inner worthiness is the measure for the outer rank, then people are at ease with it, and society comes into order.
Commentary
Treading means, on the one hand, the right manner of conducting oneself. Above is heaven, the father; below is the lake, the youngest daughter. This shows the distinction of high and low, which underlies the custom, stillness, and proper conduct in society. Treading literally means "stepping on something." The small Joyous treads upon the great Strong. The direction of motion of both primary hexagrams is upward. That the strong treads upon the weak is something taken for granted and not specifically mentioned in the Book of Changes. The treading of the weak upon the strong is therefore not dangerous, because it takes place in cheerfulness, without presumption, so that the strong is not provoked and good-naturedly allows it.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
Simple conduct. Progress without blame.
Commentary
One finds oneself in a situation in which one is not yet bound by the obligations of intercourse. If one behaves simply, one remains free of social obligations and can calmly follow the inclinations of one's own heart, since one makes no demands on others but is content. Treading does not mean standing still, but going forward. One is in a very modest beginning position. But one possesses the inner strength that vouches for progress. If one is content with simplicity, one can go forward without blame.
Someone who cannot find peace in modest conditions wants to get ahead and is ambitious and restless, because they want by their conduct to escape lowliness and poverty, not because they want to accomplish something. Once they have reached their goal, they will surely become arrogant and indulgent. Their progress therefore bears blame. The capable person, by contrast, is content with simple conduct. They want to go forward in order to accomplish something. If they then reach their goal, they accomplish something, and all is well.
Line 2
A nine in the second place means:
Treading a plain, level path.
The perseverance of a dark person brings good fortune.
Commentary
Here the situation of a solitary sage is depicted. They keep themself apart from the bustle of the world, seek nothing, want nothing from anyone, and are not dazzled by alluring goals. They remain true to themself and so walk on a level road unchallenged through life. Because they are content and do not challenge fate, they remain free of entanglements.
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
A one-eyed person can see, a lame person can tread.
They tread upon the tiger's tail. It bites them.
Misfortune!
A warrior acts thus for their great prince.
Commentary
A one-eyed person can indeed see, but not well enough for clear sight. A lame person can indeed tread, but not well enough to get ahead. If someone with such weaknesses nevertheless takes themself for strong and accordingly puts themself in danger, they bring misfortune upon themself. For they undertake something that exceeds their strength. This foolhardy way of storming forward without regard for one's own resources may be excusable at best for a warrior fighting for their great prince.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
They tread upon the tiger's tail.
Caution and circumspection lead in the end to good fortune.
Commentary
It is a matter of a dangerous undertaking. The inner strength is present to endure it. But the inner strength combines outwardly with hesitant caution, in contrast to the previous line, which is inwardly weak but presses forward outwardly. So the eventual success is certain, consisting in the attainment of one's will, namely by going forward to overcome the danger.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means:
Resolute conduct.
Perseverance in awareness of danger.
Commentary
This concerns the master of the whole hexagram. One sees oneself forced to resolute conduct. In doing so, however, one must remain aware of the danger bound up with such resolute conduct, particularly when one persists in it. Only awareness of the danger makes success possible.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
Look to your conduct and examine the favorable signs.
If all is complete, sublime good fortune comes.
Commentary
The work is at its end. If one would know whether good fortune will follow, let one look back on one's conduct and on its consequences. If the effects are good, good fortune is certain. No one knows themself. Only from the consequences of one's deeds, from the fruits of one's works, can one measure what one has to expect.