Reading
Judgment
The Wanderer. Through smallness, success.
For the wanderer, perseverance brings good fortune.
As wanderer and stranger, one must not be brusque and want to reach high. One has no large circle of acquaintance, therefore one must not boast. One must be cautious and reserved; thus one guards oneself from evil. If one is considerate toward others, one gains success. The wanderer has no firm abode; the road is their home. Therefore they must see to it that they are inwardly right and firm, that they tarry only in good places and associate only with good people. Then they have good fortune and can unchallenged travel their road.
Image
On the mountain is fire: the image of the Wanderer.
Thus the noble one is clear and cautious in the application of
punishments and does not drag out disputes.
When the grass on the mountain burns, there is a bright glow. But the fire does not tarry; rather, it wanders after new nourishment. It is only a quickly passing phenomenon. So it should be with punishments and trials. They must be a quickly passing phenomenon and must not be dragged out. Prisons must be something that takes people in only temporarily, like guests. They must not become dwelling places for people.
Commentary
The mountain (Ken) stands still; above, the fire (Li) flames up and does not tarry. Therefore they do not remain together. Stranger, separation is the lot of the wanderer.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A six at the beginning means:
If the wanderer busies themself with petty things,
they draw misfortune upon themself by this.
Commentary
A wanderer must not demean themself and busy themself with common things along the way. Precisely the lower and more defenseless their outer position is, the more they must inwardly preserve their dignity. For if a stranger thinks that they will find friendly reception by giving themself to jests and absurdities, they are mistaken. The consequences are only contempt and insulting treatment.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
The wanderer comes to the inn.
They have their possessions with them.
They gain the perseverance of a young servant.
Commentary
The wanderer who is here depicted is modest and reserved. Inwardly they do not lose themself; therefore they find a place of rest. Outwardly they do not lose the affection of people; therefore everyone furthers them, so that they can acquire possessions. Moreover, a faithful and reliable servant joins them, who is of inestimable value for the wanderer.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means:
The wanderer's inn burns down.
They lose the perseverance of their young servant.
Danger.
Commentary
A violent stranger does not know how to conduct themself. They meddle in affairs and disputes that are no business of theirs. Thereby they lose their place of rest. They treat their servant distantly and arrogantly. Thereby they lose their servant's faithfulness. If as a stranger one has no one on whom one can rely, this is very dangerous.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
The wanderer rests at a place of shelter.
They gain their possessions and an axe.
My heart is not glad.
Commentary
Here a wanderer is depicted who outwardly knows how to be modest, although inwardly they are strong and forward-pressing. Therefore they find at least a place of shelter where they can dwell. They also succeed in acquiring possessions. But they are not safe with their possessions. They must always be on guard, ready to defend themself with armed hand. Therefore they do not feel well. It continually comes into consciousness for them that they are a stranger in a foreign land.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
They shoot a pheasant; with the first arrow it falls.
In the end, praise and office come through this.
Commentary
The statesmen on journeys used to introduce themselves to the princes through the gift of a pheasant. The wanderer here wants to enter princely service. For this purpose they shoot a pheasant, which they bring down at the first shot. Thus they find friends who praise and recommend them, and they are finally accepted by the prince, who grants them an office.
Often conditions arise that prompt one to seek one's home in foreign parts. If one knows how to hit upon the situation and to introduce oneself in the right way, one may find a circle of friends and a sphere of activity even in foreign parts.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
The bird's nest burns.
The wanderer first laughs,
then must they lament and weep.
They lose the cow through frivolity. Misfortune!
Commentary
The image of the bird whose nest burns shows the loss of the place of rest. If the bird was frivolous and incautious in the building of its nest, this misfortune can befall it. So too with the wanderer. If they let themself go in jest and laughter and no longer think that they are a wanderer, they will later have cause to weep and lament. For if in frivolity one loses one's cow, that is, one's modest adaptability, this is evil.