Hexagram 56 · 旅

Fire burns above mountain, its brightness moving on rather than settling permanently. Stillness below gives only a temporary resting place. Lu means traveling or sojourning, distinct from Treading in hexagram 10. The image concerns conduct when familiar support and authority are limited.

1. Line 1 · 初六

   旅瑣瑣，斯其所取災。

   The traveler busies himself with petty matters. This is how he brings trouble upon himself.

   Six in the first place is yin reducing its purpose to small grievances. The Small Image finds the intention exhausted, like a visitor alienating a helpful host through constant complaints about minor differences.

2. Line 2 · 六二

   旅即次，懷其資，得僮僕貞。

   The traveler reaches lodging, keeps his resources with him, and gains a young attendant's constancy.

   Six in the second place is central and correctly placed yin finding modest support. The Small Image sees no lasting fault, like a temporary worker keeping essentials organized and treating local helpers reliably.

3. Line 3 · 九三

   旅焚其次，喪其僮僕，貞厲。

   The traveler's lodging burns, and he loses his young attendant. Constancy carries danger.

   Nine in the third place is yang overasserting itself in a temporary position. The Small Image questions its treatment of those below, like a guest supervisor losing cooperation by dismissing the people who make the visit workable.

4. Line 4 · 九四

   旅于處，得其資斧，我心不快。

   The traveler finds a resting place and obtains his resources and axe. My heart is not glad.

   Nine in the fourth place is yang with practical means but no fully settled role. The Small Image notes that incomplete position, like someone on a temporary contract having adequate tools while still lacking a sense of belonging.

5. Line 5 · 六五

   射雉一矢亡，終以譽命。

   Shooting a pheasant, one arrow is lost. In the end there is praise and appointment.

   Six in the fifth place is central yin able to make a fitting contribution. The Small Image connects recognition with reaching above, like a visitor accepting a modest cost to provide work the host genuinely values.

6. Line 6 · 上九

   鳥焚其巢，旅人先笑後號咷。喪牛于易，凶。

   A bird's nest burns. The traveler first laughs, then cries aloud. Losing the ox through carelessness brings misfortune.

   Nine at the top is yang forgetting the limits of a traveler's position. The Small Image stresses the failure to heed, like a temporary guest treating support as an entitlement and ignoring repeated requests for consideration.

Remember the limits and freedoms of temporary footing. Keep essentials in order, offer a useful contribution, and value the people who make your passage possible.

• Nuclear大過28
• Inverted豐55
• Opposite節60
• Previous豐55
• Next巽57