Lu / Treading [Conduct]
above: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
below: Tui The Joyous, Lake
The name of the hexagram means on the one hand the right way of
conducting oneself. Heaven, the father, is above, and the lake, the
youngest daughter, is below. This shows the difference between high and
low, upon which composure, correct social conduct, depends. On the
other hand the word for the name of the hexagram, TREADING, means
literally treading upon something. The small and cheerful [Tui] treads
upon the large and strong [Ch'ien]. The direction of movement of the
two primary trigrams is upward. The fact that the strong treads on the
weak is not mentioned in the Book of Changes, because it is taken for
granted. For the weak to take a stand against the strong is not
dangerous here, because it happened in good humor [Tui] and without
presumption, so that the strong man is not irritated but takes it all
in good part.
The Judgement
TREADING. Treading upon the tail of the tiger.
It does not bite the man. Success.
The situation is really difficult. That which is strongest and that
which is weakest are close together. The weak follows behind the strong
and worries it. The strong, however, acquiesces and does not hurt the
weak, because the contact is in good humor and harmless.
In terms of a human situation, one is handling wild, intractable
people. In such a case one's purpose will be achieved if one behaves
with decorum. Pleasant manners succeed even with irritable people.
The Image
Heaven above, the lake below:
The image of TREADING.
Thus the superior man discriminates between high and low,
And thereby fortifies the thinking of the people.
Heaven and the lake show a difference of elevation that inheres in the
natures of the two, hence no envy arises. Among mankind also there are
necessarily differences of elevation; it is impossible to bring about
universal equality. But it is important that differences in social rank
should not be arbitrary and unjust, for if this occurs, envy and class
struggle are the inevitable consequences. If, on the other hand,
external differences in rank correspond with differences in inner
worth, and if inner worth forms the criterion of external rank, people
acquiesce and order reigns in society.