The Clinging Over Keeping Still 
Fire/Sun Above, Mountain Below


ATTRIBUTESANATOMYELEMENTCOLORSEASONDIRECTIONFAMILY
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— x —Clarity/LightEyeFireYellowSummerSouthMiddle Daughter
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—  —InertiaHandStoneGreenEarly SpringNorth EastYoungest Son
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There is fire on the mountain.
The great man is clear headed and watchful
When dispensing punishment.
He prolongs no hearings.
The traveler.
Success through small undertakings.
Auspicious if the drifter is determined.

When fire breaks out on a mountain, it’s light can be seen for miles around. The fire will not stay in place but travels on in it’s search for fuel. However, its brightness does not last for a long time since it soon runs out of combustible material. When judging others, punishment and trials should be like the fire on the mountain. The hearing should be carried out swiftly, and punishment should be equal to the crime. Penalties should not be of a permanent nature since permanence in punishment leaves no room for reform. If a man is only traveling through, he can not let his actions be viewed as being blunt or arrogant. He has no considerable group of friends and should not give himself insincere manners because everyone would see through his act and this would cause resentment from the others. He must remain discreet, watchful and controlled. This is the best way for him to shelter himself from gaining a tainted attitude. If he can show grace and be accommodating to the community in which he is a stranger, he will win over their respect and gain acceptance. This will bring about good fortune. The traveler has no home which he can call his own so he must be particularly vigilant in regard to his actions. He must maintain a constant and honorable path in order to travel only in the appropriate locations and connect with only the proper people. Once he can accomplish this he can be assured of success and a safe journey. He should always remember to deal with people the way he would like to have others deal with him.


Moving lines are read from the bottom up. The lowest line in the hexagram is line # 1 and the highest line is #6. 


1 –X– The traveler occupies his time with petty matters. Ominous. This is his own fault. 

A traveler who moves from place to place should not weigh himself down with the trivial and petty affairs which happen to cross his path. A more modest approach is needed. Since he is in a state of perpetual change and motion, he should avoid uncertain and aggressive attitudes and maintain his inner reserve. He would be foolish if he expected others to welcome him if he acted in a way which others could perceive as insincere. He must treat others with a sense of respect regardless of what he feels about their actions otherwise he would be greeted with scorn and an discourteous approach. 

2 –X– The traveler arrives at an inn. All of his belongings are with him. He gains the trust of a youthful attendant. 

In this situation, the traveler is a humble and well mannered person. He understands that for a traveler the only place where he finds a resting point is attained through a constant and renewing introspection of his inner principles. Since he does not find a home in the outside world he must find refuge within himself. Because of his modest and proper approach he will be greeted as a friend. He will find assistance among the others and his purpose will be achieved. He will even gain the support of a person who will become a loyal and sincere friend. This is a priceless benefit for a man who travels through the lives of others. 

3 –0– The traveler’s inn burns to the ground. He lose’s the trust of his youthful attendant Peril. 

A traveler with an aggressive attitude will not be well accept by the people whose lives he interacts with. If he begins to intervene into affairs which are not of his concern he will be chastised and will lose his right to a proper resting place within their community. If he treats others with indifference and vanity he will lose their support and esteem. Once the situation has come this far, the traveler finds himself in a very precarious position since he no longer has anyone he can count on. 

4 –0– The traveler finds a haven and lingers on. He gains possessions but does not feel at ease. His heart feels sorrow. 

This line speaks of a man who has inner strength and ambition but who understands that when seen as a traveling stranger he must refrain from openly demonstrating his power and aspirations. This would only threaten the others who are permanently devoted to the particular situation in which he has wandered into. If he can maintain a low key approach to his circumstances he will at least find a place to rest among this community. With the proper attitude and outward bearing he will even be allowed to accumulate possessions within this group. However he must always remain watchful of others who might become envious of his success. For this reason he is never totally at ease with this new situation. He will always be aware that he is a outsider adrift on an unfamiliar shore. 

5 –X– He kills a pheasant with his first arrow. This will bring him compliments and position. 

It was customary for those wanting to enter into the service of the ruler to offer him a gift, in this case the pheasant. In this particular situation, the man easily finds the right connections which will bring him prominence and authority. He will gain allies who shall compliment and suggest him for an distinguished position. In the end, the ruler will accept him and grant him considerable authority. If the man understands that he must follow the proper custom in order to present himself in a unfamiliar territory he will be able to gain access to the right sphere of influence and thus achieve prominence even in a strange land. 

6 –0– The bird’s nest burns quickly. The traveler laughs at first, But then mourns and wails. Because of his negligence, he will lose his cow. Ominous. 

A bird whose nest has burnt has lost its resting place. When a bird build’s his nest in a reckless fashion, it may be destroyed and he would later have cause for sorrow. This situation tells us that the man has not paid any attention to the signs of impending peril and has acted in a careless manner. He has shrugged off the signs of trouble and laughed in the face of danger. This will cause him to feel sorrow in the end since others will not empathize with his cause. If he loses the support of others because his conceit and inflexibility towards the situation, he should not expect the others to feel any compassion for him.