Lu 火山旅
A time as a wanderer in a strange place
You are in a strange environment or feel adrift. Act humbly and don’t overreach.
What does I Ching hexagram 56 (The Wanderer) mean?
Fire on a mountain, a traveler. In a strange place, be humble and careful.
- The Wanderer in love
- A relationship with an unsettled footing. Don’t be impatient.
- The Wanderer at work and with money
- Handle travel, business trips and new surroundings with care.
- Advice
- Act modestly and neatly, like a traveler.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · The Wanderer
Very auspicious“A little success. For a traveler, perseverance brings good fortune.”
The Image: Fire on the mountain: the wanderer. The noble person is careful and clear in the use of penalties and does not let cases drag on.
原文 · 小亨，旅貞吉。 / 山上有火，旅；君子以明慎用刑，而不留獄。
The six lines of hexagram 56
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初六
Neutral“The traveler is petty and fussy; this brings disaster on himself.”
Whining and pettiness on the road attract trouble.
原文 · 旅瑣瑣，斯其所取災。
Line 2 · 六二
Neutral“The traveler arrives at an inn, carries his money and finds a loyal young servant.”
Settled, with resources and a trustworthy helper. Good.
原文 · 旅即次，懷其資，得僮僕貞。
Line 3 · 九三
Caution“The traveler’s inn burns down; he loses his servant; perseverance is dangerous.”
Arrogance on the road costs you your place and your help.
原文 · 旅焚其次，喪其僮僕，貞厲。
Line 4 · 九四
Neutral“The traveler stays at a place, gets his resources and an ax; my heart is not glad.”
You have what you need but aren’t at ease. Stay alert.
原文 · 旅于處，得其資斧，我心不快。
Line 5 · 六五
Neutral“He shoots a pheasant; one arrow is lost, but in the end he gains praise and office.”
A small loss leads to recognition in the end.
原文 · 射雉一矢亡，終以譽命。
Line 6 · 上九
Misfortune“The bird’s nest burns; the traveler first laughs, then wails. He loses his ox in the field: misfortune.”
Overconfidence and carelessness end in loss.
原文 · 鳥焚其巢，旅人先笑後號咷。喪牛于易，凶。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 60. Jie (Limitation)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 55. Feng (Abundance)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.