履 · Lǚ — Treading with Poise
King Wen Sequence #10 (履 Lǚ — Treading with Poise) embodies stepping mindfully behind a waking mountain tiger. Assigned to the Gen Mountain Palace (艮宫八卦 · Stillness Gate) · 五世卦 (World Line 5 / Response Line 2) and resonant with Late Autumn & Early Winter Sovereign Heaven (立冬乾金 · 寒露—小雪), its six-line binary vector (110111) pairs 兑 Dui (Joyous Expression) at the root with 乾 Qian (Creative Sovereignty) at the crown.
《大象》：上天下澤，履；君子以辨上下，安民志。 ｜ 《彖传》：履，柔履剛也。說而應乎乾，是以履虎尾，不咥人，亨。剛中正，履帝位而不疚，光明也。
Visual Archetype: polished ceremonial jade stepping stones. When Heaven (Metal) interacts with Lake (Metal), the primary strategic mandate centers on maintaining impeccable protocol around powerful stakeholders. Its Polarity Opposite (Cuo Gua · 错卦) is #15 谦 (Noble Humility), its Overturned Inverse (Zong Gua · 综卦) is #9 小畜 (Gentle Accumulation), and its Nuclear Core (Hu Gua · 互卦) reveals #37 家人 (Harmonious Household Order).
艮宫 · 世爻第5爻 / 应爻第2爻
For decision-makers consulting 履 (Lǚ) regarding maintaining impeccable protocol around powerful stakeholders, the hexagram highlights the interplay between Metal foundation and Metal manifestation under the Earth Palace. Rather than generic haste, align execution with Late Autumn & Early Winter Sovereign Heaven (立冬乾金 · 寒露—小雪) rhythms and inspect whether your natal BaZi chart favors Earth, Metal, or Metal as its Favorable Element (喜用神).
《京氏易传》世应法：九五得位為世身(京氏易傳原文:天子居世5爻,應爻隔三爻)
Six Lines Progression (六爻爻辞 · Bottom Line 1 to Top Line 6)
履 (Lǚ) Line 1 [初九 · 丁巳 (火) · 父母 (火)]: Germination of stepping mindfully behind a waking mountain tiger near polished ceremonial jade stepping stones; validate root premises before accelerating maintaining impeccable protocol around powerful stakeholders. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #6 讼 (Conflict & Arbitration).
《周易本义》：以陽在下居履之初未為物遷率其素履者也占者如是則往而无咎也
履 (Lǚ) Line 2 [九二 · 丁卯 (木) · 官鬼 (木) · 应爻 Response]: Central lower-trigram seat anchored in polished ceremonial jade stepping stones; cultivate Metal craftsmanship in harmony with #37 家人. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #25 无妄 (Unentangled Integrity).
《周易本义》：剛中在下无應於上故為履道平坦幽獨守貞之象幽人履道而遇其占則貞而吉矣
履 (Lǚ) Line 3 [六三 · 丁丑 (土) · 兄弟 (土)]: Threshold between 兑 Dui and 乾 Qian during Late Autumn & Early Winter Sovereign Heaven (立冬乾金 · 寒露—小雪); pace maintaining impeccable protocol around powerful stakeholders carefully. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #1 乾 (The Creative Heaven).
《周易本义》：跛波我反○六三不中不正柔而志剛以此履乾必見傷害故其象如此而占者凶又為剛武之人得志而肆暴之象如秦政項籍豈能久也
履 (Lǚ) Line 4 [九四 · 壬午 (火) · 父母 (火)]: Ministerial counsel within the Gen Mountain Palace (艮宫八卦 · Stillness Gate) · 五世卦; align stepping mindfully behind a waking mountain tiger with institutional mentors. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #61 中孚 (Resonant Inner Sincerity).
《周易本义》：愬山革反音色○九四亦以不中不正履九五之剛然以剛居柔故能戒懼而得終吉
履 (Lǚ) Line 5 [九五 · 壬申 (金) · 子孙 (金) · 世爻 World]: Fulcrum of Treading with Poise (䷉); command maintaining impeccable protocol around powerful stakeholders through balanced Metal and Metal synthesis. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #38 睽 (Harmonizing Polarities).
《周易本义》：夬古快反○九五以剛中正履帝位而下以兌説應之凡事必行无所疑礙故其象為夫決其履雖使得正亦危道也故其占為雖正而危為戒深矣
履 (Lǚ) Line 6 [上九 · 壬戌 (土) · 兄弟 (土)]: Culmination of stepping mindfully behind a waking mountain tiger, pivoting toward Inverse #9 小畜 (Gentle Accumulation) and Opposite #15 谦. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #58 兑 (Joyful Shared Discourse).
《周易本义》：視履之終以考其祥周旋无虧則得元吉占者禍福視其所履而未定也
BaZi & Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数) Connection
Spatial & Elemental Calibration for #10 履: Place a polished ceremonial jade stepping stones motif or Earth-element accent in your workspace; cross-reference Hexagram #15 (谦) when balancing Yin/Yang extremes.
Download Hexagram #10 (履 Lǚ) 6 Changing Lines Commentary
Get line-by-line classical Yao Ci (爻辞) interpretations from bottom Line 1 (Initial) to top Line 6 (Culmination).