Hexagram 56 · The Wanderer

旅 · Lǚ

Hexagram 56, The Wanderer (旅, Lǚ), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Mountain below and Fire above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “小亨，旅贞吉。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with the wanderer — travel, transience and care abroad. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Mountain (艮) — stillness and knowing when to stop
Upper trigram: Fire (离) — clarity, radiance and dependence
Symbol: ䷷ · Name: 旅 (Lǚ) · Number: 56 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   旅琐琐，斯其所取灾。
   The Image says: “旅琐琐”，志穷灾也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   旅即次，怀其资，得童仆，贞。
   The Image says: “得童仆，贞”，终无尤也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   旅焚其次，丧其童仆，贞厉。
   The Image says: “旅焚其次”，亦以伤矣；以旅与下，其义“丧”也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   旅于处，得其资斧，我心不快。
   The Image says: “旅于处”，未得位也；“得其资斧”，心未快也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   射雉，一矢亡；终以誉命。
   The Image says: “终以誉命”，上逮也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   鸟焚其巢，旅人先笑后号啕；丧牛于易，凶。
   The Image says: 以旅在上，其义“焚”也；“丧牛于易”，终莫之闻也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 56?

Hexagram 56 is The Wanderer (旅, Lǚ), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Mountain below and Fire above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Wanderer?

The judgment of The Wanderer reads, in the Chinese original: “小亨，旅贞吉。”. Its Great Image reads: “山上有火，旅。君子以明慎用刑而不留狱。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Wanderer symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Wanderer is associated with the wanderer — travel, transience and care abroad. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.