The Yî King · James Legge
Judgment
(Li suggests the idea of) one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
1882 scan · p. 78Line 1 · Nine, undivided
The first line, undivided, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error.
1882 scan · p. 79Line 2 · Nine, undivided
The second line, undivided, shows its subject treading the path that is level and easy;—a quiet and solitary man, to whom, if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune.
1882 scan · p. 79Line 3 · Six, divided
The third line, divided, shows a one-eyed man (who thinks he) can see; a lame man (who thinks he) can walk well; one who treads on the tail of a tiger and is bitten. (All this indicates) ill fortune. We have a (mere) bravo acting the part of a great ruler.
1882 scan · p. 79Line 4 · Nine, undivided
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject treading on the tail of a tiger. He becomes full of apprehensive caution, and in the end there will be good fortune.
1882 scan · p. 79Line 5 · Nine, undivided
The fifth line, undivided, shows the resolute tread of its subject. Though he be firm and correct, there will be peril.
1882 scan · p. 79Line 6 · Nine, undivided
The sixth line, undivided, tells us to look at (the whole course) that is trodden, and examine the presage which that gives. If it be complete and without failure, there will be great good fortune.
1882 scan · p. 79James Legge · The Yî King (1882), Princeton scan. All 450 selected passages were independently image-read and compared by AI; unresolved print details remain. Not human or expert collation. Source and data ↗