The Clinging (Fire)

履錯然，敬之无咎。

The footsteps cross in confusion. Regard them with care, and there is no fault.

Crossed steps mark Line 1, before lower Fire has found a path. The line's change makes Mountain below Fire and produces Hexagram 56.

黃離，元吉。

Yellow brightness. Greatly favorable.

Yellow is the traditional color of the center, matching Line 2 at the center of lower Fire. Changing the yielding line produces Hexagram 14, Fire above Heaven.

日昃之離，不鼓缶而歌，則大耋之嗟，凶。

In the light of the setting sun, either beat the earthen jar and sing or lament approaching old age. The latter brings misfortune.

The sun declines at Line 3, the upper edge of inner Fire. When that firm line yields, Fire becomes Thunder and the result is Hexagram 21, outer Fire above a moving obstruction.

突如其來如，焚如，死如，棄如。

It comes suddenly, blazes, dies, and is cast aside.

Line 4 begins the outer Fire with a blaze that arrives and dies at once. Its change makes Mountain above Fire, Hexagram 22, where brightness is contained by visible form.

出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。

Tears stream out; sorrow draws repeated sighs. Favorable.

Tears and sighs occupy Line 5, the yielding center of Li's outer trigram. Changing it to firm turns Fire into Heaven and yields Hexagram 13, Heaven above Fire.

王用出征，有嘉折首，獲匪其醜，无咎。

The king sends out an expedition. There is merit in striking the ringleaders and sparing captives who were not their accomplices. No fault.

The campaign at Line 6 distinguishes the ringleaders from those who did not join them. In this traditional reading, clarity includes restraint in punishment. Changing the firm top to yielding replaces upper Fire with Thunder and produces Hexagram 55.