The Wanderer

Fire above

Mountain below

Translated from Richard Wilhelm's German (1924)

Introduction

The mountain (Gen) stands still; above it the fire (Li) flares up and does not linger. So the two do not stay together. Foreign lands and separation are the wanderer's lot.

The Judgment

The wanderer. Success through smallness. Persistence brings the wanderer good fortune.

As a wanderer and stranger, one must not be brusque or set one's sights high. One has no large circle of acquaintances, so one must not boast. One needs to be cautious and reserved; that is how one protects oneself from harm. If one is obliging toward others, one achieves success. The wanderer has no fixed abode; the road is their home. So they must make sure that they are upright and firm within, that they stay only in good places and that they keep company only with good people. Then the wanderer has good fortune and can travel their road unchallenged.

The Image

On the mountain, fire burns: the image of the wanderer. So the noble one is clear and cautious in applying punishments, and does not drag out disputes.

When the grass on the mountain burns off, there is a bright glow. But the fire does not linger; it wanders on after new fuel. It is only something that passes quickly. So it should be with punishments and lawsuits too. They must be something that passes quickly and must not drag on. Prisons must be places that take people in only temporarily, like guests. They must not become people's living quarters.

The Lines

First line, six

If the wanderer busies themselves with petty things, that is how they bring disaster on themselves.

A wanderer must not demean themselves or busy themselves with petty things along the way. The lower and more defenseless their position outwardly, the more they must preserve their dignity inwardly. For if a stranger thinks they can find a friendly welcome by lending themselves to jokes and buffoonery, they are mistaken. The only consequences are contempt and insulting treatment.

Second line, six

The wanderer arrives at an inn. They carry their possessions with them. They gain the persistence of a young servant.

The wanderer portrayed here is modest and reserved. Inwardly they do not lose themselves, and so they find a resting place. Outwardly they do not lose people's affection, and so everyone helps them along, enabling them to acquire possessions. They are also joined by a loyal and reliable servant, such as is of inestimable value to a wanderer.

Third line, nine

The wanderer's inn burns to the ground. They lose the persistence of their young servant. Danger.

A violent stranger does not know how to behave. They meddle in affairs and disputes that are none of their business. This costs them their resting place. They are distant and haughty toward their servant. This costs them the servant's loyalty. When, as a stranger, one no longer has anyone to rely on, that is very dangerous.

Fourth line, nine

The wanderer rests at a lodging place. They gain their possessions and an axe. My heart is not glad.

Here a wanderer is portrayed who knows how to be modest outwardly, though inwardly they are strong and pushing forward. So they at least find a lodging place where they can stay. They also succeed in acquiring possessions. But with their possessions they are not safe. They must always be on their guard, ready to defend themselves weapon in hand. That is why they do not feel at ease. They are constantly conscious of being a stranger in a foreign land.

Fifth line, six

They shoot a pheasant; the first arrow brings it down. In the end this leads to praise and office.

Traveling statesmen used to introduce themselves to princes by presenting a pheasant as a gift. The wanderer here wishes to enter a prince's service. To this end they shoot a pheasant, bringing it down with the first shot. So they find friends who praise and recommend them, and in the end the prince accepts the wanderer and confers an office on them.

Circumstances often arise that lead one to seek a home in foreign lands. If one knows how to judge the situation correctly and to introduce oneself in the right way, one may find friends and a field of activity even in foreign lands.

Top line, nine

The bird's nest burns. The wanderer laughs at first, then they must lament and weep. They lose the cow through carelessness. Misfortune.

The image of the bird whose nest burns shows the loss of the resting place. If the bird was careless and incautious in building its nest, this disaster can befall it. The same can happen to the wanderer. If they let themselves go in joking and laughter and no longer remember that they are a wanderer, they will have to weep and lament later. For if through carelessness one loses one's cow, which is to say one's modest adaptability, that is harmful.

← 55 · Abundance

57 · The Gentle →