Hexagram 56 · Line 5
The Traveler — 五六
Lu Traveler · Wu Liu
五六 · Wu Liu
The Line
They shoot a pheasant; with the first arrow it falls. In the end, praise and office come through this.
Interpretation
The statesmen on journeys used to introduce themselves to the princes through the gift of a pheasant. The wanderer here wants to enter princely service. For this purpose they shoot a pheasant, which they bring down at the first shot. Thus they find friends who praise and recommend them, and they are finally accepted by the prince, who grants them an office. Often conditions arise that prompt one to seek one's home in foreign parts. If one knows how to hit upon the situation and to introduce oneself in the right way, one may find a circle of friends and a sphere of activity even in foreign parts.