01 / THE EARLY TEXT
The words themselves.
An interpretive English translation. Read the translation notes. Six and nine name line types; positions run from bottom to top.
履虎尾，不咥人，亨。
Treading on a tiger's tail. It does not bite the person. Success.
初九：素履，往无咎。
Nine at the beginning: Plain treading. Going brings no blame.
九二：履道坦坦，幽人貞吉。
Nine in the second place: Treading a level, open road. The recluse's determination is auspicious.
六三：眇能視，跛能履，履虎尾，咥人，凶。武人為于大君。
Six in the third place: The one-eyed can see; the lame can walk. Treading on a tiger's tail, the tiger bites. Inauspicious. A warrior acts for the great ruler.
九四：履虎尾，愬愬終吉。
Nine in the fourth place: Treading on a tiger's tail, fearful and alert. Auspicious in the end.
九五：夬履，貞厲。
Nine in the fifth place: Decisive treading. The determination is dangerous.
上九：視履考祥，其旋元吉。
Nine at the top: Look back over the steps and examine the signs. On completing the circuit, great good fortune.
02 / A POSSIBLE CONTEXT
What might the question have been?
How can someone pass a dangerous animal, powerful person, or demanding ceremonial setting without harm?
A possible setting
The person is imagined treading on a tiger's tail. A rash movement may provoke attack. The image can frame approaching a ruler, entering dangerous ground, or performing a risky assignment.
How the words respond
The judgment offers the favorable image of a tiger that does not bite. Line 3 joins limited ability to a disastrous attempt. Line 4 associates fear and caution with a good outcome. The last line looks back over the whole course of conduct before assessing it.
The tiger's tail is an action image with different possible outcomes. The text examines proximity to danger.
This scenario adapts the Chinese edition's historical reading. It is a possible reconstruction, not an established single event or the only interpretation.