履

Conveys both the physical act of stepping or walking and the metaphorical sense of conduct or behavior — how one “walks” upon the path of life.

Originally a compound ideograph, later reinterpreted as a phono-semantic compound.

Early form: 舟 (boat) + 正 (upright) + 頁 (head), representing a person standing upright or balanced while walking on a surface — thus “to tread.”

Later form: 尸 (person seen from the side or body bent) + 復 (to return, to repeat), giving the modern shape.

《說文解字》 (Shuowen Jiezi):

「履，足所依也。从尸，復聲。」

“履 means what the foot relies upon; composed of 尸 (body) and phonetic 復 (fù).”

This definition clarifies that the term referred not only to the act of stepping but also to the thing underfoot — hence “shoe.”

Semantic development:

Literal sense: to tread, to step on, to wear on the feet.

Extended sense:

- to act or conduct oneself, metaphorically “to walk one’s path”;

- to fulfill or perform duties or promises (履行, 履約);

- shoes or sandals as the physical object underfoot (鞋履).

In philosophy, 履 represents behavior grounded in principle — walking one’s moral path faithfully.

履行 (이행) — to fulfill, to carry out

履歷 (이력) — personal record, career history (literally, “footsteps walked”)

鞋履 (혜리) — footwear, shoes

履約 (이약) — to honor an agreement

履仁 (이인) — to walk in benevolence

履信 (이신) — to act faithfully

In Confucian texts, 履 symbolizes moral conduct — “the way one walks.”

《中庸》 (Book of Rites – Doctrine of the Mean):

「君子慎其獨也，小人閑居為不善，無所不至，見君子而後厭然，掩其不善而著其善， 人之所欺也， 其心不可欺也。君子慎其獨也。」

"The noble person guards his conduct even in solitude. The petty man, when left idle and unseen, indulges in wrongdoing without restraint; but when he meets the virtuous, he grows ashamed, conceals his faults, and pretends to virtue. He can deceive others, yet not his own conscience. Hence, the noble person remains vigilant in private as in public — ever mindful of the unseen within."

While 履 itself does not appear in this quote, it is closely tied to 行 (to act) and 道 (the Way) — representing the actual practice of virtue, not mere theory.

In 《禮記·中庸》 (Book of Rites – Doctrine of the Mean):

「履信思順，亦可宗也。」

“If one walks in faithfulness and thinks in harmony, he is worthy of esteem.”

Here “履信” literally means “to tread in sincerity” — moral conduct expressed through faithful action.

Symbolic interpretation:

履 represents the act of treading the right path — both literally (walking) and morally (conduct).

The feet, in Chinese thought, symbolize one’s foundation; to “walk uprightly” (履正) means to act in accordance with the Dao (道).

《易經·履卦》 (Book of Changes, Hexagram 10 “Treading”):

「履虎尾，不咥人，亨。」

“Treading on the tiger’s tail — yet it does not bite; there is success.”

In this hexagram, 履 symbolizes the delicate balance of correct conduct — walking carefully amid danger without causing harm.

《易經·履卦·彖傳》 (Book of Changes, Commentary on Hexagram 10):

「履虎尾，咥人，凶；亨，履道坦坦，幽人貞吉。」

“To tread on the tiger’s tail — perilous, yet the upright traveler finds good fortune.”

A metaphor for moral vigilance: when one’s steps (履) are guided by virtue, even danger brings harmony.

In both daily life and moral philosophy, 履 remains a vivid symbol of how one walks their path under Heaven.