Hexagram 50: Dǐng (The Cauldron)
火风鼎 · 第 50 卦 · Fire over Wind · 中文版
The Judgment
Ding gives the intimation of great progress and success.
鼎：元吉，亨。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
In Ding we have (symbolically) the figure of a caldron. (We see) the (symbol of) wood entering into that of fire, which suggests the idea of cooking. The sages cooked their offerings in order to present them to God, and made great feasts to nourish their wise and able (ministers). We have the symbol of) flexible obedience, and that (which denotes) ears quick of hearing and eyes clear-sighted. (We have also) the weak (line) advanced and acting above, in the central place, and responded to by the strong (line below). All these things give the idea of 'great progress and success.'
彖曰：鼎，象也。以木巽火，亨饪也。圣人亨以享上帝，而大亨以养圣贤。巽而耳目聪明，柔进而上行，得中而应乎刚，是以元亨。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) wood and above it that for fire form Ding. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his every position correct, and maintains secure the appointment (of Heaven).
象曰：木上有火，鼎；君子以正位凝命。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows the caldron overthrown and its feet turned up. (But) there will be advantage in its getting rid of what was bad in it. (Or it shows us) the concubine (whose position is improved) by means of her son. There will be no error.
'The caldron is overturned, and its feet turned upwards:' - but this is not (all) contrary (to what is right). 'There will be advantage in getting rid of what was bad:' - thereby (the subject of the line) will follow the more noble (subject of the fourth line).
初六：鼎颠趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。 象曰：鼎颠趾，未悖也。利出否，以从贵也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with the things (to be cooked) in it. (If its subject can say), 'My enemy dislikes me, but he cannot approach me,' there will be good fortune.
'There is the caldron with the things (to be cooked) in it:' - let (the subject of the line) be careful where he goes. 'My enemy dislikes me:' - but there will in the end be no fault (to which he can point).
九二：鼎有实，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。 象曰：鼎有实，慎所之也。我仇有疾，终无尤也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with (the places of) its ears changed. The progress (of its subject) is (thus) stopped. The fat flesh of the pheasant (which is in the caldron) will not be eaten. But the (genial) rain will come, and the grounds for repentance will disappear. There will be good fortune in the end.
'There is the caldron with (the places for) its ears changed:' - (its subject) has failed in what was required of him (in his situation).
九三：鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨亏悔，终吉。 象曰：鼎耳革，失其义也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with its feet broken; and its contents, designed for the ruler's use, overturned and spilt. Its Subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil.
'The contents designed for the ruler's use are overturned and spilt:' - how can (the subject of the line) be trusted?
九四：鼎折足，覆公餗，其形渥，凶。 象曰：覆公餗，信如何也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth six, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct.
'The caldron has yellow ears:' - the central position (of the line) is taken as (a proof of) the solid (virtue of its subject).
六五：鼎黄耳金铉，利贞。 象曰：鼎黄耳，中以为实也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
'The rings of jade' are at the very top: - the strong and the weak meet in their due proportions.
上九：鼎玉铉，大吉，无不利。 象曰：玉铉在上，刚柔节也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.