Hexagram 50 · The Cauldron

The Cauldron

Fire above · Wind below

Traditional palace notation: 离宫 · 二世卦

A vessel transforms separate ingredients into something that can nourish a group. Consider the structure, people and practices that hold your work together. Refinement involves both what goes in and whether the arrangement can carry what it produces.

A question in mind. A moment to reflect.

Cast the coins rather than choosing a result.
Write one question, then cast three coins six times.

Cast coins

Hexagram text · Classical Chinese (untranslated)

鼎:元吉,亨。

Tuan commentary · Classical Chinese

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。

Image commentary · Classical Chinese

象曰:木上有火,鼎;君子以正位凝命。

Six lines · Classical Chinese (untranslated)

上九

鼎玉铉,大吉,无不利。

象曰:玉铉在上,刚柔节也。

六五

鼎黄耳金铉,利贞。

象曰:鼎黄耳,中以为实也。

九四

鼎折足,覆公餗,其形渥,凶。

象曰:覆公餗,信如何也。

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。

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。

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。