I Ching hexagram · 50 of 64
Hexagram 50: The Cauldron 鼎 Dǐng · Transformation, culture, nourishment
Transformation and nourishment. Cultivate talent. Supreme good fortune. Success.
- Upper: ☲ Fire
- Lower: ☴ Wind
- Nuclear: 43
- Opposite: 3
Number
50 of 64
Chinese name
鼎 Dǐng
Upper trigram
☲ Fire
Lower trigram
☴ Wind
Nuclear hexagram
䷪ 43. Breakthrough
Opposite hexagram
䷂ 3. Difficulty at the Beginning
What hexagram 50 means
Hexagram 50 even looks like a cauldron: legs at the bottom, a body, handles and a lid. The ding was the sacred bronze vessel used for offerings and feasts, a symbol of culture, nourishment and rightful authority.
The cauldron turns raw ingredients into nourishment. It describes a time to refine, cultivate and put your talents to their highest use, in a position that matches your character.
The Judgement · 卦辞
鼎：元吉，亨。
Supreme good fortune. Success.
The Image · 象曰
木上有火，鼎；君子以正位凝命。
Fire over wood: the image of the cauldron. The noble person holds their position correctly and so fulfils their destiny.
The lines and trigrams
The Cauldron places ☲ Fire (离 Lí), the trigram of clarity and brightness, above ☴ Wind (巽 Xùn), the trigram of gentle, penetrating influence. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 50 in your life
Love and relationships
A nourishing, mature relationship. Cultivate it with care and shared values, and it will transform you both.
Personal growth
Transform raw experience into wisdom. Align your life with your higher purpose.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 50 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初六 · Six at the beginning
A cauldron turned upside down. Clearing out what is stale is good; no blame.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
There is food in the cauldron. Others may envy you, but they cannot harm you. Good fortune.
Line 3 九三 · Nine in the third place
The handles of the cauldron are changed and it cannot be carried. Your talent goes unused for now, but good fortune comes in the end.
Line 4 九四 · Nine in the fourth place
The legs of the cauldron break and the prince's meal is spilled. Taking on more than you can carry brings misfortune.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
The cauldron has yellow handles and golden carrying rings. Perseverance brings benefit.
Line 6 上九 · Nine at the top
The cauldron has carrying rings of jade. Great good fortune; nothing that does not further.
Hexagram 50 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 50 mean?
Hexagram 50, The Cauldron (鼎 Dǐng), is about transformation, culture, nourishment. Transformation and nourishment. Cultivate talent. Hexagram 50 even looks like a cauldron: legs at the bottom, a body, handles and a lid. The ding was the sacred bronze vessel used for offerings and feasts, a symbol of culture, nourishment and rightful authority.
What does hexagram 50 mean in love?
A nourishing, mature relationship. Cultivate it with care and shared values, and it will transform you both.
What does hexagram 50 mean for work and money?
Building institutions, refining products and taking on a respected role. Use your skills for something lasting.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 50?
Hexagram 50 has Fire (Lí) as its upper trigram and Wind (Xùn) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 50?
Its nuclear hexagram is 43, Breakthrough. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 3, Difficulty at the Beginning. Turned upside down it becomes 49, Revolution.
All 64 hexagrams
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