Hexagram 39 蹇 changing to hexagram 50 鼎
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 4, 5, 6.
What to read
Four changing lines: read the two unchanged lines of the resulting hexagram; the lower one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Hexagram 50 鼎, line 1
鼎顛趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。
The first line, 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.
Hexagram 50 鼎, line 3
鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨虧悔，終吉。
The third line, 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.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 39 蹇 — judgment
利西南，不利東北；利見大人，貞吉。
In (the state indicated Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.
Hexagram 50 鼎 — judgment
元吉，亨。
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
The changing lines of hexagram 39
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。 | The second line, divided, shows the minister of the king struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage. |
| 4 | 往蹇來連。 | The fourth line, divided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above). |
| 5 | 大蹇朋來。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject struggling with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him. |
| 6 | 往蹇來碩，吉；利見大人。 | The topmost line, divided, shows its subject going forward, (only to increase) the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will be (productive of) great (merit). There will be good fortune, and it will be advantageous to meet with the great man. |
English: James Legge (1882), public domain. Chinese: Zhou Yi.
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.