Hexagram 50 鼎 changing to hexagram 2 坤
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 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 2 坤, line 1
履霜，堅冰至。
In the first line, divided, (we see its subject) treading on hoarfrost. The strong ice will come (by and by).
Hexagram 2 坤, line 5
黃裳，元吉。
The fifth line, divided, (shows) the yellow lower garment. There will be great good fortune.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 50 鼎 — judgment
元吉，亨。
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
Hexagram 2 坤 — judgment
元亨。利牝馬之貞。
Khwăn (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man (here intended) has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his (proper) lord. The advantageousness will be seen in his getting friends in the south-west, and losing friends in the north-east. If he rest in correctness and firmness, there will be good fortune.
The changing lines of hexagram 50
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 鼎有實，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。 | The second line, 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. |
| 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. |
| 4 | 鼎折足，覆公餗，其刑渥，凶。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows the caldron with its feet broken; and its contents, designed for the rulers use, overturned and spilt. Its subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil. |
| 6 | 鼎玉鉉，大吉，无不利。 | The sixth line, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous. |
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.