Hexagram 50 鼎 changing to hexagram 20 觀
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 5.
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 20 觀, line 1
童觀，小人无咎，君子吝。
The first line, divided, shows the looking of a lad;—not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.
Hexagram 20 觀, line 6
觀其生，君子无咎。
The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 50 鼎 — judgment
元吉，亨。
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
Hexagram 20 觀 — judgment
盥而不薦，有孚顒若。
Kwân shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).
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. |
| 5 | 鼎黃耳金鉉，利貞。 | The fifth line, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct. |
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.