Hexagram 50 鼎 changing to hexagram 51 震
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 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 51 震, line 4
震遂泥。
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject, amid the startling movements, supinely sinking (deeper) in the mud.
Hexagram 51 震, line 5
震往來厲，億无喪，有事。
The fifth line, divided, shows its subject going and coming amidst the startling movements (of the time), and always in peril; but perhaps he will not incur loss, and find business (which he can accomplish).
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 50 鼎 — judgment
元吉，亨。
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
Hexagram 51 震 — judgment
亨。震來虩虩，笑言啞啞。震驚百里，不喪匕鬯。
A"an gives the intimation of ease Kăn development. When (the time of) movement (which it indicates) comes, (the subject of the hexagram) will be found looking out with apprehension, and yet smiling and talking cheerfully. When the movement (like a crash of thunder) terrifies all within a hundred li, he will be (like the sincere worshipper) who is not (startled into) letting go his ladle and (cup of) sacrificial spirits.
The changing lines of hexagram 50
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.