Line 1 Yin
The vessel is tipped to empty stale contents; a concubine is received through her child. Clear defects and recognize practical worth.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 50 · Dǐng
The Cauldron
Turning resources into nourishment requires sound structures and capable stewardship.
☲ Above: Li · Fire☴ Below: Xun · Wind
Meaning
Wood feeds fire beneath a cooking vessel, portraying transformation and nourishment. From legs to carrying rings, every part must function so that good provisions reach the community.
FOR REFLECTION
Which supporting structure needs repair so that existing abilities can serve better?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yang
The vessel holds food; an ailing rival cannot approach. Preserve substance and choose your direction carefully.
Line 3 Yang
Altered handles prevent lifting, leaving fine food unused. Conditions must reopen, like arriving rain, before good resources can serve.
Line 4 Yang
A leg breaks and the lord's food spills. Taking responsibility beyond one's supporting capacity betrays the entrusted task.
Line 5 Yin
Yellow ears and a metal carrying bar join balance with strength. Maintain their proper function for stable nourishment.
Line 6 Yang
A jade carrying bar suggests well-balanced firmness and flexibility. Worthy means and capable stewardship complete the work of nourishment.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 鼎James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 50
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.