I Ching Hexagram 50 - The Cauldron
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 50 "The Cauldron"
鼎 - Dǐng
Hỏa Phong Đỉnh
The Cauldron
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☴ Xun, Wind
Other Titles: The Sacrificial Vessel, The Vessel, Rejuvenation, Cosmic Order, The Alchemical Vessel
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.
Legge: The Sacrificial Vessel means great progress and success.
Blofeld: A Sacrificial Vessel -- supreme success!
Liu: The Cauldron. Great good fortune. Success.
Shaughnessy:The Cauldron: Prime auspiciousness; receipt.
Cleary (1): The cauldron is basically good; it is developmental.
Cleary (2): The Cauldron is very auspiciously developmental.
Wu: The Cauldron indicates great auspiciousness and pervasiveness.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Fire over wood: the image of The Cauldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct.
Legge: Wood under a fire -- the image of a Sacrificial Vessel. The superior man maintains his correctness in every situation to secure the appointment of heaven.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire upon wood. The Superior Man, taking his stance as righteousness requires, adheres firmly to heaven's decrees.
Liu: Fire above wood symbolizes the Caldron. The superior man makes his destiny firm with a correct position.
Cleary (1): There is fire on top of wood; a cauldron. Thus do superior people stabilize life in the proper position.
Cleary (2): Fire over wood -- The Cauldron . Leaders stabilize their mandate by correcting their position.
Wu: There is fire on wood; this is The Cauldron . Thus the jun zi rectifies his position and consecrates the mandate.
Line 1
初六: 鼎顛趾, 利出否, 得妾, 以其子, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: A cauldron with legs upturned. Furthers removal of stagnating stuff. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows the cauldron overthrown and its feet turned up. But there will be advantage in 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.
Blofeld: To rid it of decaying remnants of meat, the vessel is turned upside down. [Some actions, though highly improper in themselves, may be properly performed if circumstances so require; a merely ritualistic conception of right and wrong is not desirable.] It is not shameful to take a concubine for the sake of bearing sons. [This is added as an example, immediately acceptable to a traditionally minded Chinese of something improper in itself which becomes proper when the motive is acceptable.]
Liu: A cauldron overturned by its legs -- it is beneficial to clean out the stagnating matter. One takes a concubine to get a son. No blame.
Shaughnessy: The cauldron's upturned legs; beneficial to expel the bad; getting a consort together with her son; there is no trouble.
Cleary: When the cauldron overturns on its base, it is beneficial to eject what is wrong. Getting a concubine, because of her child she is not faulted.
Wu: The cauldron tips over and conveniently spills its stale food, like a man taking a secondary wife because of her son. There will be no error.
Line 2
九二: 鼎有實, 我仇有疾, 不我能即, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: There is food in the cauldron. My comrades are envious, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows the cauldron with the things to be cooked in it. If he can say, "My enemy dislikes me, but he cannot approach me," there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: The Ting possesses solidity. My enemies are in difficulty and there is nothing they can do to me -- good fortune!
Liu: The cauldron is filled with food. My associates are jealous, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune. [Even though a person profits from his business or performs his work carefully and well, he should still beware lest others harm or disturb him.]
Shaughnessy: The cauldron has substance: my enemy has an illness; it is not able to approach me; auspicious.
Cleary (1): The cauldron is filled. One’s enemy is jealous, but cannot get at one; this is lucky.
Cleary (2): The cauldron has content. My enemy is afflicted, but luckily cannot get to me.
Wu: The cauldron is full. My associates have ill feelings about me, but they cannot do anything to me. This is auspicious.
Line 3
九三: 鼎耳革, 其行塞, 雉膏不食．方雨, 虧悔, 終吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The handle of the cauldron is altered. One is impeded in his way of life. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. Once rain falls, remorse is spent. Good fortune comes in the end.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows the cauldron 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 cauldron 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.
Blofeld: The handles of the Ting have been detached, so it is difficult to move it. [A delay due to some remissness on our part.] The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. [Because of our remissness an opportunity goes to waste.] Suddenly rain [An omen of good fortune, of heaven’s nourishing powers] comes, regret wanes and, ultimately, there is good fortune.
Liu: The handles of the cauldron are changed. Its activity will be obstructed. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. Once the rain comes, regret vanishes. Good fortune in the end.
Shaughnessy: The cauldron's ears are bridled: his motion is blocked; the pheasant fat is not edible; the countryside rain diminishes; regret, in the end auspicious.
Cleary (1): The lifting hooks of the cauldron are removed; the activity is impeded. Rich meat is not eaten. When it rains, lack is regretted. It turns out well.
Cleary (2): The knobs of the cauldron are removed, so its use is impeded. Pheasant fat is not eaten. When it rains, regret is removed and all is well in the end.
Wu: The cauldron’s earrings malfunction. It cannot be carried. The delicious pheasant dish is not enjoyed. Timely rain washes regret away. There will be auspiciousness in the end.
Line 4
九四: 鼎折足, 覆公餗其形渥, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The legs of the cauldron are broken. The prince's meal is spilled and his person soiled. Misfortune.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows the sacrificial vessel with its feet broken, and its contents, designed for the ruler's use, overturned and spilled. Its subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil.
Blofeld: The legs of the Ting snap. The prince's food is overturned and his person soiled -- misfortune! [Through gross carelessness an opportunity to advance our interests is not only lost but transformed into an occasion of trouble.]
Liu: The legs of the cauldron are split. The duke's meal is spilled and his face turns red. Misfortune.
Shaughnessy: The cauldron's broken leg: Overturns the duke's stew; his punishment is execution-in-chamber; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): The cauldron’s legs are broken, spilling the food received for service. The physical being is enriched, but there is misfortune.
Cleary (2): The cauldron breaks its legs, spilling your food; your face drips. This is unfortunate.
Wu: The cauldron’s legs are broken. The duke’s feast is spilled over, resulting in capital punishment. Foreboding.
Line 5
六五: 鼎黃耳, 金鉉, 利貞．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The cauldron has yellow handles, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows the cauldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
Blofeld: The Ting has yellow handles with golden rings attached -- righteous persistence brings reward! [The faults described in the last two notes have now been put right; the position is even better than before they were committed.]
Liu: The cauldron has yellow handles and golden carrying rings. Continuing brings advantage. [A time of benefit.]
Shaughnessy: The cauldron's yellow ears and metal bar; beneficial to determine.
Cleary (1): The cauldron has yellow hooks with a gold handle. It is beneficial to be single-minded.
Cleary (2): ... It is beneficial to be correct.
Wu: The cauldron’s ears are yellow and its carrying pole is covered with gold. It is advantageous to be persevering.
Line 6
上九: 鼎玉鉉, 大吉, 无不利.
Wilhelm/Baynes: The cauldron has rings of jade. Great good fortune. Nothing that would not act to further.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows the cauldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
Blofeld: The Ting has jade handles -- great good fortune! [A further improvement on the progress indicated in the preceding note.]
Liu: The cauldron has carrying rings of jade. Great good fortune. Benefit in everything.
Shaughnessy: The cauldron's jade bar; greatly auspicious; there is nothing not beneficial.
Cleary (1): The cauldron has a jade handle. This is very auspicious, entirely beneficial.
Cleary (2): The jade handle of the cauldron is very auspicious, beneficial to all.
Wu: The cauldron’s carrying pole is decorated with jade. There will be great fortune and nothing disadvantageous.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 50 tells you, that you have the opportunity to shine. Your abilities and your inner strength come to light. Be yourself and favorable results will flow. Be aware that the mystery of the universe is hidden within everyday experiences.
Hexagram 50 is the symbol of the Cauldron, which dispenses spiritual wisdom and knowledge. The image is a boiling pot and wood fuel below with Fire on top.
In ancient times, the cauldron was used for a loyal feast to offer to heaven and ancestors. It was then shared by loyal warriors and talented officers as a token of respect from their emperor.
Follow the right path so that perfection can be achieved. Supreme success is indicated.
