49 · 革
Hexagram 49, 革. Original Chinese judgment: 巳日乃孚，元亨利貞，悔亡。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
巳日乃孚，元亨利貞，悔亡。
Line texts
- 初九：鞏用黃牛之革。
- 六二：巳日乃革之，征吉，无咎。
- 九三：征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
- 九四：悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
- 九五：大人虎變，未占有孚。
- 上六：君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
Tuan commentary
革，水火相息，二女同居，其志不相得，曰革。巳日乃孚；革而信也。文明以說，大亨以正，革而當，其悔乃亡。天地革而四時成，湯武革命，順乎天而應乎人，革之時義大矣哉！
Great Image commentary
澤中有火，革；君子以治歷明時。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 鞏用黃牛，不可以有為也。
- 巳日革之，行有嘉也。
- 革言三就，又何之矣。
- 改命之吉，信志也。
- 大人虎變，其文炳也。
- 君子豹變，其文蔚也。小人革面，順以從君也。
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese
Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.
朱熹《周易本義》
Judgment exegesis
Zhu Xi explains Ge through lake and fire extinguishing one another. Change initially struggles to gain trust and must await a mature time. Inward cultivated clarity, outward harmony and correctness in what is changed allow reform to proceed without regret.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- Though in a time of change, the first yang line is at the beginning without correspondence and cannot act. Hold firmly as if bound in yellow oxhide, expressing caution at the outset of reform.
- Yielding, centered correctness in the second line governs Li’s clarity and has proper correspondence above, giving conditions for change. Still wait for the time to mature before auspicious action.
- Excessive firmness without the center in the third line stands at Li’s extreme. Hasty reform is inauspicious; repeated deliberation, matured agreement and trust must precede implementation.
- Yang in a yin fourth position could bring regret, but the meeting point of water and fire now marks the time of change, without undue imbalance of firmness and yielding. Trustworthiness is still needed for changing the old mandate to be auspicious.
- Firm, centered correctness in the fifth line governs change, like clear tiger markings after its coat renews. Trust earned through virtue before acting is needed to undertake great change.
- After change is complete in the top yin line, the exemplary person is renewed and others outwardly comply. Do not continue changing; settled correctness is auspicious.
Plain-language reading
Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.
Judgment introduction
Ge describes changing an established order. Trust is difficult to secure at the beginning of change, so conditions must be allowed to mature. Change can proceed when inner discernment, outward harmony and what is changed all accord with the proper way.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- Although it is a time of change, the beginning lacks the conditions for action. Hold firmly, as if bound with yellow oxhide.
- Yielding, centered correctness has a proper correspondence, so the conditions for reform exist. Still wait for the right time to mature before acting.
- Excessive firmness and hasty reform bring danger. Repeated deliberation, mature agreement and established trust are necessary.
- The moment for change has arrived, with firmness and yielding not unduly imbalanced. Trustworthiness is still needed for changing the old order to be auspicious.
- The person undertaking great change should be as clearly distinguished as a tiger's markings, earning people's trust through virtue before acting.
- Change is complete and renewal has taken place both inwardly and outwardly. Do not continue changing at this point; settle and maintain correctness.