Revolution (Molting)
Lake (兌 Duì) above, Fire (離 Lí) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 49, 革 (Gé), represents Revolution (Molting).
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 49 (革 Gé). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/ge). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
革：巳日乃孚，元亨利貞，悔亡。
Oriens Editorial Translation: On the sì day, there is trust [巳日; transmitted readings and interpretation are disputed]. Great success; steadfastness is favorable. Regret disappears.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
泽中有火,革。君子以治历明时。
James Legge: (The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and that for fire in the midst of them form Ko. The superior man, in accordance with this, regulates his (astronomical) calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：鞏用黃牛之革。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
六二：巳日乃革之，征吉，无咎。
James Legge: The second SIX, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
九五：大人虎變，未占有孚。
James Legge: The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
James Legge: The sixth SIX, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Revolution can prompt a careful question about timing: what has genuinely been outgrown here, and would belief hold on the day of change? The molting image reads here as the text's own frame — transformation completes when the old form is truly shed.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing predicts that any real transformation succeeds. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 49 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.