Hexagram 50: The Cauldron (鼎 Dǐng) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 50 (鼎 The Cauldron)?

I Ching Hexagram 50, 鼎 (Dǐng), represents The Cauldron. It is formed by Fire (離 Lí) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 50 mean?

The Image states: 'Fire over wood: the image of the Cauldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 50 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how The Cauldron manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 50 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 50 (The Cauldron) follows Hexagram 49 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

鼎

Dǐng — Hexagram 50

The Cauldron

Fire (離 Lí) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 50, 鼎 (Dǐng), represents The Cauldron. Formed by Fire (離 Lí) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below, this hexagram teaches about the cauldron. The core message: The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 50 is formed by Fire (離 Lí) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.

— I Ching, The Cauldron

The Image

Fire over wood: the image of the Cauldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: A cauldron with legs upturned. Furthers removal of stagnating stuff. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame.

Line 2: Line 2: There is food in the cauldron. My comrades are envious, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune.

Line 3: Line 3: 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.

Line 4: Line 4: The legs of the cauldron are broken. The prince's meal is spilled and his person is soiled. Misfortune.

Line 5: Line 5: The cauldron has yellow handles, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers.

Line 6: Line 6: The cauldron has rings of jade. Great good fortune. Nothing that would not further.

Modern Application

Hexagram 50 is the image of civilization itself — the cauldron is the ritual vessel in which food is transformed into offerings for the ancestors and gods. It represents the nourishing of worthy people and the cultivation of culture. The hexagram describes the proper use of resources to sustain what is valuable. Fire beneath wood suggests that nourishment requires both fuel (effort) and vessel (structure). In modern terms, the Cauldron teaches that organizations, institutions, and traditions must be maintained and renewed — not discarded — to continue providing value. It is the hexagram of institutional wisdom, cultural transmission, and sustainable prosperity.

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