The Cauldron
Fire (離 Lí) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 50, 鼎 (Dǐng), represents The Cauldron.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 50 (鼎 Dǐng). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/ding). 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)
鼎：元吉，亨。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Great good fortune and success.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
木上有火,鼎。君子以正位凝命。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) wood and above it that for fire form Ting. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his every position correct, and maintains secure the appointment (of Heaven).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：鼎顛趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows the caldron overthrown and its feet turned up. (But) there will be advantage in its 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.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：鼎有實，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with the things (to be cooked) in it. (If its subject can say), 'My enemy dislikes me, but he cannot approach me,' there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨虧悔，終吉。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows the caldron 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 caldron) 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.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：鼎折足，覆公餗，其形渥，凶。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with its feet broken; and its contents, designed for the ruler's use, overturned and spilt. Its Subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：鼎黃耳，金鉉，利貞。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：鼎玉鉉，大吉，无不利。
James Legge: The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
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.
The Cauldron can prompt a careful question about vessels: what container here takes raw material and turns it into nourishment others can share? The cauldron stands for an established structure with a legitimate occupant.
Its lines about a tipped or broken cauldron are the text's own warning that vessels matter.
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.
Continue with the Hexagram 50 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.