Hexagram 50
The Cauldron
鼎 (Dǐng)
Fire over Wind/Wood
The image is of Fire burning above Wood. The wood provides the fuel for the fire, which cooks the food within the cauldron. The hexagram itself, with its strong lines at the bottom and top and an open center, resembles an ancient bronze cauldron. This symbolizes the process of alchemical transformation—taking raw material (wood, uncooked food) and turning it into refined spiritual and material nourishment for the community.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment is one of the most auspicious in the I Ching. The cauldron is a symbol of a vessel that receives divine blessings and transforms them into nourishment for society. It represents a state of being perfectly aligned to receive good fortune. This indicates a time of great success, abundance, and the successful transformation of raw potential into something of great value. All undertakings are favored.
The Image (象传)
A cauldron must be stable and correctly positioned to cook properly. If it is unsteady, its precious contents will be spilled. The Image translates this to human affairs. The superior man understands that to receive and correctly manage good fortune ("fate"), he must first make his own character and position secure. By being well-grounded, centered, and correct, he aligns himself with a positive destiny.
Interpretation & Guidance
Receiving this hexagram is a sign of exceptional good fortune. It suggests you are in a time of nourishment, abundance, and positive transformation. You are in a position to receive great blessings and to turn them into something valuable for yourself and those around you. The key advice is to ensure your own life is stable and well-ordered. Be a worthy vessel for the good fortune that is coming. Consolidate your position, be firm in your principles, and prepare to receive and share the spiritual and material food being offered.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"A cauldron with legs upturned. It furthers one to throw out the stagnant stuff. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son."
To prepare the cauldron, it is first turned over to be cleaned. This means you must clear out old, stagnant ideas, relationships, or habits. This purification makes way for new, vital energy, even if it comes from an unconventional source. This is a necessary preparation for receiving new fortune.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"There is food in the cauldron. My comrades are envious, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune."
You possess real substance and value; your cauldron is full. This may attract the envy of others, but because you are secure and centered in your position, their jealousy cannot harm you. You can proceed with confidence, as good fortune is on your side.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"The ears of the cauldron are changed. Its progress is impeded. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten... Once rain falls, remorse is spent."
There is a blockage. The handles ("ears") needed to move the cauldron are broken, so progress is stalled. A valuable resource ("pheasant fat") is going to waste. This is a temporary setback. An external change ("rain") will resolve the situation, and the initial frustration will give way to good fortune.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"The legs of the cauldron are broken. The prince's meal is spilled... Misfortune."
This is a line of great warning about responsibility. The supports ("legs") of a crucial project have failed. This has caused the entire enterprise to collapse, spilling its valuable contents and bringing public shame. You may have trusted incompetent subordinates or taken on a task beyond your ability. The result is misfortune.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"The cauldron has yellow ears, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers."
You are in a modest but central position of leadership. The "yellow ears" and "golden rings" signify that you are receptive to the wise counsel from those both below and above you. By remaining open, moderate, and persevering, you will handle the nourishment correctly and find success.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"The cauldron has rings of jade. Great good fortune. Nothing that does not further."
This represents the highest state of wisdom and generosity. The cauldron is adorned with jade, the most precious material, symbolizing a sage who dispenses the most valuable spiritual nourishment. Your influence is pure and beneficial to all. Everything you undertake will be successful.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This is an exceptionally auspicious hexagram for relationships. It signifies deep spiritual and emotional nourishment between partners. The relationship is a stable "cauldron" that provides sustenance and transforms both individuals for the better. It is a time for shared abundance, community, and enjoying the "meal" of your life together. It can signify a new level of commitment that provides a solid foundation for the future.
Career & Business (事业)
The Cauldron indicates a thriving and nourishing work environment. The company has a solid foundation and successfully transforms raw ideas into valuable products or services, benefiting all its members. It is a time of success, abundance, and positive teamwork. Your role is to find your correct place within this structure, contributing your skills and receiving nourishment in return. It can also point to a highly successful project or venture.
Health & Wellness (健康)
This hexagram points to excellent health through proper nourishment. It is a time to focus on high-quality food, perhaps learning new ways of cooking, that can be transformed into vitality and well-being. The Cauldron represents an alchemical process of healing, where the body takes in sustenance and transforms it into vibrant life force. It is a very positive sign for recovery and rejuvenation.
Financial Matters (财运)
The Cauldron is a sign of great abundance and wealth. Your "pot" is full. This indicates that your work and investments are yielding significant returns. It is a time to enjoy this material nourishment and to be a stable vessel for it. The symbolism also encourages sharing this abundance, as a cauldron serves a whole community, not just one person. Generosity will ensure continued good fortune.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
The lesson of The Cauldron is about becoming a worthy vessel for fate. Personal growth comes from building a stable, strong, and well-balanced character ("consolidating your position"). When you are solid and centered, you can receive life's experiences—both good and bad—and transform them into wisdom and nourishment. The ultimate goal is to become a source of this spiritual food for others, a sage whose presence benefits the entire community.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
This is a time of supreme good fortune, success, and abundance. Your main task is to be a worthy receptacle. Ensure that your life, your character, and your projects have a solid and stable foundation. Be open and receptive to the blessings coming your way. This is a time to transform raw potential into something truly valuable, and to share the resulting nourishment with your community.
