I Ching · Hexagram 49 of 64
Hexagram 49: Ge （革） — Revolution
Lake below and Fire above: water and fire cannot coexist, and fire beneath water must collide and bring change. The well had reached its limit - what is confined to a single well must be reformed and enlarged, as irrigation ditches and reservoirs replaced the well. To change is to tan raw hide into supple leather: turning what cannot be used into something serviceable, and a petty life into one that serves all beings.
At a glance
| Hexagram | 49 of 64 |
|---|---|
| Name | Ge 革 · Revolution |
| Upper trigram | Dui （兑）· Lake |
| Lower trigram | Li （离）· Fire |
| Structure | Lake over Fire |
| Lines | 6 lines |
The Judgment （卦辞）
Revolution. When the day comes, there is trust. Supreme success, favorable to persevere. Regret vanishes.
ExplainedThe reform of hearts and of society cannot be forced in a single day: trust must ripen over time, as raw hide must be soaked before it can be worked. Once trust is won, the way turns toward the four virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom, and only the recovery of one's original nature ends regret for good - for a life spent chasing fame and profit ends in regret.
Tuan Zhuan — Commentary on the Judgment （彖传）
Revolution: water and fire subdue each other; two daughters dwell together, yet their wills do not agree - this is Revolution. When the day comes, there is trust: the change is believed in. Civilized and gladdening, great success through correctness. When the change is fitting, regret disappears. Heaven and earth change and the four seasons are completed; Tang and Wu made revolution in accord with Heaven and in response to men. Great indeed is the meaning of the time of Revolution!
ExplainedLake, the youngest daughter, and Fire, the middle daughter, share a house without harmony, and so comes change. Trust must come first, or the reformer becomes a hypocrite; then persuasion is made persuasive by civilization - fire is the emblem of civilization, by which humanity rose above the beasts - and great success is won by walking the correct road. Change must be fitting; a reform that is merely external, like a new pesticide, breeds worse ills, and its direction can only be the four virtues, not material gain. Heaven and earth renew themselves and the seasons take shape; Tang and Wu overthrew tyrants in the name of benevolence, and so acted with Heaven and with the hearts of the people. Great indeed is the meaning of the time of Revolution.
Xiang Zhuan — Image Commentary （大象）
Fire within the lake: Revolution. The gentleman orders the calendar and makes the seasons clear.
ExplainedFire beneath water is ceaseless mutual transformation. The gentleman studies the calendar to know when a thing should be done, and studies history to know how dynasties rise and fall - for they rise through benevolence and fall through cruelty.
The Six Lines （六爻）
The lines are read from the bottom upward. Each carries its own text, a Small Image commentary, and a plain-English reading.
Line 1 · YangLine 1
Bound fast with the hide of a yellow ox.
Small ImageBound with the hide of a yellow ox: he cannot yet act.
ExplainedThe hide is still hard and unusable; a life whose inner root is sick cannot be cured by scolding its outward behavior alone. Soften the heart and correct the understanding first, for forcing mere behavior is like bending dry leather until it splits.
Line 2 · YinLine 2
On the day it is fulfilled, then change it. To set forth brings good fortune. No blame.
Small ImageChanging it on the day fulfilled: the action is praiseworthy.
ExplainedGiven time, the hide becomes pliable and can be worked. The change is then rewarded and the person can be employed. Praise and encouragement accomplish this, not reproach - when men encourage and Heaven gives signs, true talent is formed.
Line 3 · YangLine 3
To set forth brings misfortune; perseverance is perilous. The words of change are thrice accomplished; then there is trust.
Small ImageWhen the words of change are thrice accomplished, where else should one go?
ExplainedWith character still insufficient, sending a man out too soon brings misfortune. Good counsel must be repeated again and again until trust arises. No one can resist patient and repeated encouragement; the habit of selfishness is not undone in a few decades, so family and companions must be perfected with the same patience one gives a fellow seeker.
Line 4 · YangLine 4
Regret vanishes. There is trust. Changing one's fate brings good fortune.
Small ImageThe good fortune of changing fate: the will is trusted.
ExplainedTrue revolution is to change one's human fate - a body full of desire - into the heavenly mandate, a spirit full of vow. To trust one's own vow and mission rather than wealth is to be renewed daily, until the petty person becomes a noble one and then a great one.
Line 5 · YangLine 5
The great one changes like a tiger. Before divination, there is trust.
Small ImageThe great one changes like a tiger: his pattern is brilliant.
ExplainedFrom petty person to noble one to sage, the change is as total as a cat becoming a tiger. A great person carries a bright and luminous bearing that draws others to him, and his wisdom is such that he knows before divining, foreseeing fortune and misfortune.
Line 6 · YinLine 6
The noble one changes like a leopard; the petty one changes his face. To set forth brings misfortune; to abide in correctness brings good fortune.
Small ImageThe noble one changes like a leopard: his pattern is rich. The petty one changes his face: he complies in order to follow his lord.
ExplainedAfter the great transformation the company is mixed and the petty must be changed as well. The leopard's pattern is dazzling and unfathomable, so the petty dare not do evil and wash their hearts clean. Those who have only outwardly repented must not be employed at once, but trained inwardly until they can be entrusted.
Key takeaway
Revolution: water and fire cannot coexist, and the well's narrow confinement must be reformed and enlarged. To tan raw hide into leather is to make the bad good, and to expand a petty life into one that embraces all beings.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hexagram 49 (Ge) mean in the I Ching?
Lake below and Fire above: water and fire cannot coexist, and fire beneath water must collide and bring change. The well had reached its limit - what is confined to a single well must be reformed and enlarged, as irrigation ditches and reservoirs replaced the well. To change is to tan raw hide into supple leather: turning what cannot be used into something serviceable, and a petty life into one that serves all beings.
What is the judgment of Hexagram 49?
Revolution. When the day comes, there is trust. Supreme success, favorable to persevere. Regret vanishes. The reform of hearts and of society cannot be forced in a single day: trust must ripen over time, as raw hide must be soaked before it can be worked. Once trust is won, the way turns toward the four virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom, and only the recovery of one's original nature ends regret…
What do the six lines of Hexagram 49 say?
Line 1: Bound fast with the hide of a yellow ox. Line 2: On the day it is fulfilled, then change it. To set forth brings good fortune. No blame. Line 3: To set forth brings misfortune; perseverance is perilous. The words of change are thrice accomplished; then there is trust. Line 4: Regret vanishes. There is trust. Changing one's fate brings good fortune. Line 5: The great one changes like a tiger. Before divination, there is trust. Line 6: The noble one changes like a leopard; the petty one changes his face. To set forth brings misfortune; to abide in correctness brings good fortune.
What is the main lesson of Hexagram 49 (Revolution)?
Revolution: water and fire cannot coexist, and the well's narrow confinement must be reformed and enlarged. To tan raw hide into leather is to make the bad good, and to expand a petty life into one that embraces all beings.
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