The Sacrificial Vessel

鼎 (dǐng)
Hexagram 50 • Binary: 101110

Trigrams

Upper: Fire

Attribute: clinging
Element: Fire
Direction: South
Family: Middle Daughter

Lower: Wind

Attribute: Penetrating
Element: Wood
Direction: Southeast
Family: Eldest Daughter

Palace

Li Palace

Element: Fire
Ruling Trigram: fire

Judgment

The Sacrificial Vessel means great progress and success.

Image

Wood under a fire -- the image of a Sacrificial Vessel. The superior man maintains his correctness in every situation to secure the appointment of heaven.

Lines

1

Position 1: Overthrown Cauldron yang

The first line, magnetic, shows the cauldron overthrown and its feet turned up. But there will be advantage in 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.

2

Position 2: Filled Cauldron yin

The second line, dynamic, shows the cauldron with the things to be cooked in it. If he can say, 'My enemy dislikes me, but he cannot approach me,' there will be good fortune.

3

Position 3: Changed Handles yang

The third line, dynamic, shows the cauldron 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 cauldron 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.

4

Position 4: Broken Cauldron yang

The fourth line, dynamic, shows the sacrificial vessel with its feet broken, and its contents, designed for the ruler's use, overturned and spilled. Its subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil.

5

Position 5: Golden Cauldron yang

The fifth line, magnetic, shows the cauldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.

6

Position 6: Jade Cauldron yin

The sixth line, dynamic, shows the cauldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.