鼎
DǐngUpper: Fire · 离 · Lower: Wind · 巽
Judgment元吉，亨。
In plain wordsSupreme good fortune, success. The cauldron is the important vessel that cooks food and feeds people: it stands for clearing out the old, taking in the new, supporting capable people and achieving great things through a stable framework.
The imageFire above, wood below: fire over wood, using fuel to cook food; the cauldron is a vessel for cooking, and stands for renewal and nourishing the able.
A hint for youPut resources into people and things worth them, being steady but also always renewing. Nurture people with care, and your team will grow stronger and stronger.
Line texts (bottom to top)
- 初六鼎颠趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。The first line, 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.
- 九二鼎有实，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。The second line, 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.
- 九三鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨亏悔，终吉。The third line, 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.
- 九四鼎折足，覆公餗，其刑渥，凶。The fourth line, 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.
- 六五鼎黄耳金铉，利贞。The fifth line, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct.
- 上九鼎玉铉，大吉，无不利。The sixth line, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
The cauldron; build something lasting
For entertainment and self-reflection only