Scryway

Hexagram 49

革 Gé · Revolution

Legge: Ko

☱ Lake (Duì) above ☲ Fire (Lí)

Scryway summary

Modern commentary written for Scryway. Not part of the classic text.

Change that is due, like an animal's moult. It is trusted once its time has clearly come.

The judgment

(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.

The image

(The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and that for fire in the midst of them form Ko. The superior man, in accordance with this, regulates his (astronomical) calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.

The lines, bottom to top

  1. Bottom line, solid

    The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.

  2. Second line, broken

    The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.

  3. Third line, solid

    The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.

  4. Fourth line, solid

    The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.

  5. Fifth line, solid

    The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.

  6. Top line, broken

    The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.

Quoted from James Legge (trans.), The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1882. Public domain. The image is from Legge’s Appendix II. Words in parentheses are Legge’s additions.