Hexagram 50
TingThe Caldron
Fire (Li) · Wind (Xun)
The image
Fire over wood: The image of THE CALDRON. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate By making his position correct.
This hexagram in one line
The six lines construct the image of Ting, THE CALDRON; at the bottom are the legs, over them the belly, then come the ears (handles), and at the top the carrying rings. At the same time, the image suggests the idea of nourishment. The ting, cast of bronze, was the vessel that held the cooked viands in the temple of the ancestors and at banquets. The head of the family served the food from the ting into the bowls of the guests.1 THE WELL (48) likewise has the secondary meaning of giving nourishment, but rather more in relation to the people. The ting, as a utensil pertaining to a refined civilization, suggests the fostering and nourishing of able men, which redounded to the benefit of the state.2 This hexagram and THE WELL are the only two in the Book of Changes that represent concrete, man-made objects. Yet here too the thought has its abstract connotation. Sun, below, is wood and wind; Li, above, is flame. Thus together they stand for the flame kindled by wood and wind, which likewise suggests the idea of preparing food.
Core Meaning
The core judgment of this hexagram.
Fire enters earth
Hexagram Judgment
THE CALDRON. Supreme good fortune. Success.
While THE WELL relates to the social foundation of our life, and this foundation is likened to the water that serves to nourish growing wood, the present hexagram refers to the cultural superstructure of society. Here it is the wood that serves as nourishment for the flame, the spirit. All that is visible must grow beyond itself, extend into the realm of the invisible. Thereby it receives its true consecration and clarity and takes firm root in the cosmic order. Here we see civilization as it reaches its culmination in religion. The ting serves in offering sacrifice to God. The highest earthly values must be sacrificed to the divine. But the truly divine does not manifest itself apart from man. The supreme revelation of God appears in prophets and holy men. To venerate them is true veneration of God. The will of God, as revealed through them, should be accepted in humility; this brings inner enlightenment and true understanding of the world, and this leads to great good fortune and success.
Upper and Lower Trigrams
- Fire (Li)
- Fire · Clinging
- Wind (Xun)
- Wind · Penetrating
Lines
What each of the six positions expresses.
Classics
Tuan CommentaryThe reasoning behind the judgment.
The Cauldron is an image. Wood enters fire, and this produces a meal. The holy man prepares the meal to honor God, and the great meal is prepared to nourish the holy sages. Gentle and devoted, with ears and eyes clear, the yielding advances and moves upward, attains the middle and responds to the hard—hence supreme success.
The Cauldron is an image. Wood enters fire to produce a meal. The holy man prepares meals to honor God and nourish the holy sages. Gentleness and devotion with clear ears and eyes allow the yielding to advance upward, attaining the middle and responding to the hard.
Great ImageThe image itself, read as a picture of the situation.
Fire over wood: The image of THE CALDRON. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate By making his position correct.
The fate of fire depends on wood; as long as there is wood below, the fire bums above. It is the same in human life; there is in man likewise a fate that lends power to his life. And if he succeeds in assigning the right place to life and to fate, thus bringing the two into harmony, he puts his fate on a firm footing. These words contain hints about the fostering of life as handed on by oral tradition in the secret teachings of Chinese yoga.
Further
Related hexagrams
Related Guides
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Frequently asked questions
What does Ting / The Caldron mean in the I Ching?
While THE WELL relates to the social foundation of our life, and this foundation is likened to the water that serves to nourish growing wood, the present hexagr...
How should I study Hexagram 50 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. If a ting is turned upside down before being used, no harm is done—on the contrary, this clears it of refuse. A concubine's position is lowly, but because she has a son she comes t...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
The Cauldron is an image. Wood enters fire to produce a meal. The holy man prepares meals to honor God and nourish the holy sages. Gentleness and devotion with clear ears and eyes allow the yielding to advance upward, at...
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Original text from the I Ching; translation based on Richard Wilhelm's German version.