Hexagram 50 of 64
The Cauldron
ding · 鼎
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 50, The Cauldron, is summarized by the Judgment: The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.
- ◈Its structure is Fire above Wind; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: transformation, nourishment, culture, refinement.
By the Numbers
- #50
- King Wen Order
- The Cauldron in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Fire above Wind.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 50, Dǐng (鼎), is the hexagram of The Cauldron — the sacred vessel that transforms raw material into nourishment, matter into spirit. Composed of Lí (☲ Fire) above and Xùn (☴ Wind/Wood) below: fire fed by wind burns beneath the cauldron. This is the image of cooking, refining, and transformation — both literal and spiritual.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初六 · 鼎颠趾
Cauldron tipped — removal of渣滓
- L2
九二 · 鼎有实
Cauldron has content — partner found
- L3
九三 · 鼎耳革其行塞
Cauldron ears changed — blocked
- L4
九四 · 鼎折足覆公餗
Cauldron legs break — humiliation
- L5
六五 · 鼎黄耳金铉
Yellow ears, golden handle
- L6
上九 · 鼎玉铉
Jade cauldron handle — supreme good fortune
Deep Reading
The vessel that transforms raw material
Dǐng is not only a container. It is a ritual and cooking vessel that turns raw material into nourishment. The hexagram asks whether the vessel, the contents, the heat, and the position are all fit for transformation.
Correct position before destiny solidifies
The Image speaks of correcting position and solidifying destiny. In practical terms, refinement depends on role clarity, clean foundations, and a vessel strong enough to hold what is being prepared.
Reading Dǐng in a live question
- Creative or product work
- You may have the ingredients; now refine the process and vessel so the result can nourish others.
- Team culture
- Clean out old residue before asking the team to hold more responsibility.
- Personal refinement
- Focus on discipline, craft, and role alignment rather than dramatic reinvention.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- The reading follows the Zhouyi Judgment, Image, and line statements for Dǐng, with vessel imagery treated as ritual refinement.
- Zhouyi: Dǐng Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- The Cauldron is a symbolic model for refinement and responsibility, not spiritual, medical, or dietary instruction.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Strong yes. Transformation and nourishment — supreme good fortune.
Upper Trigram
Fire
Lower Trigram
Wind
The Judgment (King Wen)
The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.
The Image
Fire over wood: the image of the Cauldron.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 50 (The Cauldron)?
The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 50?
Hexagram 50 acts with the upper trigram Fire and the lower trigram Wind.
What are the core themes of The Cauldron?
The core themes and meanings include: transformation, nourishment, culture, refinement.