Hexagram 49
Revolution
革
Upper
Lake · 兌
the joyous, open
Lower
Fire · 離
the clinging, clarity
Contemporary judgment
Revolution: a necessary change, a molting. The old order no longer serves, and the time has come for transformation. But move only when the timing is genuinely ripe. Changes begun too early fail for lack of ground; those begun too late fail for lack of momentum. The art is in the timing.
Image
Fire within the lake. The superior person orders the calendar and makes the seasons clear.
Counsel
Test whether the time is truly ripe or whether you are merely impatient. When you are certain, act decisively and do not look back. Bring others with you through sincerity rather than coercion; a revolution accomplished against the genuine grain of the people does not endure. Once changed, do not revisit.
The six lines
Numbered from the bottom upward; displayed here from first to sixth.
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means: One is wrapped in the skin of a yellow cow.
Line 2
A six in the second place means: On one's own day one may indeed revolutionize. Setting out brings good fortune. No blame.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means: Setting out brings misfortune. Perseverance brings danger. When the talk of revolution has gone around three times, then one may turn to it and will find faith.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means: Remorse vanishes. One finds faith. To change the state order brings good fortune.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means: The great man changes like a tiger. Even before he consults the oracle, he finds faith.
Line 6
A six at the top means: The noble one changes like a panther. The lesser one molts in the face. Setting out brings misfortune. To abide in perseverance brings good fortune.
Contemporary sections are original app interpretations. Line text comes from the CC0 translation in jesshewitt/i-ching.