I Ching reading: Ding (The Cauldron) changing to Gu (Repairing Decay)
Ding: Nine in the fourth place
The cauldron's leg breaks. The duke's meal is spilled and the person is drenched. Misfortune.
鼎折足，覆公餗，其形渥，凶。
止Hold back
Reading
Not now.A new order is being set up. Great good fortune.
Governing text · Ding: Nine in the fourth place
In plain wordsThe cauldron's leg snaps, the duke's fine food is spilled, and you end up in a sorry mess yourself (another reading: you suffer a heavy punishment). Misfortune. Small strength, a heavy load, and on top of that the wrong people were relied on.
- Now
- The cauldron is a weighty vessel for cooking and also a symbol of authority: the old is cleared away and the new is made.
- The key
- Only one line is changing: Nine in the fourth place. The answer is in that line. This text describes a bad outcome. Carry on as you are and you will lose by it. Stop, step aside or change your approach. Do not force it.
- Where it is heading
- Things are moving toward Gu (Repairing Decay): Old problems that have piled up have reached the point where they must be dealt with.
- What to do
- Stand firmly in your own position and take on what is yours to carry. Give real responsibility to capable people.
Read more closely
Which text applies
One changing line: read that line of the primary hexagram.
Your six throws, bottom to top: 1: 8 yin · 2: 7 yang · 3: 7 yang · 4: 9 yang (changing) · 5: 8 yin · 6: 7 yang
Line position
Not in its proper place · answered by the first line
Fourth place: next to the ruler, a place of caution. Serve those above with care.
Verdict words in the text
Nuclear hexagram · Guai (Resolution)
There is something that should be cleared away, and the time has come to decide.
The nuclear hexagram is formed from the four inner lines. It shows what is going on inside the situation.
Full texts
One who truly knows the Changes does not need to divine. The text is for reflection; what you do is up to you.