革 Gé Change (Renewal) [hexagram 49]
Lake over Fire
Metal element
Lunar month: 3 ; Host (controlling) line : 5
The Descision
Review the achievements of the day and be satisfied. Magnificent progress and success if steadfast and correct; regrets pass.
Water and fire overcome each other. Two daughters living together have different goals and so it is called adaptation. ‘Review the achievements of the day and be satisfied’ – bring clarity and belief to action. Having learned assuredness from change there will be progress and success. When appropriate change is made then regrets will pass. Heaven and earth change and form the four seasons. Tang and Wu* founded new dynasties according to the Mandate of Heaven and the wishes of the people. Great is what can be accomplished by change!
* The overthrow of the Xia dynasty by King Tang of the Shang dynasty and the overthrow of the Shang dynasty by King Wu of the Zhou dynasty.
革: 巳日乃孚, 元亨利贞, 悔亡. Gé: sì rì nǎi fú, yuán hēng lì zhēn, huǐ wáng.
彖传: 革, 水火相息, 二女同居, 其志不相得, 曰革. 巳日乃孚; 革而信也. 文明以说, 大亨以正, 革而当, 其悔乃亡. 天地革而四时成, 汤武革命, 顺乎天而应乎人, 革之时大矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Gé, shuǐ huǒ xiāng xī, èr nǚ tóng jū, qí zhì bù xiāng dé, yuēgé. Sì rì nǎi fú; gé ér xìn yě. wén míng yǐ shuō, dà hēng yǐ zhèng, gé ér dāng, qí huǐ nǎi wáng. Tiān dìgé ér sì shí chéng, tāng wǔ gé mìng, shùn hū tiān ér yīng hū rén, gé zhī shí dà yǐ zāi!
The Image
Fire in the midst of Marsh form ‘Change’. The wise set the calendar in order and calibrate the clocks.
象传: 泽中有火, 革; 君子以治历明时. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé zhōng yǒu huǒ, gé; jūn zǐ yǐ zhì lì míng shí.
Wrapped in a golden leather coat.
‘Wrapped in a golden leather coat’ – no action is appropriate.
初九: 巩用黄牛之革. Chū jiǔ: gǒng yòng huáng niú zhī gé.
象传: 巩用黄牛, 不可以有为也. Xiàng zhuàn: Gǒng yòng huáng niú, bù kě yǐ yǒu wéi yě.
Reviewing the past and making changes. Action will be worthwhile. Not a mistake.
‘Reviewing the past and making changes’ – such action is praiseworthy.
六二: 巳日乃革之, 征吉, 无咎. Liù èr: sì rì nǎi gé zhī, zhēng jí, wú jiù.
象传: 巳日革之, 行有嘉也. Xiàng zhuàn: Sì rì gé zhī, xíng yǒu jiā yě.
An unfortunate action – misfortune. Even though steadfast there is danger. When the change has been carefully considered three times then it can be accepted.
‘When the change has been carefully considered three times’ – what else could better deserve scrutiny?
九三: 征凶, 贞厉, 革言三就, 有孚. Jiǔ sān: zhēng xiōng, zhēn lì, gé yán sān jiù, yǒu fú.
象传: 革言三就, 又何之矣. Xiàng zhuàn: Gé yán sān jiù, yòu hé zhī yǐ.
Regrets pass. While retaining other’s confidence make the change and there will be good fortune.
The good fortune from the change comes from inner conviction.
九四: 悔亡, 有孚改命, 吉. Jiǔ sì: huǐ wáng, yǒu fú gǎi mìng, jí.
象传: 改命之吉, 信志也. Xiàng zhuàn: Gǎi mìng zhī jí, xìn zhì yě.
Great people transform into tigers. Even before seeking an answer there is certainty of purpose.
‘Great people transform into tigers’ – they become more graceful and brilliant.
九五: 大人虎变, 未占有孚. Jiǔ wǔ: dà ren hǔ biàn, wèi zhàn yǒu fú.
象传: 大人虎变, 其文炳也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà ren hǔ biàn, qí wén bǐng yě.
The wise transform into leopards while others just make faces. To proceed may bring pitfalls but if steadfast there will be good fortune.
‘The wise transforms into leopards’ – they grow in elegance. ‘Others just make faces’ – submitting to superiors.
上六: 君子豹变, 小人革面, 征凶, 居贞吉. Shàng liù: jūn zǐ bào biàn, xiǎo rén gé miàn, zhēng xiōng, jū zhēn jí.
象传: 君子豹变, 其文蔚也. 小人革面, 顺以从君也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jūn zǐ bào biàn, qí wén wèi yě. Xiǎo rén gé miàn, shùn yǐ cóng jūn yě.
The full set of 64 English translations is available in our new book 'Book of Changes - Deciphered' ➚.