革Reform
géAlso known as “Revolution” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Ko” (Legge)
In plain words
Fire in the lake: two that extinguish each other — change is forced. A revolution is believed only after it is done; supreme success when the time is ripe and the cause is right.
The attitude it asks for
Change only when necessary, time it well, and carry people with you; a good reform ends regrets rather than creating them.
Structure
卦辭 The Judgment
革：巳日乃孚，元亨利貞，悔亡。(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
革，水火相息，二女同居，其志不相得，曰革。巳日乃孚；革而信也。文明以說，大亨以正，革而當，其悔乃亡。天地革而四時成，湯武革命，順乎天而應乎人，革之時大矣哉！In Ko (we see) water and fire extinguishing each other; (we see also) two daughters dwelling together, but with their minds directed to different objects:—(on account of these things) it is called (the hexagram of) Change. 'It is believed in (only) after it has been accomplished:'—when the change has been made, faith is accorded to it. (We have) cultivated intelligence (as the basis of) pleased satisfaction, (suggesting) 'great progress and success,' coming from what is correct. When change thus takes place in the proper way, 'occasion for repentance disappears.' Heaven and earth undergo their changes, and the four seasons complete their functions. Thang changed the appointment (of the line of Hsiâ to the throne), and Wû (that of the line of Shang), in accordance with (the will of) Heaven, and in response to (the wishes of) men. Great indeed is what takes place in a time of change.
澤中有火，革；君子以治歷明時。(The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and that for fire in the midst of them form Ko. The superior man, in accordance with this, regulates his (astronomical) calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
- 上六Six at the top
君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.
Its symbolism 君子豹變，其文蔚也。小人革面，順以從君也。
'The superior man produces his changes as the leopard does when he changes his spots:'—their beauty becomes more elegant. 'Small men change their faces:'—they show themselves prepared to follow their ruler.
- 九五Nine in the fifth place
大人虎變，未占有孚。
The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
Its symbolism 大人虎變，其文炳也。
'The great man produces his changes as the tiger does when he changes his stripes:'—their beauty becomes more brilliant.
- 九四Nine in the fourth place
悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism 改命之吉，信志也。
'The good fortune consequent on changing (existing) ordinances' is due to the faith reposed in his aims.
- 九三Nine in the third place
征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
Its symbolism 革言三就，又何之矣。
'The change (contemplated) has been three times fully discussed:'—to what else should attention (now) be directed?
- 六二Six in the second place
巳日乃革之，征吉，无咎。
The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
Its symbolism 巳日革之，行有嘉也。
'He makes his changes when some time has passed:'—what he does will be matter of admiration.
- 初九Nine at the beginning
鞏用黃牛之革。
The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
Its symbolism 鞏用黃牛，不可以有為也。
'He is bound with (the skin of) a yellow ox:'—he should in his circumstances be taking action.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Read 革 Reform for a question about
古籍
From the classics
Two of the Ten Wings speak of every hexagram: the Sequence (Xù Guà) says why it follows the one before, the Miscellany (Zá Guà) sums it up in a phrase. Here is what they say of 革 gé · Reform.
井道不可不革，故受之以革。The way of the well must be renewed; therefore Gé follows.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
革去故也，鼎取新也。Gé removes the old; Dǐng takes up the new.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
The classical Chinese is the authoritative text. Translations are iching.tools' own from the Chinese unless another translator is named; several attributions are traditional rather than historical (託名).
Questions about this hexagram
- What does Hexagram 49, Reform, mean?
- Fire in the lake: two that extinguish each other — change is forced. A revolution is believed only after it is done; supreme success when the time is ripe and the cause is right.
- Which trigrams form Reform?
- 兌 above 離 — lake over fire. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 姤 Encounter.
- What happens when a line of Reform changes?
- A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
- How do I get Reform in a reading?
- Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - — — — - - is Reform. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).