I Ching hexagram 49

I Ching hexagram 49: Revolution

革 gé · a lake above fire

Fire under a lake, one must give way: a change whose time has come, trusted only once it proves itself.

The judgment: Only on the day it is accomplished is it believed. Great success. Firmness pays. Regret goes away.
"(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."
James Legge's translation, 1882
What it says to you: Fire burns under water here: a lake sits on top of a flame, and one of them will have to give. That is the picture of a change that can no longer be put off. The judgment adds a hard condition. People believe in a change only once its day has come and it has shown results, so trust is earned at the end, not handed over at the start. For you, the change you are weighing is real and probably overdue, but it has to be timed and argued for. Talk it through more than once; the third line says trust arrives after the case has been made three times. Hold back early, like the first line bound in yellow oxhide. When the day is ripe, change cleanly and completely, the way a tiger's coat turns with the season.

Matter by matter

Love: The relationship must change shape to last. Change it openly, once the need is plain to you both.
Work: Reform, a new role, a new system. Build the case first; people back change once it works.
Money: Time to change how you handle money, step by step, with reasons you can show.
A yes or no question: Yes, with a condition. Act once the need is proven and others can see it.

The six lines of Revolution

A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.

Bottom line, solid

Bound tight with the hide of a yellow ox.

Not yet. You are held in place for a reason, and the time for change has not arrived. Stay put, keep your hands steady, and let the situation mature before you try to move it.
Second line, broken

When the day has come, make the change. Going forward brings good fortune. No mistake.

Your day has arrived. The preparation is done and the need is clear, so act. Hesitating now would waste the moment you waited for; moving now is safe.
Third line, solid

Pressing on brings misfortune; persisting is dangerous. When talk of change has gone round three times, there is trust.

Do not force it. Rushing or digging in will hurt you. Talk the change through, listen to objections, and come back to it; trust builds when people have heard the case more than once.
Fourth line, solid

Regret goes away. With trust, the mandate is changed. Good fortune.

You have the standing to change something basic, a rule, a role, a direction. Because people trust your motives, the change will hold. Make it, and old doubts will fall away.
Fifth line, solid

The great man changes like a tiger. Even before the oracle is consulted, there is trust.

Your change is so clear and bold that no one needs persuading. Like a tiger's new coat, it is visible to all. Act with confidence; your record already speaks for you.
Top line, broken

The noble one changes like a leopard; small people change their faces. Pushing on brings misfortune; staying settled and steady brings good fortune.

The big change is done, and others are adjusting, some only on the surface. Do not push for more. Refine the details, accept outward compliance for now, and let things settle.

About hexagram 49

What does I Ching hexagram 49 mean?

Hexagram 49, Revolution, puts a lake above fire. Fire under a lake, one must give way: a change whose time has come, trusted only once it proves itself. Its judgment reads: Only on the day it is accomplished is it believed. Great success. Firmness pays. Regret goes away.

Is hexagram 49 a yes or a no?

Yes, with a condition. Act once the need is proven and others can see it.

What does hexagram 49 mean for love?

The relationship must change shape to last. Change it openly, once the need is plain to you both.

What does hexagram 49 mean for work?

Reform, a new role, a new system. Build the case first; people back change once it works.

Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks

The I Ching reads a moment. For the years of your own life, cast your birth chart; on your chart page you can ask three questions of your own, answered against it, for $2.99.

The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.