Yijing CompassI Ching reading
All hexagrams

Hexagram 49 · King Wen sequence

Legitimate Change

革 · gé

Modern reflection

True change needs right timing, legitimacy, and follow-through.

Lower trigram: 離 Fire
Upper trigram: 兌 Lake

Historical source

(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.

(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.

James Legge, 1882, public domain. Historical wording is shown for source transparency, not as a guaranteed prediction.

Changing-line passages

  1. Line 1The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
  2. Line 2The second SIX, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
  3. Line 3The third NINE, 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.
  4. Line 4The fourth NINE, 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.
  5. Line 5The fifth NINE, 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.
  6. Line 6The sixth SIX, 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.

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