Hexagram 50: The Caldron
Hexagram
50. The Caldron · Ding
Structure of the sign
The entire hexagram is the image of the caldron: below are the legs, then the belly, then the ears or handles, and above the rings for carrying. The image of the caldron at the same time suggests the idea of nourishment. Cast of bronze, the caldron was the vessel that held the cooked food in the ancestral temple and at banquets. From it, the master of the house ladled the food into the bowls of the guests. The Well likewise has the secondary idea of dispensing nourishment, but more for the common people. The caldron as an implement of refined culture suggests the fostering and nourishment of able men, whose care redounded to the benefit of the government of the state (cf. the four hexagrams of nourishment, Nos. 5, 27, 48, 50). This hexagram and the hexagram 'The Well' are the only two in the Book of Changes that represent concrete artificial objects. Yet here too the idea has its abstract aspect. Below, Sun is wood and wind; above, Li is the flame; thus it represents the flame kindled by wood and wind, which likewise suggests the preparation of food.
The Judgment
The Caldron. Supreme good fortune. Success. While The Well treats of the social foundation of society, which is like the water serving as nourishment for the wood, here the cultural superstructure of society is indicated. Here it is the wood that serves as nourishment for the flame, for the spiritual. Everything visible must ascend and extend into the invisible. Thereby it receives its true consecration and true clarity, taking firm root in the cosmic order. Thus culture is shown here as reaching its summit in religion. The caldron serves in sacrificing to God. The highest earthly things must be sacrificed to the divine. Yet the truly divine does not reveal itself apart from the human. The highest revelation of God is in prophets and holy men. Reverence toward them is the true veneration of God. The will of God revealed through them must be received with humility; then there arises an inner illumination and true understanding of the world, leading to great good fortune and success.
The Image
Fire over wood: the image of the Caldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct. Wood is the fate of fire; as long as it is present below, the fire burns above. So it is with human life. Within man too there is a destiny that imparts power to his life. And if one succeeds in assigning life and fate to their proper place, one consolidates fate, inasmuch as life is brought directly into harmony with fate. In these words are hints concerning the cultivation of life as handed down orally through the secret teachings of Chinese yoga practice.
The lines
Line 1
A caldron with upturned legs. Furthering for the removal of stagnating matter. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame. If one turns the caldron upside down before using it, there is no harm; on the contrary, the refuse is cleared out in this way. A concubine is in herself lowly in station, but because she bears a son, she comes to honor. These two parables express the idea that in times of high culture, as suggested by the hexagram, anyone of good will can succeed in some way. No matter how lowly one may be, if only one is ready to purify oneself, one will be accepted. One enters a position where one can prove fruitful in achievements and consequently find recognition.
Line 2
There is food in the caldron. My companions are envious, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune! In times of high culture, everything depends on actually accomplishing something. If one relies solely on these real achievements, one may indeed experience envy and ill will, but this is not dangerous. The more one limits oneself to positive achievements, the less can the envious do any harm.
Line 3
The handle of the caldron is altered. One is impeded in one's course of life. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. Once the rain falls, remorse exhausts itself. In the end, good fortune comes. The handle is the place where the caldron is lifted. If the handle is altered, the caldron cannot be lifted and used, and the fine food contained within it, like the fat of pheasants, unfortunately serves to nourish no one. This depicts someone who, in a time of high culture, finds himself in a position where no one heeds or recognizes him. This is a severe impediment to his activity. All his fine qualities and spiritual gifts are thus fruitlessly expended. Yet one need only ensure that one truly possesses inner spiritual riches. Then the time will surely come when the obstacles dissolve and all goes well. Here, as elsewhere, the release of tension is symbolized by the falling of rain.
Line 4
The caldron breaks its legs. The prince's meal is spilled, and his person is soiled. Misfortune! One has a heavy, responsible task that one is not equal to fulfilling. Since, moreover, one does not devote oneself to this task with all one's strength, but consorts with lowly people, the execution fails. Thereby one brings shame and disgrace upon oneself. Confucius says of this: 'Weak character coupled with an honored place, small knowledge and great plans, little strength and heavy responsibility, will seldom escape disaster.'
Line 5▶ ruling line
The caldron has yellow handles, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers. A man in a ruling position is accessible and modest in nature. Through this inner attitude he succeeds in finding strong and able helpers who complement him and aid him in his work. It is important that in this stance, which requires continuous inner self-abnegation, one does not allow oneself to be led astray, but holds fast to it.
Line 6▶ ruling line
The caldron has rings of jade. Great good fortune! Nothing that would not further. In the preceding line the carrying rings are called golden to indicate their strength. Here they are called of jade. Jade is distinguished by uniting hardness with a gentle luster. From the standpoint of the man open to counsel, this counsel acts as a strong furtherance. Here the counsel is described from the standpoint of the sage who imparts it. He will be mild and purified, like noble jade. In this way the work finds favor before the eyes of the Deity, who bestows great good fortune, and becomes pleasing to men; wherefore all goes well.
Below ☴ Wind (Sun)
- Direction
- SE
- Element
- Wood · Wind
- Attributes
- Gentle · Penetrating · Gradual · Persevering
- Family
- Eldest Daughter
Above ☲ Fire (Li)
- Direction
- S
- Element
- Fire · Sun · Light
- Attributes
- Clarifying · Luminous · Clinging · Conscious · Beautiful
- Family
- Middle Daughter