Hexagram 49 of 64 · King Wen order
革Revolution
Gé · ䷰ · above: Lake ☱ 兌 Duì · below: Fire ☲ 離 Lí
A necessary change in the order of things that must be timed perfectly to succeed.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
己日乃孚，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.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. 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.
2. '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.'
3. Heaven and earth undergo their changes, and the four seasons complete their functions. Thang changed the appointment (of the line of Hsia to the throne), and Wu (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.
The Image 象
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.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
鞏用黃牛之革。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
Small Image: 'He is bound with (the skin of) a yellow ox:'—he should in his circumstances be taking action.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 31, Influence.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
己日乃革之，征吉，無咎。
The second SIX, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
Small Image: 'He makes his changes when some time has passed:'—what he does will be matter of admiration.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 43, Break-through.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
The 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.
Small Image: 'The change (contemplated) has been three times fully discussed:'—to what else should attention (now) be directed?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 17, Following.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
The 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.
Small Image: 'The good fortune consequent on changing (existing) ordinances' is due to the faith reposed in his aims.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 63, After Completion.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
大人虎變，未占有孚。
The 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.
Small Image: 'The great man produces his changes as the tiger does when he changes his stripes:'—their beauty becomes more brilliant.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 55, Abundance.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
The 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.
Small Image: '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.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 13, Fellowship with Men.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦4. Youthful Folly 蒙
every line changedInverse 綜卦50. The Caldron 鼎
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.