Revolution (Molting) - Hexagram 49

Meaning and Overview

The upper trigram of the Hexagram of Revolution (Ge) is Dui, representing Lake or Water, and the lower trigram is Li, representing Fire. The text says 'Water and Fire contend with each other,' meaning they have both a mutually generative and a mutually destructive aspect. For example, food can be cooked by fire and thus become edible. The hexagram Ge primarily illustrates the destructive aspect of Water and Fire. Its original meaning likely refers to the processing of animal hides to make leather and other daily necessities. From the lines 'Bound with the hide of a yellow ox' (first nine), 'The great man changes like a tiger' (fifth nine), and 'The superior man changes like a leopard' (top six), we can see that leather-making techniques were already quite advanced and widely applied at that time. 'Ge' (revolution) can be further extended to mean revolution—reforming old, unreasonable systems to adapt to new circumstances, thereby changing the fate of individuals, families, or nations. Such revolution must be undertaken with extreme caution, like processing leather goods, and should follow the pattern of the seasons and the changes of heaven and earth. If revolution is not handled carefully, problems arise, as seen in the third and top lines where rash action leads to 'misfortune in going forward.' The second and fifth lines, being central and corresponding, are auspicious: the second line says 'Going forward brings good fortune,' and the fifth says 'Without divination, there is trust.' The fourth line, a yang line in a yin position, represents firmness tempered with gentleness, and thus 'Changing the mandate brings good fortune.' The first line warns against hasty change. The third line advises 'Revolutionary words must be repeated three times,' meaning that before a revolution, public opinion must be thoroughly prepared to gain the people's trust. The hexagram's judgment says: 'On the day of completion, there is trust. Supreme success, beneficial to be steadfast. Remorse vanishes.' The 'day of completion' (ji ri) is one of the central Heavenly Stems, indicating the right time—neither too early nor too late. This actually advises us that revolution must adhere to the doctrine of the mean to achieve 'supreme success' and 'remorse vanishes.' Because revolution is most prone to extremes, radicalism, and major problems. The commentary says: 'On the day of completion, there is trust—after revolution, people trust it. With inner brightness and joy, great success through correctness, the revolution is appropriate, and remorse vanishes.' The image commentary says that revolution should gain the people's trust, be civilized and just, be widely welcomed, and achieve broad consensus—only then will there be no regret. The text highly praises the revolutions of Tang and Wu, showing that they met all the standards of revolution, responding to heaven and following the people.