Book of Changes 易經
鼎 Ding
Click on any word to see more details.
巽下離上鼎，元吉，亨。
Ding gives the intimation of great progress and success.
彖曰：鼎，象也。以木巽火，亨飪也。聖人亨以享上帝，而大亨以養聖賢。巽而耳目聰明，柔進而上行，得中而應乎剛，是以元亨。
In Ding we have (symbolically) the figure of a caldron. (We see) the (symbol of) wood entering into that of fire, which suggests the idea of cooking. The sages cooked their offerings in order to present them to God, and made great feasts to nourish their wise and able (ministers). We have the symbol of) flexible obedience, and that (which denotes) ears quick of hearing and eyes clear-sighted. (We have also) the weak (line) advanced and acting above, in the central place, and responded to by the strong (line below). All these things give the idea of 'great progress and success.'
象曰：木上有火，鼎；君子以正位凝命。
(The trigram representing) wood and above it that for fire form Ding. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his every position correct, and maintains secure the appointment (of Heaven).
初六：鼎顛趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。
The first SIX, divided, shows the caldron overthrown and its feet turned up. (But) there will be advantage in its getting rid of what was bad in it. (Or it shows us) the concubine (whose position is improved) by means of her son. There will be no error.
象曰：鼎顛趾，未悖也。利出否，以從貴也。
'The caldron is overturned, and its feet turned upwards:' - but this is not (all) contrary (to what is right). 'There will be advantage in getting rid of what was bad:' - thereby (the subject of the line) will follow the more noble (subject of the fourth line).
九二：鼎有實，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with the things (to be cooked) in it. (If its subject can say), 'My enemy dislikes me, but he cannot approach me,' there will be good fortune.
象曰：鼎有實，慎所之也。我仇有疾，終无尤也。
'There is the caldron with the things (to be cooked) in it:' - let (the subject of the line) be careful where he goes. 'My enemy dislikes me:' - but there will in the end be no fault (to which he can point).
九三：鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨虧悔，終吉。
The third NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with (the places of) its ears changed. The progress (of its subject) is (thus) stopped. The fat flesh of the pheasant (which is in the caldron) will not be eaten. But the (genial) rain will come, and the grounds for repentance will disappear. There will be good fortune in the end.
象曰：鼎耳革，失其義也。
'There is the caldron with (the places for) its ears changed:' - (its subject) has failed in what was required of him (in his situation).
九四：鼎折足，覆公餗，其形渥，凶。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with its feet broken; and its contents, designed for the ruler's use, overturned and spilt. Its Subject will be made to blush for shame. There will be evil.
象曰：覆公餗，信如何也。
'The contents designed for the ruler's use are overturned and spilt:' - how can (the subject of the line) be trusted?
六五：鼎黃耳金鉉，利貞。
The fifth six, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct.
象曰：鼎黃耳，中以為實也。
'The caldron has yellow ears:' - the central position (of the line) is taken as (a proof of) the solid (virtue of its subject).
上九：鼎玉鉉，大吉，无不利。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
象曰：玉鉉在上，剛柔節也。
'The rings of jade' are at the very top: - the strong and the weak meet in their due proportions.
本作品在全世界都属于公有领域，因为作者逝世已经超过100年，并且于1923年1月1日之前出版。
English translation: Legge 1882
Dictionary cache status: not loaded