Hexagram 49 革 - GE / REVOLUTION

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Trigrams

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• Above: Duì, the Joyous, the Lake
• Below: Lí, the Clinging, the Fire

The hexagram originally signifies an animal’s pelt, which changes throughout the year through molting. From this, the word is extended to mean the molts within political life, the great revolutions associated with a change of government. The two figures composing the hexagram are the two youngest daughters, Lí and Duì, just as in Hexagram 38, Kuí (Opposition). But while in Opposition the elder of the two stands above, resulting essentially only in a conflict of tendencies, here the younger is on top, and the effects work directly against each other, the forces combating one another like fire and water (the Lake), where each strives to destroy the other. Hence the idea of revolution.

The Judgment

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Revolution. On your own day, you find belief. Supreme success, furthering through perseverance. Remorse disappears.

Political revolutions are matters of extreme gravity. They should only be undertaken as a last resort, when no other way out remains. Not everyone is called to lead them, but only he who possesses the confidence of the people, and even then, only when the time is ripe. One must proceed in the proper manner, causing the people to rejoice and preventing excesses through enlightenment. Furthermore, one must be entirely free from selfish goals and must truly relieve the distress of the people. Only then is there nothing to regret.

Times change, and with them their demands. Just as the seasons change in the course of the year, so too do the spring and autumn of peoples and nations occur in the cosmic year, necessitating social transformations.

The Image

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Fire in the Lake: the image of Revolution. Thus the superior man sets the calendar in order and makes the seasons clear.

The fire below and the lake above combat and destroy each other. Similarly, throughout the year, a battle takes place between the light and the dark forces, manifesting as the revolution of the seasons. Man becomes master over the changes of nature when he recognizes their regularity and divides the course of time accordingly. This brings order and clarity into the seemingly chaotic shift of seasons, allowing one to prepare in advance for the requirements of different times.

The Individual Lines

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Nine at the beginning means:

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One is wrapped in the hide of a yellow cow.

Changes should only be undertaken when it is no longer possible to do otherwise. Therefore, utmost restraint is necessary at first. One must become entirely firm within and practice moderation - yellow is the color of the middle, and the cow is the symbol of docility - and undertake nothing for the time being, as any premature strike brings evil consequences.

Six in the second place means:

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On one’s own day, one may radicalize. Setting forth brings good fortune. No blame.

When all attempts to reform conditions have been tried without success, the necessity of a revolution arises. However, such a profound upheaval must be well prepared. A man must be present who possesses the necessary capabilities and public trust. One may then turn to such a man. This brings good fortune and is not a mistake. It is initially a matter of one’s inner stance toward the new order that must come. One must, as it were, go out to meet it. Only in this way is it prepared.

Nine in the third place means:

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Setting forth brings misfortune. Perseverance brings danger. When the talk of revolution has gone around three times, one may turn toward it, and one will find belief.

When change is necessary, there are two errors that must be avoided. One is too rapid and ruthless a procedure, which is associated with misfortune. The other is over-conservative hesitation, which is also dangerous. One must not listen to every voice crying out for a change of the status quo. Yet, one must not ignore repeated and well-founded complaints either. When the word of change comes to someone three times and has been thoroughly weighed, one may grant it belief and engage with it. Then one will find belief and achieve something.¹

Nine in the fourth place means:

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Remorse disappears. One finds belief. Changing the state order brings good fortune.

Radical changes require the necessary authority. Both inner strength of character and an influential position must be present. What is done must correspond to a higher truth and must not spring from arbitrary or petty motives; then it brings great good fortune. If no such inner truth underlies a revolution, it is always an evil and will have no success. For in the end, people only support undertakings for whose inner justice they have an instinctive feeling.

Nine in the fifth place means:

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The great man changes like a tiger. Even before he consults the oracle, he finds belief.

A tiger’s pelt, with its clearly visible black stripes on a yellow background, is distinctly patterned and visible from afar. It is the same with the revolutions brought about by a great man: large, clear guidelines become visible for everyone to understand. Thus, he does not need to consult the oracle first, for the people join him quite of their own accord.

Six at the top means:

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The superior man changes like a panther. The inferior man molts in the face. Setting forth brings misfortune. Remaining in perseverance brings good fortune.

After the major, fundamental questions are settled, minor transformations in detail and more precise executions are still necessary. These are comparable to the distinct but smaller spots of the panther’s pelt. A change also occurs among the inferior people as a result. They likewise molt in accordance with the new order. Admittedly, this molting is not deep-seated, but that is not to be expected either. One must be satisfied with what is possible. To try to go too far and achieve too much would lead to unrest and misfortune. For what should be striven for through a great revolution are clear, consolidated conditions that grant a general reassurance within the limits of what is currently possible.

Reference links

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• Hexagram look-up table
• Advanced hexagram correspondence table