Ge 澤火革
A time of big change
The board needs to be changed. Prepare well, then change carefully.
What does I Ching hexagram 49 (Revolution) mean?
Fire and lake transforming each other: reform. When the time is ripe, change boldly.
- Revolution in love
- A big change in the relationship is coming. Replace the old way.
- Revolution at work and with money
- A time of reform and turnover. Act after you have won trust.
- Advice
- Carry out change with the right timing and a clear cause.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Revolution
Auspicious“On the day it is completed, there is trust. Great success; it is fitting to persevere; regret vanishes.”
The Image: Fire within the lake: revolution. The noble person sets the calendar in order and clarifies the seasons.
原文 · 已日乃孚，元亨。利貞。悔亡。 / 澤中有火，革；君子以治歷明時。
The six lines of hexagram 49
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
Neutral“Bound with the hide of a yellow ox.”
Not yet time for change. Stay put and hold on firmly.
原文 · 鞏用黃牛之革。
Line 2 · 六二
Very auspicious“When the day comes, he revolutionizes; going forward brings good fortune, no blame.”
Act at the right time and the change succeeds.
原文 · 已日乃革之，征吉，无咎。
Line 3 · 九三
Misfortune“Going forward brings misfortune; perseverance is dangerous. After the call for change has been repeated three times, there is trust.”
Don’t rush. When people have heard it enough times and agree, then proceed.
原文 · 征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
Line 4 · 九四
Auspicious“Regret vanishes; with sincerity, changing the mandate brings good fortune.”
A well-grounded, honest change of direction works.
原文 · 悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
Line 5 · 九五
Neutral“The great person changes like a tiger; even before consulting the oracle there is sincerity.”
A bold, clear change by a leader is trusted at once.
原文 · 大人虎變，未占有孚。
Line 6 · 上六
Caution“The noble person changes like a leopard; the small person only changes his face. Going forward brings misfortune; staying still and persevering brings good fortune.”
The big change is done. Now settle in; don’t push it further.
原文 · 君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 4. Meng (Youthful Inexperience)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 50. Ding (The Cauldron)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.