Previous / Contents / HEX TABLE / Next50. Ting [Caldron]
Thwan, or Overall Judgment (Attributed to King Wan)Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success. [Whincup] The ritual caldron. [Christensen] 50 - 鼎 The Tripod [Pearson] (dǐng) The Cauldron [Redmond] 50. 鼎 Ding The Bronze Cauldron [Legge] Ting was originally a pictorial character, representing a caldron with three feet and two ears, used for cooking and preparing food for the table (the mat in old times) and the altar. The picture has disappeared from the character, but it is said that in the hexagram we have an outline from which fancy may construct the vessel. The lower line, divided, represents its feet; lines 2, 3, 4, all undivided, represent the body of it; line 5, divided, represents its two ears; and line 6, undivided, the handle by which it was carried, or suspended from a hook. [Appendix 6, 49-55] makes Ting follow Ko in the order of the hexagrams, because there is no changer of the appearance and character of things equal to the furnace and caldron! Ting and Zing (48) are the only two hexagrams named from things in ordinary use with men; and they are both descriptive of the government's work of nourishing. There are three hexagrams of which that is the theme, I (27), under which we are told in [the 'Comments on the Thwan'] that 'the sages nourished men of worth, by means of them to reach to the myriads of the people.' Zing treats of the nourishment of the people generally by the government through its agricultural and other methods; Ting treats of the nourishment of men of talents and virtue; and that being understood, it is said, without more ado, that it 'intimates great progress and success.' The Text that follows, however, is more difficult to interpret than that of Zing. Comments on the Thwan1. In Ting 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). 2. 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.' [Legge] 1. See the notes on the Text of the Thwan about the figure of a caldron in Ting. Its component trigrams are Sun representing wood, and Li representing fire; which may very well suggest the idea of cooking. The last sentence of the paragraph is entirely after the style of 'the Great Symbolism.' The Khang-hsi editors say that the distinction between Zing and Ting appears here very clearly, the former relating to the nourishment of the people, and the latter to the nourishing men of worth. They add that the reality of the offerings to God is such nourishing. 'God' is here Shang Ti, which Canon McClatchie translates 'the First Emperor,' adding in a note, 'The Chinese Jupiter, the Emperor of gods and men!' 2. The first sentence deduces the sentiment of the Thwan from the attributes or virtues of the trigrams with considerable amplification of the virtue of Li. The second line of Li, as being divided, calls forth in other hexagrams the same notice as here. It is the most important line in the figure, and being responded to by the strong 2, gives an indication of the 'great progress and success.' Great Symbolism(The trigram representing) wood and above it that for fire form Ting. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his every position correct, and maintains secure the appointment (of Heaven). [Legge] The Great Symbolism here has come before us in the treatise on the Thwan. Of the application of that symbolism I can only say that, as has been seen in many other hexagrams, while good enough in itself, it is far-fetched. Line Statements (Attributed to the Duke of Kau)1. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.1 [Whincup] [Christensen] 初 六﹕ 鼎 顛 趾 利 出 否 得 妾 以 其 子 无 咎 Beginning 6: The Ding turned over with its legs up; it will be fruitful to [clear] out what is bad [inside it]. To take a concubine in order to get a son is not a mistake. [Pearson] Six in the first place: The cauldron is filled to the foot. It is well to expel the negative and to take a partner for the sake of the child. No blame. [Redmond] 50.1 The cauldron topples over—beneficial for releasing the bad. To obtain a concubine for her son. Not blameworthy. 初六鼎顛趾—利出否. 得妾以其子. 无咎. [Smaller Symbolism] 1. '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). [Legge] Line 1 is weak, and little or nothing can be expected from its subject. But it has a proper correlate in the strong 4; and the disastrous overthrow, causing the feet to be directed towards 4, is understood to be lucky, as accelerating the co-operation of their two lines! The overturned caldron is thereby emptied of bad stuff that had accumulated in it!! The writer uses another illustration, which comes to the same thing. A concubine is less honourable than a wife,—like the overthrown caldron. But if she have a son, while the proper wife has none, he will be his father's heir, and the mother, the concubine, will share in the honour of his position. Thus the issue of what was so unpromising is good. At least 'there is no mistake.' The above is what is found in the best commentaries on the paragraph. I give it, but am myself dissatisfied with it. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] The same remark [that the application of the Great Symbolism is far-fetched] may be made on the explanation of the Text of the first line. I can myself do little more than guess at its meaning. The Khang-hsi editors observe that nothing is said about the case of the 'concubine' in the Text; but that it is covered by the following the more noble,' 'so condensed and complete are the words of the sage!' 2. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.2 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 二﹕ 鼎 有 實 我 仇 有 疾 不 我 能 即 吉 Second 9: The tripod is solid. Our enemies are jealous; it is good they can’t reach us. [Pearson] Nine in the second place: The cauldron is filled. While my enemies are ill, they cannot limit me. Good fortune. [Redmond] 50.2 The cauldron has been filled. Our foes having fallen ill, they cannot approach us. Auspicious. 九二鼎有實. 我仇有疾, 不我能即. 吉. [Smaller Symbolism] 2. '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). [Legge] Line 2 is strong. 'The enemy' is the first line, which solicits 1. One, however, is able to resist the solicitation; and the whole paragraph gives a good auspice. The personal pronoun seems to show that the whole was, or was intended to be, understood as an oracular response in divination. This paragraph is rhymed, moreover, as are also 1, 3, and 4 'In the caldron is good fare, [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] The [Khang-hsi] editors find a pregnant sense in the conclusion of paragraph 2:—'There will be no fault in me to which my enemy can point, and his disposition to find fault will be diminished.' 3. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.3 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 三﹕ 鼎 耳 革 其 行 塞 雉 膏 不 食 方 雨 虧 悔 終 吉 Third 9: The handles of the tripod are detached so the moving of it is hindered. [Because of that] the fat stock of the pheasant is not eaten because now it is raining all over [and the rain is] thinning [the stock]. It is regrettable but in the end things will be good. [Pearson] Nine in the third place: The loops atop the cauldron [lit., its ears] are cut, so moving it is difficult and the [delectable] pheasant dish inside cannot be eaten. Widespread rain reduces regrets. In the end, good fortune. [Redmond] 50.3 Cauldron ears with leather straps for carrying. Though crammed with fat meat of the pheasant, it is not eaten. In the area the rain is diminished—regretted, but ends auspiciously. 九三鼎耳革其行. 塞雉膏不食. 方雨虧—悔, 終吉. [Smaller Symbolism] 3. 'There is the caldron with (the places for) its ears changed:'—(its subject) has failed in what was required of him (in his situation). [Legge] Line 3 is also strong, and in the proper place; and if its correlate were the divided 5, its auspice would be entirely good. But instead of 5, its correlate is the strong 6. The place of the ears at 5 has been changed. Things promise badly. The advance of 3 is stopped. The good meat in the caldron which it symbolises will not be eaten. But 3 keeping firm 5 will by and by seek its society! The yin and the yang will mingle, and their union will be followed by genial rain. The issue will he good. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] 'What was required of the caldron in the third line was that that line and line 5, instead of 6, should be correlates;' but there is little meaning in such a statement. 4. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.4 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 四﹕ 鼎 折 足 覆 公 餗 其 形 渥 凶 Fourth 9: It is bad if the leg of the tripod breaks so the lord’s stew is overturned and his [stylish] appearance is soaked. [Pearson] Nine in the fourth place: The cauldron has a broken leg, overturning the duke’s food. Punished by [confinement to a single] room. Misfortune. [Redmond] 50.4 The cauldron’s leg breaks, overturning the duke’s stew. His severe punishment—executed inside. Ominous. 九四鼎折足, 覆公餗. 其形渥, 凶. [Smaller Symbolism] 4. 'The contents designed for the ruler's use are overturned and spilt:'—how can (the subject of the line) be trusted? [Legge] Line 4 is in the place of a great minister, who is charged with the most difficult duties, which no single man can sustain. Then the strength of 4 is weakened by being in an even place, and its correlate is the weak 1 in the lowest place. Its subject is insufficient of himself for his work, and he has no sufficient help; and the result will be evil. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] The subject of line 4 cannot be trusted again. He has failed in doing what was his proper work. 5. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.5 [Whincup] [Christensen] 六 五﹕ 鼎 黃 耳 金 鉉 利 貞 Fifth 6: It is beneficial and correct that the tripod has golden handles and a bronze carrying hook. [Pearson] Six in the fifth place: The cauldron has brass loops and a metal handle [to slip through them.] Persistence is effective. [Redmond] 50.5 A yellow cauldron, hooked by its bronze ears. Divination beneficial. 六五鼎黃耳金鉉. 貞利. [Smaller Symbolism] 5. 'The caldron has yellow ears:'—the central position (of the line) is taken as (a proof of) the solid (virtue of its subject). [Legge] 'Paragraph 5,' says the Daily Lecture, 'praises the ruler as condescending to the worthy with his humble virtue.' 'Yellow' has occurred repeatedly as 'a correct colour;' and here 'the yellow ears and strong rings of metal' are intended to intensify our appreciation of the occupant of 5. As the line is divided, a caution is added about being firm and correct. 6. 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. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 49.6 [Whincup] [Christensen] 上 九﹕ 鼎 玉 鉉 大 吉 无 不 利 Top 9: If the tripod has a carrying hook of jade, it is great good fortune and there is nothing it will not be of benefit to. [Pearson] Nine at the top: A cauldron with a jade handle [to slip through the loops.] Great good fortune. Nothing is ineffective. [Redmond] 50.6 Cauldron lifted with jade hooks. Greatly auspicious. Nothing not beneficial. 上九鼎玉鉉. 大吉. 无不利. [Smaller Symbolism] 6. 'The rings of jade' are at the very top:—the strong and the weak meet in their due proportions. [Legge] Line 6 is strong, but the strength is tempered by its being in an even place. It is this which makes the handle to be of jade, which, though very hard, is supposed to have a peculiar and rich softness of its own. The auspice of the line is very good. 'The great minister,' it is said, 'the subject of 6,' performs for the ruler, the subject of 5, in helping his government and nourishing the worthy, the part which the handle does for the caldron. Previous / Contents / HEX TABLE / Next |
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