I Ching hexagram 50
Hexagram 50: Ding
The Cauldron · 火風鼎 · Fire above, Wind below
You build something stable enough to feed people and take your proper place in it.
What this hexagram is about
The cauldron fed people and honored ancestors, so it stands for a settled order that nourishes many, and every part of it has to be sound. Ding (The Cauldron) pictures fire burning on wood beneath a pot.
A way to think about it
What are you building that is meant to last and to feed other people? Check its legs and its handles, and ask which part would fail first under real use.
The text, with Legge's translation
Judgment
元吉，亨。
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
Two short phrases make the whole verdict, very good and open to success. Behind them is a well-made cauldron, used to honor Heaven and to feed people of worth.
Image
木上有火，鼎；君子以正位凝命。
(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).
Line 1 · 初六
鼎顛趾，利出否，得妾以其子，无咎。
The first line, 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.
The cauldron is tipped over with its legs in the air, which is useful for emptying out the old, spoiled contents. Starting over this way leaves no fault.
Line 2 · 九二
鼎有實，我仇有疾，不我能即，吉。
The second line, 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.
The cauldron is full of good food, and a rival who resents you cannot get close enough to spoil it. You are well placed.
Line 3 · 九三
鼎耳革，其行塞，雉膏不食，方雨虧悔，終吉。
The third line, 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.
The handles are out of place, so the cauldron cannot be moved, and the rich pheasant stew goes uneaten. When rain finally comes, the regret lessens and it ends well.
Line 4 · 九四
鼎折足，覆公餗，其刑渥，凶。
The fourth line, 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.
A leg breaks and the lord's meal spills across the floor, which shames whoever was trusted with it. Taking on more than you can carry ends in misfortune.
Line 5 · 六五
鼎黃耳金鉉，利貞。
The fifth line, divided, shows the caldron with yellow ears and rings of metal in them. There will be advantage through being firm and correct.
Yellow handles and golden carrying rings make the cauldron easy to lift and fitting to look at. Steadiness and correctness are what count here.
Line 6 · 上九
鼎玉鉉，大吉，无不利。
The sixth line, undivided, shows the caldron with rings of jade. There will be great good fortune, and all action taken will be in every way advantageous.
The carrying rings are jade, firm and warm at once, the finest finish the cauldron could have. It is very favorable and nothing works against it.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi, public domain. English: James Legge, The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. 16 (1882), public domain. Plain notes written by this site.
Questions
I cast hexagram 50. Which text do I read?
With no changing lines, read the judgment: "Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success." With changing lines, read the lines that changed. When several change at once, Zhu Xi's rules decide which text leads, and the casting page marks it for you.
What are the nuclear, opposite and inverted hexagrams of Ding?
The nuclear hexagram is 43. Guai (Resolution). The opposite is 3. Zhun (Sprouting). The inverted hexagram is 49. Ge (Revolution).