Hexagram Statement
卦辭
革去故而鼎取新，取新而當其人，易故而法制齊明，吉然後乃亨，故先元吉而後亨也。鼎者，成變之卦也。革既變矣，則制器立法以成之焉。變而无制，亂可待也。法制應時，然後乃吉。賢愚有別，尊卑有序，然後乃亨，故先元吉而後乃亨。
Revolution removes the old and the Caldron takes up the new. Taking up the new while appointing the right people, changing the old so that laws and institutions are aligned and clear—only then is there auspiciousness, and only then Success.
Therefore Sublime Beginning auspicious comes first and Success after. The Caldron is the hexagram of completing transformation. Once Revolution has transformed things, then one fashions vessels and establishes laws to bring completion.
If there is transformation without regulation, disorder may be expected. When laws and institutions respond to the times, only then is there auspiciousness. When the worthy and the foolish are distinguished, and the noble and the lowly are properly ordered, only then is there Success.
Therefore Sublime Beginning auspicious comes first, and only then Success.
正義曰：鼎者，器之名也。自火化之後鑄金，而為此器以供烹飪之用，謂之為鼎。亨飪成新，能成新法。然則鼎之為器，且有二義：一有亨飪之用，二有物象之法，故《彖》曰「鼎，象也，明其有法象也」。《雜卦》曰「革去故」而「鼎取新」，明其亨飪有成新之用。此卦明聖人革命，示物法象，惟新其制，有鼎之義，以木巽火，有鼎之象，故名為鼎焉。變故成新，必須當理，故先元吉而後乃亨，故曰「鼎，元吉，亨」也。
The Correct Meaning states: The Caldron (ding) is the name of a vessel. After the discovery of fire, metal was cast to make this vessel for the purpose of cooking, and it was called a caldron. Cooking brings about the new and is able to establish new methods.
Thus the caldron as a vessel has two meanings: first, it has the function of cooking; second, it has the model of a physical image. Therefore the Tuan says 'The Caldron is an image,' making clear that it has a model image.
The Zagua (Miscellaneous Hexagrams) says 'Revolution removes the old' and 'the Caldron takes up the new,' making clear that cooking has the function of bringing about the new.
This hexagram illuminates the sage's revolutionary mandate, displaying the model image of things, renewing the institutions—this has the meaning of the Caldron. Using wood to feed fire has the image of the Caldron. Therefore it is named the Caldron.
Transforming the old to bring about the new must accord with principle; therefore Sublime Beginning auspicious comes first, and only then Success. '
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏