The 64 hexagrams · No. 49
Hexagram 49: Revolution
Fire within the Lake. Give change a reason and a trial.
An original modern reflection on the I Ching image. This is not a translation of the classical Judgment or line statements.
Give change a reason and a trial
Fire and the lake suggest forces that alter one another’s conditions. A meaningful change starts with knowing where the existing arrangement no longer fits. Describe the problem in its actual setting. Then consider what the new approach must improve, and who needs a voice in trying it.
A question to sit with
In which specific situation has the old way stopped serving its purpose?
One small step
Test a different approach in one small area. Agree on what you will observe and when you will review it before extending the change further.
Reading the figure
The upper trigram is Lake; the lower trigram is Fire. The first line is at the bottom, and the sixth is at the top. You identify this hexagram from its six-line figure, not from a word match to your question.
Read the image alongside the actual circumstances you know. Notice what fits and what does not. The relating hexagram depends on your changing lines, so there is no single fixed “next hexagram” for this pattern.
What changes when one line moves?
This map changes exactly one line at a time. If your cast has several changing lines, all of them flip together; the resulting pattern may differ from every row below. These are structural changes, not translations of the classical line statements.
| Changing position | Relating hexagram |
|---|---|
| Line 1 · bottom | 31. Influence |
| Line 2 | 43. Breakthrough |
| Line 3 | 17. Following |
| Line 4 | 63. After Completion |
| Line 5 | 55. Abundance |
| Line 6 · top | 13. Fellowship |
Learn how changing lines work →
Keep a reading journal
If this hexagram appeared in a reading, note your question, your six coin totals, and one thing you want to observe. Come back later to record what happened. Your notes can help you see how your understanding changed, even when a reflection did not fit.
Try the free three-coin I Ching tool →
Classical reference: The Book of Changes. English names vary by edition; the number, pinyin and figure make the identification clear. About our method and sources.