Fire above – Wind below
The Chinese name of this hexagram is Ding and originally referred to an ancient Chinese vessel. Ding later came to mean “establishing the new”. Other titles for this hexagram are: The Sacrificial Vessel, The Vessel, Rejuvenation. The ancient Ding has a long history as a symbol of dynastic foundation for consecrated offerings and as a sacrificial cooking vessel. The Cauldron, as a hexagram, is symbolic of the processing of a transformational change. The vessel came to symbolize a cauldron where personal or collective resources are combined with destiny’s influence and cooked together, transformed into a new order.
Breaking down the symbolism of the 3-line trigrams helps with understanding the ancient teachings:
When trigram Wind is below (the bottom 3 lines in image below right), it references the inner realm of the person or situation. Trigram Wind is aligned with your inner template or the design which shapes who you are, what you do and how you influence, communicate and importantly, adapt within the world. Wind has the ability to shape and influence through its attributes of relentless, gentle perseverance.
Trigram Fire is on top of trigram Wind as shown in the top 3 lines of the hexagram in the image (below right). Fire illuminates, enlightens and helps sort things into order. Additionally, Fire is largely responsible for civilizations being formed on earth. The internal influences (Wind/Wood) in this situation are transformed (cooked) by Fire, thus establishing something new.
The ancient ideograph is on the upper left portion of the image below. This is an image of a classical vessel, usually made of bronze. In ancient history the Ding was used as an instrument to “set times and measures” by aligning with the celestial heavens and the Polestar in particular. The ancients diviners believed these measurements were imperative to line up with the seasons, highlighting the importance they placed on timing to ensure survival and success of their people.
In summary: The ancient Ding is a large container, simple and stable with its 3-leg configuration. The inside of the cauldron symbolizes the confines implied by a decision because making a choice means including some things in the “cooking pot” of your life and this automatically excludes others. For example, on a personal level in beginning a marriage, school or a job means you have made a decision to confine some portion of your life to the limits of that “cauldron”. Within the Ding or situation, the raw materials (the people and circumstances involved) are combined and “cooked” to establish a new order. There is a symbolic, ritualistic quality to this hexagram which implies a profound shift in values. Ding connects the spiritual with the practical to nourish and raise awareness of a new path while, at the same time, sacrificing old habits of thought. This is a call for big renewal within an already established framework (such as the framework your life or the existence of a nation, for example) in order to transform and improve it.
Following are a few ideas for interpretations of each line:
Line 1 – When at the very beginning of an endeavor or situation, it is vital to make sure you have cleansed yourself of the past. Rooting out old, unfruitful loyalties, belief systems and traditions is an important part of the process and vital for the coming transformational work.
Line 2 – Your situation is favorable and has merit. Potential negativity coming from others cannot harm this situation as long as you maintain and carefully guard your path from things like doubt or peer pressure.
Line 3 – It may be that you are temporarily blocked in your endeavor. This is an opportune time to make sure you’ve let go of old assumptions and have your own plans, people and equipment in good working order.
Line 4 – It is possible you have taken on more than you can handle or have placed it in the hands of those who have not handled it well. Whether or not the intentions were good, there needs to be some kind of repair or renewal work before proceeding. It is also possible a whole new start is required.
Line 5 – Your situation and personal resources have validity. Keep yourself receptive to what others have to offer, but let your own inner voice have the final authority.
Line 6 – Spiritual lessons have been mastered and this allows you to keep flexibility and sincerity in your life, as long as you do not allow anything to pull it down.