Home › I Ching · 64 hexagrams › Hexagram 49
James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
Ko is the day's fire that makes the old skin fall away. The oracle is plain: what is changed is believed in only after it has been accomplished. Begin quietly, bound like a yellow ox. Act when the hour is ripe, not before — then good fortune and no error. Rash change is evil even with firmness; discuss it three times fully, and belief will follow. When repentance disappears, change the ordinances openly and be trusted. The great man changes as the tiger changes his stripes; the superior man as the leopard his spots; small men change their faces. Do not press past the summit: going forward now would be evil. Abide firm and correct, and the new day stands.
Line 1
The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
Line 2
The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
Line 3
The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
Line 4
The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
Line 5
The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
Line 6
The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.