革 → 乾
Hexagram 49: Revolution → Hexagram 1: The Creative
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 2, 6).
Line 2
六二 巳日乃革之。征吉无咎。
Six in the second place means: When one's own day comes, one may create revolution. Starting brings good fortune. No blame.
Line 6
上六 君子豹變。小人革面。征凶。居貞吉。
Six at the top means: The superior man changes like a panther. The inferior man molts in the face. Starting brings misfortune. To remain persevering brings good fortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
高原峻山，陸土少泉。草木林麓，嘉得所蓄。
High plateau, steep mountain; the upland soil has few springs. Grasses, trees, and forest at the foothills; blessed to store what is gathered.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Fire within the lake rises to meet pure heaven. High plateaus and steep mountains stand where springs are scarce, yet grasses and trees flourish at the mountain's foot, gathering their nourishment from whatever the land stores. Revolution strips away the old; the Creative replaces it with self-generating vitality. Even on arid heights, vegetation finds what it needs and thrives. The transformation from Revolution to the Creative captures this dynamic: once the old order is shed, heaven's ceaseless initiative fills the space, and what was barren becomes lush through its own momentum. The landscape needs no irrigation — it draws from reserves already present beneath the surface.
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