鼎 · Dǐng — The Alchemical Cauldron
King Wen Sequence #50 (鼎 Dǐng — The Alchemical Cauldron) embodies wood feeding a sacred three-legged bronze cauldron. Assigned to the Li Fire Palace (离宫八卦 · Solar Radiance) · 二世卦 (World Line 2 / Response Line 5) and resonant with Summer Solstice Solar Zenith (夏至离火 · 芒种—大暑), its six-line binary vector (011101) pairs 巽 Xun (Gentle Penetration) at the root with 离 Li (Clinging Radiance) at the crown.
《大象》：木上有火，鼎；君子以正位凝命。 ｜ 《彖传》：鼎，象也。以木巽火，亨飪也。聖人亨以享上帝，而大亨以養聖賢。巽而耳目聰明，柔進而上行，得中而應乎剛，是以元亨。
Visual Archetype: inscribed Shang-dynasty bronze Ding. When Fire (Fire) interacts with Wind / Wood (Wood), the primary strategic mandate centers on alchemizing raw talent into refined institutional culture. Its Polarity Opposite (Cuo Gua · 错卦) is #3 屯 (Difficulty at the Beginning), its Overturned Inverse (Zong Gua · 综卦) is #49 革 (Timely Transformation), and its Nuclear Core (Hu Gua · 互卦) reveals #43 夬 (Resolute Breakthrough).
离宫 · 世爻第2爻 / 应爻第5爻
For decision-makers consulting 鼎 (Dǐng) regarding alchemizing raw talent into refined institutional culture, the hexagram highlights the interplay between Wood foundation and Fire manifestation under the Fire Palace. Rather than generic haste, align execution with Summer Solstice Solar Zenith (夏至离火 · 芒种—大暑) rhythms and inspect whether your natal BaZi chart favors Fire, Fire, or Wood as its Favorable Element (喜用神).
《京氏易传》世应法：九二立大夫為世，六五居尊見應(京氏易傳原文:大夫居世2爻,應爻隔三爻)
Six Lines Progression (六爻爻辞 · Bottom Line 1 to Top Line 6)
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 1 [初六 · 辛丑 (土) · 子孙 (土)]: Germination of wood feeding a sacred three-legged bronze cauldron near inscribed Shang-dynasty bronze Ding; validate root premises before accelerating alchemizing raw talent into refined institutional culture. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #14 大有 (Abundant Possession).
《周易本义》：出尺遂反又如字否音鄙○居鼎之下鼎趾之象也上應九四則顛矣然當卦初鼎未有實而舊有否惡之積焉因其顛而出之則為利矣得妾而因得其子亦猶是也此爻之象如此而其占无咎蓋因敗以為功因賤以致貴也
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 2 [九二 · 辛亥 (水) · 官鬼 (水) · 世爻 World]: Central lower-trigram seat anchored in inscribed Shang-dynasty bronze Ding; cultivate Wood craftsmanship in harmony with #43 夬. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #56 旅 (Mindful Global Sojourner).
《周易本义》：仇音求○以剛居中鼎有實之象也我仇謂初隂陽相求而非正則相陷於惡而為仇矣二能以剛中自守則初雖近不能以就之是以其象如此而其占為如是則吉也
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 3 [九三 · 辛酉 (金) · 妻财 (金)]: Threshold between 巽 Xun and 离 Li during Summer Solstice Solar Zenith (夏至离火 · 芒种—大暑); pace alchemizing raw talent into refined institutional culture carefully. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #64 未济 (Infinite Open Potential).
《周易本义》：行下孟反塞悉則反○以陽居鼎腹之中本有美實者也然以過剛失中越五應上又居下之極為變革之時故為鼎耳方革而不可舉移雖承上卦文明之腴有雉膏之美而不得以為人之食然以陽居陽為得其正苟能自守則隂陽將和而失其悔矣占者如是則初雖不利而終得吉也
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 4 [九四 · 己酉 (金) · 妻财 (金)]: Ministerial counsel within the Li Fire Palace (离宫八卦 · Solar Radiance) · 二世卦; align wood feeding a sacred three-legged bronze cauldron with institutional mentors. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #18 蛊 (Restoring What Has Decayed).
《周易本义》：折之舌反覆方服反餗送六反渥乙角反○晁氏曰形渥諸本作刑剭謂重刑也今從之九四居上任重者也而下應初六之隂則不勝其任矣故其象如此而其占凶也
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 5 [六五 · 己未 (土) · 子孙 (土) · 应爻 Response]: Fulcrum of The Alchemical Cauldron (䷱); command alchemizing raw talent into refined institutional culture through balanced Fire and Wood synthesis. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #44 姤 (Unexpected Encounter).
《周易本义》：𤣥典反○五於象為耳而有中徳故云黄耳金堅剛之物貫耳以舉鼎者也五虛中以應九二之堅剛故其象如此而其占則利在貞固而已或曰金以上九而言更詳之
鼎 (Dǐng) Line 6 [上九 · 己巳 (火) · 兄弟 (火)]: Culmination of wood feeding a sacred three-legged bronze cauldron, pivoting toward Inverse #49 革 (Timely Transformation) and Opposite #3 屯. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #32 恒 (Persevering Constancy).
《周易本义》：上於象為而以陽居陰剛而能温故有玉之象而其占為大吉无不利蓋有是徳則如其占也
BaZi & Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数) Connection
Spatial & Elemental Calibration for #50 鼎: Place a inscribed Shang-dynasty bronze Ding motif or Fire-element accent in your workspace; cross-reference Hexagram #3 (屯) when balancing Yin/Yang extremes.
Download Hexagram #50 (鼎 Dǐng) 6 Changing Lines Commentary
Get line-by-line classical Yao Ci (爻辞) interpretations from bottom Line 1 (Initial) to top Line 6 (Culmination).