49. Revolution

Judgment

革：己日乃孚，元亨利贞，悔亡。

On your own day you are believed. Supreme success, furthering through perseverance. Remorse disappears. Transformation succeeds or fails on timing and trust.

Image

泽中有火，革；君子以治历明时。

Fire in the lake: the image of revolution. The noble person sets the calendar in order and makes the seasons clear. Change must master the rhythm of time.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：巩用黄牛之革。

   Wrapped in the hide of a yellow cow. The time is not yet ripe: hold steady.

2. Line 2, yin (six)

   六二：己日乃革之，征吉，无咎。

   When one's own day comes, one may create revolution. Starting brings good fortune. No blame. When prepared, launch decisively.

3. Line 3, yang (nine)

   九三：征凶，贞厉，革言三就，有孚。

   Starting brings misfortune. Perseverance brings danger. When talk of revolution has gone the rounds three times, one may commit oneself, and people will believe. Build consensus through repeated dialogue.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：悔亡，有孚改命，吉。

   Remorse disappears. Men believe him. Changing the form of government brings good fortune. Trust is won; change starts to work.

5. Line 5, yang (nine)

   九五：大人虎变，未占有孚。

   The great person changes like a tiger. Even before he questions the oracle he is believed. The leader's visible, wholehearted transformation.

6. Line 6, yin (six)

   上六：君子豹变，小人革面，征凶，居贞吉。

   The noble person changes like a panther. The inferior person molts in the face. Starting brings misfortune. To remain persevering brings good fortune. After change, consolidate—stop churning.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of change management and transformation: digital transformation, business-model reinvention, culture change, institutional reform. The six lines form a complete change roadmap—hold, time the launch, build consensus, earn trust, lead by example, consolidate—close to Kotter's eight steps.

Psychological lens

Resonates with change-readiness research and 'trust before change'; 'talk of revolution three times' reflects how participative decision-making reduces resistance (Coch & French).

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Has the window opened? Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
• When the time for change is not yet ripe Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Middle-management resistance Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
• Leaders changing first Enterprise, Line 5, yang (nine)
• Consolidating after change Enterprise, Line 6, yin (six)
• Cannibalising our own core product Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Certification and standard upgrades Enterprise, Judgment
• Switching industries Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• Adjusting life to the seasons Individuals, Judgment
• Opening a new chapter Individuals, Line 6, yin (six)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.