Hexagram 50 Line 4: 九四

Classical Chinese Text

九四 鼎折足。覆公餗。其形渥。凶。

鼎折足。覆公餗

Line Commentary

The legs of the ting are broken. The prince's meal is spilled and his person is soiled. Misfortune. A difficult and responsible task to which you are not adequate. Moreover, you don't devote yourself to it with all your strength but go about with inferior people. Therefore the execution of work fails. Confucius says: 'Weak character coupled with honored place, meager knowledge with large plans, limited powers with heavy responsibility—this will seldom escape disaster.'

Commentary

The cauldron's legs broken, the prince's meal spilled, his person soiled. Weakness in high position with large plans and heavy responsibility—Confucius says this seldom escapes disaster.