Hexagram 2 of 64 · King Wen order
坤The Receptive
Kūn · ䷁ · above: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn · below: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn
This hexagram signifies the dark, yielding, and maternal principle that complements the Creative through devotion and support.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
元，亨，利牝馬之貞。君子有攸往，先迷後得主，利西南得朋，東北喪朋。安貞，吉。
Khwăn (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man (here intended) has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his (proper) lord. The advantageousness will be seen in his getting friends in the south-west, and losing friends in the north-east. If he rest in correctness and firmness, there will be good fortune.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. Complete is the 'great and originating (capacity)' indicated by Khwan! All things owe to it their birth;—it receives obediently the influences of Heaven.
2. Khwan, in its largeness, supports and contains all things. Its excellent capacity matches the unlimited power (of Khien). Its comprehension is wide, and its brightness great. The various things obtain (by it) their full development.
3. The mare is a creature of earthly kind. Its (power of) moving on the earth is without limit; it is mild and docile, advantageous and firm:—such is the course of the superior man.
4. 'If he take the initiative, he goes astray:'—he misses, that is, his proper course. 'If he follow,' he is docile, and gets into his regular (course). 'In the south-west he will get friends:'—he will be walking with those of his own class. 'In the north-east he will lose friends:'—but in the end there will be ground for congratulation.
5. 'The good fortune arising from resting in firmness' corresponds to the unlimited capacity of the earth.
The Image 象
地勢坤，君子以厚德載物。
The (capacity and sustaining) power of the earth is what is denoted by Khwăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, with his large virtue supports (men and) things.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
履霜，堅冰至。
In the first SIX, divided, (we see its subject) treading on hoarfrost. The strong ice will come (by and by).
Small Image: 'He is treading on hoarfrost;—the strong ice will come (by and by):'—the cold (air) has begun to take form. Allow it to go on quietly according to its nature, and (the hoarfrost) will come to strong ice.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 24, Return.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
直，方，大，不習無不利。
The second SIX, divided, (shows the attribute of) being straight, square, and great. (Its operation), without repeated efforts, will be in every respect advantageous.
Small Image: The movement indicated by the second six, (divided),is 'from the straight (line) to the square.' '(Its operation), without repeated effort, in every way advantageous,' shows the brilliant result of the way of earth.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 7, The Army.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
含章可貞。或從王事，無成有終。
The third SIX, divided, (shows its subject) keeping his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintaining it. If he should have occasion to engage in the king's service, though he will not claim the success (for himself), he will bring affairs to a good issue.
Small Image: 'He keeps his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintains it:'—at the proper time he will manifest it. 'He may have occasion to engage in the king's service:—great is the glory of his wisdom.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 15, Modesty.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
括囊；無咎，無譽。
The fourth SIX, divided, (shows the symbol of) a sack tied up. There will be no ground for blame or for praise.
Small Image: 'A sack tied up;—there will be no error:'—this shows how, through carefulness, no injury will be received.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
黃裳，元吉。
The fifth SIX, divided, (shows) the yellow lower garment. There will be great good fortune.
Small Image: 'The Yellow lower-garment;—there will be great good fortune:'—this follows from that ornamental (colour's) being in the right and central place.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 8, Holding Together.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
戰龍於野，其血玄黃。
The sixth SIX, divided (shows) dragons fighting in the wild. Their blood is purple and yellow.
Small Image: 'The dragons fight in the wild:'—the (onward) course (indicated by Khwan) is pursued to extremity.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 23, Splitting Apart.
All six lines changing 用六
(The lines of this hexagram are all weak and divided, as appears from) the use of the number six. If those (who are thus represented) be perpetually correct and firm, advantage will arise.
Small Image: Use of Six: '(The lines are all weak and divided, as appears from) the use of the number six:' —but (those who are thus represented) becoming perpetually correct and firm, there will thereby be a great consummation.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦1. The Creative 乾
every line changed
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.