Hexagram 2
Kun - The Receptive, Earth
坤
Meaning and Overview
The Kun hexagram is the pure yin hexagram. It reveals the general principles of the movement and transformation of yin virtue and the way of Earth—how the way of Earth accords with the way of yang and Heaven. For pure yang, yin has two aspects: one is assisting and obeying, as in 'if one engages in the king's affairs, though without achievement, there will be a good end'; the other is yin riding over yang, as in 'dragons fight in the wild, their blood is black and yellow.' From the first line onward, yin has a dual nature: one is toward goodness, 'a family that accumulates good deeds will have abundant blessings'; the other is toward evil, 'a family that accumulates evil deeds will have abundant calamities.' The best way for yin to accord with yang is to accumulate goodness and observe propriety. Upholding reverence and maintaining ritual propriety is the wonderful method of self-cultivation for the ancients. The second and fifth lines represent the best methods of cultivation for yin. The second line says 'straight, square, great; without repetition, nothing is unfavorable.' Yin at first is lost, but because it obtains the rules for following yang—like the carpenter's ink line, square, and compass—with these tools, it becomes easy to make squares and circles. Therefore, it is said that without repetition, there is also good fortune. The fifth line says 'yellow lower garment, supreme good fortune.' The yellow lower garment symbolizes the way of Earth.
Chinese Interpretation
《坤》卦是纯阴之卦，《坤》卦揭示了阴德地道运行变化的总规律，即地道如何顺应阳道天道。坤阴对于纯阳来说，一个是辅助顺从，“或从王事，无成有终”；一个是阴乘阳，“龙战于野，其血玄黄”。坤阴从初六开始，就有两面性，一个是向善，“积善之家，必有余庆”；一个是做恶，“积不善之家，必有余”。坤阴顺阳，最好的办法就是积善守礼。主敬持礼，是古人修养的妙法。六二爻、六五爻，都是坤阴最好的修持方法。六二是“直方大，不习无不利”，坤阴先迷，因为得到顺阳的规矩，譬如木工的墨斗、直角尺、圆规等器具，有了这些规矩工具，再去成方圆之类的物件，就会很方便。因此说，不用反复，也会吉利。六五爻是“黄裳，元吉”，黄色的裙裳，表示坤道。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
元亨，利牝马之贞。
元始，亨通，利于母马顺守母马之道。
Supreme success, advantageous through the perseverance of a mare.
Origin, success; it is advantageous for a mare to steadfastly follow the way of the mare.
君子有攸往，先迷，后得主，利。
君子有所前进，强行出头居于首位则会迷失正道，如果后来顺应君主行动，则会顺利。
The superior man has somewhere to go. If he goes first, he goes astray; if he follows, he finds a master. Advantageous.
When the superior man advances, if he forcibly takes the lead, he will lose the right path; if he later follows the ruler's actions, he will be successful.
西南得朋，东北丧朋，安贞吉。
在西南方会得到朋友，在东北方则会失去朋友。安居不动，遵守正道，则会吉祥。
In the southwest one gains friends; in the northeast one loses friends. Resting in perseverance brings good fortune.
In the southwest one will gain friends; in the northeast one will lose friends. Resting quietly and adhering to the right path will bring good fortune.
初六，履霜，坚冰至。
初六爻，踩上微霜，预示坚冰将会到来。
Six at the beginning: Treading on frost, the solid ice will come.
The first line: Treading on light frost indicates that solid ice will come.
六二，直方大，不习无不利。
六二爻，正直、方正、博大，不反复，顺应天性自然，无所不利。
Six in the second place: Straight, square, great. Without repetition, nothing is unfavorable.
The second line: Upright, square, and vast; without repetition, following one's natural disposition, nothing is unfavorable.
六三，含章可贞，或从王事，无成有终。
六三爻，蕴含文采美德，坚守柔正之道，或者追随君王，勤于王事，不居功自傲，会有好结果。
Six in the third place: Containing beauty, one may be steadfast. If one engages in the king's affairs, though without achievement, there will be a good end.
The third line: Containing literary grace and virtue, one steadfastly adheres to the soft and correct path. If one follows the king and diligently serves in his affairs without claiming merit, there will be a good outcome.
六四，括囊，无咎无誉。
六四爻，扎紧口袋，没有过失，也没有美誉。
Six in the fourth place: A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise.
The fourth line: Tying up the sack. No fault, no praise.
六五，黄裳，元吉。
六五爻，黄色的裙裳，大吉。
Six in the fifth place: A yellow lower garment. Supreme good fortune.
The fifth line: A yellow lower garment. Great good fortune.
上六，龙战于野，其血玄黄。
上六爻，龙在野外交合，流出玄黄色的血，色彩斑斓绚丽。
Six at the top: Dragons fight in the wild. Their blood is black and yellow.
The top line: Dragons fight in the wild; their blood is black and yellow, brilliant and colorful.
用六，利永贞。
用六爻，利于永远坚守正道。
Using six: Advantageous through eternal perseverance.
The line 'using six': It is advantageous to eternally adhere to the right path.