Kūn Receptor Responding [hexagram 2]

Yin line Yin line Yin line Yin line Yin - controlling line Yin line
Earth, people, mother, support, docility
Earth Earth element

Heaven Heaven
Qián [1] Donator; Initiating
Opposite
Earth Earth
Kūn [2] Receptor; Responding
Inverse and Mutual

Lunar month: 10 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
For all about the history of the I Ching / Yi Jing click here and for a description of the methods of divination click here. To get your own reading of the Yi Jing online click here. For a guide to what all this means click:
Show Key

: , . , , 西, . , . Kūn: yuán hēng, lì pìn mǎ zhī zhēn. Jūn zǐ yǒu yōu wǎng, xiān mí hòu dé zhǔ, lì xī nán dé péng, dōng běi sāng péng. Ān zhēn, jí.

Kun (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 advantage 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.

: , , . , . 含弘, . 牝类, , . , , . 西, ; , . , . Tuàn zhuàn: Zhì zāi kūn yuán, wàn wù zī shēng, nǎi shùn chéng tiān. Kūn hòu zǎi wù, dé gě wú jiāng. Hán hóng guāng dà, pǐn wù xián hēng. Pìn mǎ de lèi, háng de wú jiāng, róu shùn lì zhēn. Jūn zǐ yōu háng, xiān mí shī dào, hòu shùn dé cháng. Xī nán dé péng, nǎi yú lèi háng; dōng běi sāng péng, nǎi zhōng yǒu qìng. Ān zhēn zhī jí, yìng de wú jiāng.

Complete is the ‘great and originating (capacity)’ indicated by Kun! All things owe to it their birth; - it receives obediently the influences of Heaven. Kun, in its largeness, supports and contains all things. Its excellent capacity matches the unlimited power (of Qian). Its comprehension is wide, and its brightness great. The various things obtain (by it) their full development. 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. ‘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. ‘The good fortune arising from resting in firmness’ corresponds to the unlimited capacity of the earth.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Dì shì kūn, jūn zǐ yǐ hòu dé zǎi wù.

The (capacity and sustaining) power of the earth is what is denoted by Kun. The superior man, in accordance with this, with his large virtue supports (men and) things.

young yin young yin young yin young yin young yin changing yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Wood
[24] Return; Turning back
Change
: 履霜, 坚. Chū liù: lǚ shuāng, jiān bīng zhì.

In the first ‘six’, divided, (we see its subject) treading on hoarfrost. The strong ice will come (by and by).

: 履霜坚, . 驯, . Xiàng zhuàn: Lǔ: shuāng jiān bīng, yīn shǐ níng yě. xùn zhì qí dào, zhì jiān bīng yě.

‘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.

young yin young yin young yin young yin changing yin young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Water
Shī [7] Mass action; Multitude
Change
: , , , . Liù èr: zhí, fāng, dà, bù xí wú bù lì.

The second ‘six’, divided, (shows the attribute of) being straight, square, and great. (Its operation), without repeated efforts, will be in every respect advantageous.

: , . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Liù èr zhī dòng, zhí yǐ fāng yě. bù xí wú bù lì, dì dào guāng yě.

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.

young yin young yin young yin changing yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Mountain
Qiān [15] Modesty; Humility
Change
: 含章. , . Liù sān: hán zhāng kě zhēn. huò cóng wáng shì, wú chéng yǒu zhōng.

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.

: 含章; . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Hán zhāng kě zhēn; yǐ shí fā yě. huò cóng wáng shì, zhī guāng dà yě.

‘He keeps his excellence tinder 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.

young yin young yin changing yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Wood
Earth
[16] Inspiration; Delight
Change
: 括囊; , 誉. Liù sì: kuò náng; wú jiù, wú yù.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, (shows the symbol of) a sack tied up. There will be no ground for blame or for praise.

: 括囊, 慎. Xiàng zhuàn: Kuò náng wú jiù, shèn bù hài yě.

‘A sack tied up; - there will be no error:’ - this shows how, through carefulness, no injury will be received.

young yin changing yin young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Earth
[8] Coherence; Union
Change
: 裳, . Liù wǔ: huáng cháng, yuán jí.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, (shows) the yellow lower garment. There will be great good fortune.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Huáng cháng yuán jí, wén zài zhōng yě.

‘The Yellow lower-garment; - there will be great good fortune:’ - this follows from that ornamental (color’s) being in the right and central place.

changing yin young yin young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Earth
[23] Dispersion; Peeling off
Change
: 野, 血玄. Shǎng liù: lóng zhàn yú yě, qí xuè xuán huáng.

The sixth ‘six’, divided (shows) dragons fighting in the wild. Their blood is purple and yellow.

: 野, . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhàn lóng yú yě, qí dào qióng yě.

'The dragons fight in the wild: - the (onward) course (indicated by Kun) is pursued to extremity.

: . Yòng liù: lì yǒng zhēn.

(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.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yòng liù yǒng zhēn, yǐ dà zhōng yě. : 《, , , 含. , 承. ? wén yán? yuē: ? kūn? zhì róu ér dòng yě gāng, zhì jìng ér dé fāng, hòu dé zhǔ ér yǒu cháng, hán wàn wù ér huā guāng. kūn dào qí shùn hū, chéng tiān ér shí háng.

What is indicated by Kun is most gentle and weak, but, when put in motion, is hard and strong; it is most still, but is able to give every definite form. ‘By following, it obtains its (proper) lord,’ and pursues its regular (course). It contains all things in itself, and its transforming (power) is glorious. Yes, what docility marks the way of Kun! It receives the influences of heaven, and acts at the proper time.

, ; 积, 余殃. 臣弑, , , 渐矣, . 《「履霜、坚」, 盖. Jī shàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yú qìng; jī bù shàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yú yāng. chén shì qí jūn, zǐ shì qí fù, fēi yī zhāo yī xī zhī gù, qí suǒ yóu lái zhě jiān yǐ, yóu biàn zhī bù zǎo biàn yě. ? yì? yuē? lǚ shuāng? jiān bīng zhì?, gě yán shùn yě.

The family that accumulates goodness is sure to have superabundant happiness, and the family that accumulates evil is sure to have superabundant misery. The murder of a ruler by his minister, or of his father by a son, is not the result of the events of one morning or one evening. The causes of it have gradually accumulated, -through the absence of early discrimination. The words of the Yi, ‘He treads on the hoar-frost; the strong ice will come (by and by),’ show the natural (issue and growth of things).

, ‘. , , 敬孤. ‘,,,’, . ‘ zhí’ qí zhēng yě, ‘ fāng’ qí yì yě. Jūn zǐ jìng yǐ zhí nèi, yì yǐ fāng wài, jìng yì lì ér dé bù gū. ‘Zhí, fāng, dà, bù xí wú bù lì’, zé bù yí qí suǒ háng yě.

'Straight' indicates the correctness (of the internal principle), and 'square,' the righteousness (of the external act). The superior man, (thus represented), by his self-reverence maintains the inward (correctness), and in righteousness adjusts his external acts. His reverence and righteousness being (thus) established, his virtues are not solitary instances or of a single class. 'Straight, square, and great, working his operations, without repeated efforts, in every respect advantageous:'--this shows how (such a one) has no doubts as to what he does.

‘含’, . , 妻, 臣. . , 蕃. 闭, 贤隐. “‘括囊,誉’, 盖. Yīn suī yǒu měi‘ hán’ zhī yǐ cóng wáng shì, fú gǎn chéng yě. Dì dào yě, qī dào yě, chén dào yě. Dì dào‘ wú chéng’ ér dài‘ yǒu zhōng’ yě. Tiān dì biàn huà, cǎo mù bō. Tiān dì bì, xián rén yǐn. “Yì” yuē‘ kuò náng, wú jiù wú yù’, gě yán jǐn yě.

Although (the subject of) this divided line has excellent qualities, he (does not display them, but) keeps them under restraint. ‘If he engage with them in the service of the king, and be successful, he will not claim that success for himself:’--this is the way of the earth, of a wife, of a minister. The way of the earth is-‘not to claim the merit of achievement,’ but on behalf (of heaven) to bring things to their proper issue. Through the changes and transformations produced by heaven and earth, plants and trees grow luxuriantly. If (the reciprocal influence of) heaven and earth were shut up and restrained, we should have (a state that might suggest to us) the case of men of virtue and ability lying in obscurity. The words of the Yi, ‘A sack tied up:--there will be no ground for blame or for praise,’ are in reality a lesson of caution.

, 体, , , . Jūn zǐ‘ huáng’ zhōng tōng lǐ, zhēng wèi jū tǐ, měi zài qí zhōng ér chàng yú sì zhī, fā yú shì yè, měi zhī zhì yě.

The superior man (indicated here) by the yellow and correct (color), is possessed of comprehension and discrimination. He occupies the correct position (of supremacy), but (that emblem) is on (the lower part of) his person. His excellence is in the center (of his being), but it diffuses a complacency over his four limbs, and is manifested in his (conduct of) affairs:--this is the perfection of excellence.

’, , 称‘’焉. 犹, 称‘血’焉. ‘玄,. . Yīn yí yú yáng bì‘ zhàn’, wéi qí xián yú wú yáng yě, gù chèn‘ lóng’ yān. Yóu wèi lí qí lèi yě, gù chèn‘ xuè’ yān. Fū ‘ xuán huáng’ zhě, tiān dì zhī zá yě. Tiān xuán ér dì huáng.

(The subject of) the yin (or divided line) thinking himself equal to the (subject of the) yang, or undivided line, there is sure to be ‘a contest.’ As if indignant at there being no acknowledgment of the (superiority of the subject of the) yang line, (the text) uses the term ‘dragons.’ But still the (subject of neither line) can leave his class, and hence we have ‘the blood’ mentioned. The mention of that as being (both) ‘azure and yellow’ indicates the mixture of heaven and earth. Heaven‘s (color) is azure and earth’s is yellow.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also