The 64 Hexagrams / 2
Hexagram 2 · ䷁
The Receptive
坤 · Kūn
Upper Earth 坤Lower Earth 坤
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.
The Image · 大象
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.
Plain-English Meaning
A time to receive, support and follow through. Patience and steadiness achieve more than force.
The Judgment
Success comes through yielding, like a mare that keeps to the path; follow rather than lead.
The Image
Like the broad earth, hold and support everything with generous character.
Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.
The Lines · 爻辭
- 初六 · Line 1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).象曰：履霜堅冰，陰始凝也。馴致其道，至堅冰也。
- 六二 · Line 2直方大，不習无不利。The second SIX, divided, (shows the attribute of) being straight, square, and great. (Its operation), without repeated efforts, will be in every respect advantageous.象曰：六二之動，直以方也。不習无不利，地道光也。
- 六三 · Line 3含章，可貞。或從王事，无成有終。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.象曰：含章可貞，以時發也。或從王事，知光大也。
- 六四 · Line 4括囊，无咎无譽。The fourth SIX, divided, (shows the symbol of) a sack tied up. There will be no ground for blame or for praise.象曰：括囊无咎，慎不害也。
- 六五 · Line 5黃裳，元吉。The fifth SIX, divided, (shows) the yellow lower garment. There will be great good fortune.象曰：黃裳元吉，文在中也。
- 上六 · Line 6龍戰于野，其血玄黃。The sixth SIX, divided (shows) dragons fighting in the wild. Their blood is purple and yellow.象曰：龍戰于野，其道窮也。
- 用六 · Line null利永貞。(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.象曰：用六永貞，以大終也。
English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.