kūnAlso known as “The Receptive” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Khwăn” (Legge)
receptivitydevotionsupport
In plain words
Pure yin: the earth that carries everything. Strength through receptiveness, patience and service; success comes from following a good lead rather than forcing the front, like a mare steady on the open plain.
The attitude it asks for
Support, nourish and follow what is worth following; take the long way with friends rather than striking out alone.
Structure
Upper trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
Lower trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
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.
Complete is the 'great and originating (capacity)' indicated by Khwăn! All things owe to it their birth;—it receives obediently the influences of Heaven.
Khwăn, 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.
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.
The Image
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.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
龍戰于野，其血玄黃。
The sixth line, divided (shows) dragons fighting in the wild. Their blood is purple and yellow.
Its symbolism
龍戰于野，其道窮也。
'The dragons fight in the wild:'—the (onward) course (indicated by Khwăn) is pursued to extremity.
The third line, 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.
Its symbolism
含章可貞；以時發也。或從王事，知光大也。
'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.
The second line, divided, (shows the attribute of) being straight, square, and great. (Its operation), without repeated efforts, will be in every respect advantageous.
Its symbolism
六二之動，直以方也。不習无不利，地道光也。
The movement indicated by the second line, 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.
In the first line, divided, (we see its subject) treading on hoarfrost. The strong ice will come (by and by).
Its symbolism
履霜堅冰，陰始凝也。馴致其道，至堅冰也。
'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.
(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.
Its symbolism
用六永貞，以大終也。
'(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.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 2, Earth, mean?
Pure yin: the earth that carries everything. Strength through receptiveness, patience and service; success comes from following a good lead rather than forcing the front, like a mare steady on the open plain.
Which trigrams form Earth?
坤 above 坤 — earth over earth. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 坤 Earth.
What happens when a line of Earth changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Earth in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - - - - - - - - - is Earth. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.