Hexagram 2: The Receptive

Translation

Stepping on frost, one knows that thick ice is soon to come.

Commentary

This is the first yin line of the hexagram. Yin is associated with cold, so the Duke of Zhou compares it to the way cold air first condenses into frost, and then, as the cold deepens, water gradually freezes solid into ice. This line carries the idea that one must be careful from the very first step. A household that accumulates good deeds is bound to have blessings in abundance; a household that accumulates wrongdoing is bound to reap misfortune in kind.

Translation

One's virtue being upright, well-formed, and great, everything turns out favorably without need for practice or study.

Commentary

This is a very favorable line: its nature is yin and its position is also yin, so it holds the correct position — hence it is said to have the virtue of uprightness. It also holds the centered position within the inner trigram, hence it is said to be well-formed and balanced. And being within Kun, whose scope is vast, it is said to be great. The Wenyan Commentary adds: for the noble person to be upright within like this line, they must hold reverence in their heart; to be well-formed in their outward dealings with others, they must hold to righteousness.

Translation

Holding good virtue inside without letting it show, and staying firm in it — at times following a superior in service to the state, without claiming the credit for success, one will in the end achieve results.

Commentary

Line 3 is yin sitting in a yang (odd-numbered) position, so it is not in the correct position — yet since it carries the yielding virtue natural to Kun, reinforced by the forcefulness of a yang position, this actually turns out well. The Wenyan Commentary adds: holding good virtue inside, following a superior in one's work without daring to claim the credit for success — that is the way of the Earth, the way of a wife, the way of a minister. This is how one who is below should conduct themselves toward one who is above.

Translation

Like a sack with its mouth tied shut — staying discreet and guarded brings no fault, but no praise either.

Commentary

Line 4 is yin in a yin position, within a hexagram that is entirely yin, but unlike line 2 it does not hold the centered position — it's like a person who is overly soft and yielding, without ability, with no trace of firmness at all. On top of that, sitting right next to line 5, the position of a high minister, means having modest ability in a lofty post, so one must act with great caution simply to avoid fault and stay safe, even without earning any distinction. The Wenyan Commentary describes this line as 'yin cutting itself off from yang' — since there isn't a trace of yang anywhere in its nature or position — meaning yin and yang are sealed off from each other, heaven and earth fail to meet, and at such a time the worthy person ought to withdraw from view.

Translation

Like a yellow skirt — great and highly auspicious.

Commentary

Line 5 is the most honored line in the hexagram, and it holds the centered position. Though it isn't in the correct position, being yin in a yang spot, this actually works in its favor here in Kun, since it brings in a touch of firmness rather than being purely soft and yielding like line 4. Yellow is the color of earth, of the center, carrying the sense of avoiding both excess and deficiency; a skirt is a lower garment, elegant yet modest, carrying the meaning of humility rather than self-importance. The Wenyan Commentary adds: the noble person holds centered virtue (the color yellow) within and understands principle thoroughly, and even occupying a high position, remains humble, placing themselves as though lower (like the skirt) — in this way, fine substance within shines outward, achieving great things, and such excellence reaches its utmost.

Translation

Dragons fight in the wilderness, their blood spilling dark and yellow.

Commentary

This line marks yin at its most extreme point of growth. Though yin and yang complete each other, at their core they remain opposites, standing against one another. When yin reaches its peak, just as yang does at line 6 of Qian, the two sides are bound to clash, and both end up harmed. The way has run its course here, carrying the same meaning as line 6 of Qian: what reaches its peak must decline. The Wenyan Commentary adds nothing further, only noting that 'dark and yellow' are the colors of heaven and earth, of yin and yang.

Translation

It is fitting to hold to constancy, correctness, and endurance over the long term.

Commentary

Kun follows and complies with Qian, and that is why this is called beneficial. Kun opens up when in motion and closes in when at rest — that's why the text speaks of correctness and endurance, meaning: the way of Kun is simple, yet through it all things are brought to completion. When all six yin lines change into yang, pure Kun transforms into pure Qian — like a soft, yielding person transforming into someone firm and strong — and that is why it's said one must hold to this for the long term, with correctness and constancy.