Kun
Judgment
坤 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
You will greatly prosper, and the fortune of a mare is beneficial. The superior man has a place to go, he first confuses him, but then he takes the initiative, and it will be beneficial. The southwest will gain a friend, and the northeast will lose a friend. Asking about safety is auspicious.
Interpretation
The hexagram "坤" (Kun) is the second hexagram in the I Ching, also known as "The Book of Changes." Here is an explanation in English:
Hexagram Kun (The Receptive)
元 (Yuan): The origin, primal, fundamental
亨 (Heng): Smooth progress, success
利 (Li): Favorable, advantageous
牝馬之貞 (Pin Ma Zhi Zhen): The rectitude of the mare (symbolizing a virtuous and yielding nature)
君子 (Jun Zi): The noble person, gentleman
有攸往 (You You Wang): Has somewhere to go, aims
先迷 (Xian Mi): First confused, lost
後得 (Hou De): Then gains, finds
主利 (Zhu Li): Mainly beneficial
西南得朋 (Xi Nan De Peng): In the southwest gains friends
東北喪朋 (Dong Bei Sang Peng): In the northeast loses friends
安貞 (An Zhen): Peaceful and upright
Interpretation: Hexagram Kun represents receptivity and yielding, symbolized by the earth. It encourages being open and receptive to guidance and support, much like how the earth nurtures all things. The noble person, embodying the quality of a yielding mare, may initially face confusion or challenges but ultimately finds success and stability. It is favorable to seek support and allies in the southwest, while the northeast may present challenges or losses. Maintaining a peaceful and upright demeanor is essential.
初六 履霜,堅冰至
Initial Six: Treading on frost, solid ice is coming.
‘Yi’ means to step on. ‘Yi Shang’ means stepping on frost. ‘Jian’ means firmness. ‘Jian Bing’ refers to solid ice. ‘Jian Bing Zhi’ means arriving when solid ice has formed. King Wu set out to conquer the Shang during the cold season and arrived at Muye in the middle of winter. A person who receives this line in divination is in a situation similar to King Wu, who steps on frost and sets out, arriving when solid ice forms. The journey will be long, the cold severe, and enduring the midwinter chill will be difficult. Plum blossoms release their fragrance after enduring the cold, and heroes emerge after overcoming hardships. What is asked in the divination will be achievable.
六二 直方大,不習,无不利.
Six Second: The square and great, not yet practiced, there is no disadvantage.
The character "Posi" refers to a vast, expansive land. "" means to know or be familiar with something. King Wu leads his army through the vast lands of the Yellow River region. Even in unfamiliar territories, the people of the region submit to King Wu, which brings no harm. The person drawing this hexagram is in a situation where King Wu is leading an army through unfamiliar lands. Even if the task is new, it will go well. The work the person is asking about will also proceed smoothly.
六三 含章,可貞.或從王事,无成有終
Six Third: Holding the virtue, it can be trusted. One may follow the king's work, but it will not succeed, only finish.
The victory of the Mu Wang in the conquest of the Yin dynasty is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles through decisive action. Even if the immediate outcome seems small, it will lead to beneficial results in the long run. The advice is to proceed without hesitation, as good results will follow.
六四 括囊,无咎无譽
Six Fourth: Binding the sack, there is no blame, no praise.
The term "Gwal" refers to tying something, while "Nang" means a pocket. "Gwal Nang" refers to sealing a pocket. In this case, someone has been captured during a war but kept silent about the enemy's situation, maintaining their honor but losing their freedom. The person asking about the hexagram is currently in a situation where no gain or loss is to be made by speaking out. It is best to remain silent, as both oneself and others will be protected.
六五 黃裳,元吉
Six Fifth: Wearing yellow garments, great fortune.
King Wu dons a yellow skirt, symbolizing nobility and good fortune, having conquered Yin and ascended to the throne. The task at hand will be greatly auspicious, as if catching a dazzling golden boar in a dense forest or fishing a golden fish from the blue sea.
上六,龍戰于野,其血玄黃
Top Six: The dragon fights in the field, its blood is dark yellow.
Dragons clash in the wild, spilling rivers of blood as Duke Zhou quells his brothers’ rebellion after King Wu’s death, a brutal three-year struggle. The task at hand will bring bloodshed, and stepping back to calm the storm is wise, for it portends misfortune.