Hexagram 2: Kun (Earth)
Kun (Earth) is the second hexagram of the 64 Hexagrams in the I Ching. It is a pure trigram, with all six lines being Yin. It symbolizes the earth, pure Yin, docility, support, and the way of the subordinate. Its core essence is "The earth's condition is receptive devotion. The superior person, in accordance with this, supports all beings with abundant virtue." It governs inclusiveness, compliance, maintaining stillness, and nourishment. It is an auspicious hexagram. Together with the Qian (Heaven) hexagram, it forms the Dao of Heaven-Earth and Yin-Yang, revealing the complete principles of gestation, inclusiveness, upholding correctness, and navigating the world with gentleness.
Hexagram Imagery and Statements
Hexagram Imagery
Kun (Earth)
Hexagram 2 · Upper Kun, Lower Kun · All Six Lines are Yin
Upper Trigram: Kun ☷Lower Trigram: Kun ☷Five Elements: Yin Earth
Symbolizes earth, pure Yin, docility, support, and the way of the subordinate.
Hexagram Statement
Kun: Supreme success. Favorable is the perseverance of a mare. If the superior person undertakes something and tries to lead, he goes astray; but if he follows, he finds guidance. It is favorable to find friends in the west and south, to forgo friends in the east and north. Quiet perseverance brings good fortune.
Interpretation: The Kun hexagram symbolizes the great earth. It signifies supreme success and is favorable for persevering in the correct path of gentleness, like a mare. When a superior person undertakes a venture, he may initially lose his way, but later he will find a proper guide and achieve smooth progress. Moving southwest will bring the assistance of like-minded companions; moving northeast will cause one to lose companions. Remaining quietly steadfast and correct will bring auspiciousness.
Line Texts
Six at the beginning: Treading on hoarfrost. Solid ice is near.
Treading on hoarfrost. Solid ice is near. Interpretation: When one treads upon thin frost, one should know that solid ice is approaching. This metaphor signifies that when Yin energy first arises, one must discern the subtle signs and be vigilant of the gradual developmental trend of things.
Six in the second place: Straight, square, great. Without purpose, yet nothing remains unfurthered.
Straight, square, great. Without purpose, yet nothing remains unfurthered. Interpretation: Upright in heart, correct in conduct, and magnanimous in spirit. Even without deliberate study or practice, nothing unfavorable will occur. This implies that by upholding the innate virtue of gentle and correct docility, one's actions will naturally proceed smoothly.
Six in the third place: Hidden lines. One is able to persevere. If by chance you are in the service of a king, seek not works, but bring to completion.
Hidden lines. One is able to persevere. If by chance you are in the service of a king, seek not works, but bring to completion. Interpretation: Talents and virtues are concealed within. Able to hold fast to the correct path. If one assists a ruler in handling affairs, does not claim credit, and consistently fulfills his duties to the end, he will achieve a perfect outcome.
Six in the fourth place: A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise.
A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise. Interpretation: Keeping silent as if tying a sack shut, being cautious in speech and action. In this way, one will not incur misfortune nor gain praise. This signifies that in a complex environment, maintaining stillness and careful speech is the way to self-preservation.
Six in the fifth place: A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune.
A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune. Interpretation: Wearing a yellow lower garment symbolizes holding to the center, maintaining correctness, humility, and gentleness. It is an omen of supreme auspiciousness, signifying that handling affairs with a mild and central virtue will bring great fortune.
Six at the top: Dragons fight in the meadow. Their blood is black and yellow.
Dragons fight in the meadow. Their blood is black and yellow. Interpretation: Yin energy develops to its extreme, contending with Yang energy in the wilderness. The colors of heaven and earth mingle, and blood flows black and yellow. This signifies the peak of Yin forcing a confrontation with Yang, a struggle between Yin and Yang. The situation is perilous, a sign that the way of Kun has reached its end.
On using the sixes: Favorable is perpetual perseverance.
Favorable is perpetual perseverance. Interpretation: When all six lines of the Kun hexagram are Yin, holding fast to the eternal, gentle, and correct path will bring success in all matters. This signifies that the virtue of pure Yin can only remain undefeated through enduring and unwavering correctness.
Core Symbolism
The Kun hexagram, pure Yin and gentle, takes its image from the great earth, which supports and nourishes all beings. It corresponds to the mother, ministers, subordinates, and assistants in human affairs, governing inclusiveness, forbearance, upholding correctness, and compliance. Its core is "The earth's condition is receptive devotion. The superior person, in accordance with this, supports all beings with abundant virtue." It advocates emulating the earth, bearing all things with broad and generous virtue, and harmonizing with the Heavenly Dao through the way of gentleness. Simultaneously, it warns that extreme Yin will turn to Yang, and excessive gentleness leads to weakness. One must hold fast to the central and correct, avoiding an overabundance of Yin and deviousness.
The six lines of Kun, in the order of gradually increasing Yin energy, fully present six stages of navigating the world with gentleness: the first six shows discerning the subtle; the second six, being upright and broad; the third six, being introverted and concealing one's edge; the fourth six, being cautious in speech and action; the fifth six, being humble and holding to the center; the top six, the extreme of Yin leading to contention. "On using the sixes" embodies the realm of pure Yin upholding correctness, enduring and unceasing.
Universal Correspondences
- Hexagram Nature: Pure trigram, Yin trigram, all six lines are Yin.
- Five Elements: Yin Earth.
- Directions: In the Earlier Heaven sequence, it resides in the true North. In the Later Heaven sequence, it resides in the Southwest.
- Timing: Late summer, the transition between summer and autumn; the months and years of Wei (未) and Shen (申); the days and hours of the fifth Earth element.
- People: Mother, wife, minister, common people, elders, assistants, farmers, tolerant individuals.
- Body: Abdomen, spleen, stomach, muscles, skin. Governs spleen-stomach disharmony and dampness accumulation.
- Animals: Ox, mare, goat, mother of all beasts.
- Objects: Cloth and silk, earthenware, the five grains, carriages, square objects, soft things.
- Places: Fields, flatlands, warehouses, dwellings, gardens, low-lying land, gathering places.
- Human Affairs: Gentle tolerance, forbearance and stillness, abundant virtue and practical action, assisting others, knowing one's place.
- Colors: Yellow, black, earth tones, beige.
- Five Flavors: Sweet.
- Numbers: Two, five, eight, ten (Earlier Heaven numbers, Five Elements numbers).
Classical Texts
Hexagram Statement and Line Texts
Kun: 元亨，利牝马之贞。君子有攸往，先迷后得主，利。西南得朋，东北丧朋。安贞吉。 初六： 履霜，坚冰至。 六二： 直方大，不习无不利。 六三： 含章可贞，或从王事，无成有终。 六四： 括囊，无咎无誉。 六五： 黄裳，元吉。 上六： 龙战于野，其血玄黄。 用六： 利永贞。
Tuan Zhuan (Commentary on the Hexagram Statements)
《彖》曰：至哉坤元，万物资生，乃顺承天。坤厚载物，德合无疆。含弘光大，品物咸亨。牝马地类，行地无疆，柔顺利贞。君子攸行，先迷失道，后顺得常。西南得朋，乃与类行；东北丧朋，乃终有庆。安贞之吉，应地无疆。
Interpretation: How perfect is the originating power of Kun! All things rely on it to grow and be nurtured. It compliantly receives the Heavenly Dao. The earth is thick and supports all beings; its virtue is vast and boundless. It contains, expands, and illuminates, and all things flourish. The mare is of the same kind as the earth; it travels the boundless earth, its gentle nature favorable for perseverance in the correct path. When a superior person acts, he may initially lose his way by trying to lead, but later, by complying, he attains constancy. Finding friends in the southwest means walking with those of one's own kind; forgoing friends in the northeast means there will ultimately be cause for celebration. The good fortune of quiet perseverance corresponds to the earth's boundless virtue.
Xiang Zhuan (Commentary on the Hexagram and Line Images)
《象》曰：地势坤，君子以厚德载物。履霜坚冰，阴始凝也。直方大，习其顺也。含章可贞，以时发也。括囊无咎，慎不害也。黄裳元吉，文在中也。龙战于野，其道穷也。用六永贞，以大终也。
Interpretation: The earth's condition is receptive devotion. The superior person, in accordance with this, supports all beings with abundant virtue. "Treading on hoarfrost, solid ice is near" because Yin energy begins to congeal. "Straight, square, great" is the result of practicing the way of compliance. "Hidden lines, one is able to persevere" means waiting for the proper time to display one's talents. "A tied-up sack, no blame" is because caution in action brings no harm. "A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune" is because refinement and virtue are stored within, humble and centered. "Dragons fight in the meadow" because the way of Kun has reached its limit. "On using the sixes, favorable is perpetual perseverance" is to achieve a great and final outcome.
Wenyan Zhuan (Commentary on the Words of the Text)
文言曰：坤至柔而动也刚，至静而德方，后得主而有常，含万物而化光。坤道其顺乎，承天而时行。积善之家，必有余庆；积不善之家，必有余殃。臣弑其君，子弑其父，非一朝一夕之故，其所由来者渐矣。
初六：履霜，坚冰至，盖言顺也。直其正也，方其义也。君子敬以直内，义以方外，敬义立而德不孤。直方大，不习无不利，则不疑其所行也。阴虽有美，含之以从王事，弗敢成也。地道也，妻道也，臣道也。地道无成，而代有终也。天地变化，草木蕃；天地闭，贤人隐。易曰：括囊，无咎无誉，盖言谨也。君子黄中通理，正位居体，美在其中，而畅于四支，发于事业，美之至也。阴疑于阳必战，为其嫌于无阳也，故称龙焉。犹未离其类也，故称血焉。夫玄黄者，天地之杂也，天玄而地黄。
Interpretation: The virtue of earth is extremely gentle, yet in movement it has its own strength; it is extremely quiet, yet its virtue is upright and correct. Yielding precedence and finding a master brings constancy. Containing all things, it transforms and illuminates. The core of the way of Kun is compliance, receiving the Heavenly Dao and acting in accordance with the seasons. A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings to spare; a family that accumulates evil deeds will surely have abundant calamities to spare. A minister murdering his ruler, a son murdering his father—these are not matters of a single morning or evening; their origins develop gradually.
"Treading on hoarfrost, solid ice is near" for the first six speaks of the pattern of Yin energy growing compliantly. Straightness is the correctness of the inner heart; squareness is the appropriateness of action. The superior person uses reverence to make his inner heart straight and righteousness to make his outer conduct square. Establishing reverence and righteousness, his virtue is not isolated. "Straight, square, great, without purpose, yet nothing remains unfurthered" means that because his actions accord with the correct path, he has no doubts. Although the Yin person has beauty, he contains it to serve the king's affairs, not daring to claim success. This is the way of earth, the way of the wife, the way of the minister. The way of earth does not claim success, yet it brings things to completion on behalf of Heaven. When Heaven and Earth change and transform, plants and trees flourish; when Heaven and Earth are closed, worthy men go into hiding. The I Ching says, "A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise," speaking of caution. The superior person, with yellow at the center, comprehends the principles, occupies the correct position in his person. Beauty is within him, flows through his four limbs, and manifests in his undertakings—this is the height of beauty. When Yin equals Yang, there must be battle. To avoid the suspicion of there being no Yang, it is called a dragon. Because it has not yet left its kind, it is called blood. Black and yellow are the intermingling of Heaven and Earth's colors: Heaven is black, Earth is yellow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kun Hexagram Auspicious or Inauspicious?
Answer: The Kun hexagram is an auspicious hexagram. Overall, it is auspicious. Its core is gentle support and abundant, tolerant virtue. Upholding correctness, knowing one's place, and complying with the Heavenly Dao bring good fortune. The top six, where Yin reaches its extreme and contends with Yang, indicates that excessive gentleness and loss of correctness bring misfortune. Holding fast to the virtue of quiet steadfastness ensures smooth progress throughout.
What Does "On using the sixes: Favorable is perpetual perseverance" Mean?
Answer: "On using the sixes" is a unique line text for the Kun hexagram, referring to the overall state when all six lines are Yin. It means the virtue of pure Yin requires enduring perseverance in the correct path—gentle but not weak, tolerant but not devious—to achieve lasting auspiciousness. It is the supreme state of pure Yin returning to correctness.
What Five Element Does the Kun Hexagram Correspond To? Who Is It Suitable For?
Answer: The Kun hexagram belongs to the Yin Earth element, symbolizing tolerance, support, and practical action. It is suitable for people with broad, tolerant, forbearing, pragmatic personalities who are skilled at assisting and collaborating. It is especially suitable for those in clerical, service, real estate, or agricultural professions. Those with strong Earth in their destiny chart will receive support from this hexagram.
What Insights Does Receiving the Kun Hexagram Offer Regarding Relationships?
Answer: Receiving the Kun hexagram regarding relationships indicates tolerance, mutual support, compliance, and harmony. It requires interacting with a gentle and tolerant heart, practicing empathy, and giving quietly. The first six warns to nip problems in the bud. The fifth six indicates that humble and harmonious interaction is most auspicious. One should avoid the contention and Yin-Yang struggle of the top six.
What Is the Relationship Between the Kun and Qian Hexagrams?
Answer: The Qian hexagram, pure Yang, governs Heaven. The Kun hexagram, pure Yin, governs Earth. These two are the foundation of the Heaven-Earth, Yang-Yin duality, complementing each other. Qian governs unceasing self-strengthening and active initiation; Kun governs supporting all things with abundant virtue and passive compliance. One is firm, the other gentle; one creates, the other supports. Together, they form the core Dao of the I Ching.
FAQ
What is the core meaning of the Kun (Earth) hexagram?
Kun symbolizes pure Yin, representing the earth, receptivity, support, and the way of the subordinate. Its core essence is the principle of receptive devotion, modeled after the earth's ability to support all beings with abundant virtue. The hexagram advises nurturing virtue through gentleness, docility, and inclusivity.
Is the Kun hexagram considered good or bad?
Kun is generally an auspicious hexagram, associated with supreme success (yuan heng). However, its auspiciousness is conditional upon correct conduct: it requires perseverance in gentleness and the path of following, rather than leading rashly. Success comes from quiet steadfastness and correct alignment.
How do I interpret the line about dragons fighting?
The topmost line, Dragons fight in the meadow. Their blood is black and yellow, symbolizes the danger of Yin energy (Kun) developing to its extreme and contending with Yang. This represents a struggle and upheaval, indicating that the gentle, subordinate way of Kun has reached its limit. It serves as a warning against forcing a confrontation by overextending one's role.
The text mentions finding friends in the south/west but not east/north. What does this mean?
This symbolic direction (west and south) is often interpreted through the I Ching's Later Heaven sequence, where these are Yin, gentle, and following directions aligning with Kun's nature. To seek friends there means to embrace environments or alliances that resonate with your receptive, supportive role. Forsaking friends in east and north advises avoiding Yang-dominant, confrontational, or active situations that require leadership, which would be contrary to Kun's principle of following.
What does a "mare" symbolize in this hexagram's statement?
The mare is the model of a specific virtue: it is strong, persevering, nurturing, and possesses gentle strength that harmonizes with the Qian (Heaven) horse. Kun’s "perseverance of a mare" refers to the auspiciousness of steadfastly adhering to a nurturing, responsive, and gentle nature—remaining patient and correct without seeking to dominate.
What is the main action advice from the Hexagram Statement?
The primary advice is "If he follows, he finds guidance." This means success is found not in taking the initiative or leading, but in learning, adapting, offering support, and aligning with a correct and proper force or principle. It cautions that trying to be the vanguard leads one astray, while compliant following brings smoothness and proper direction.
What does it mean for the superior person to support all beings?
Based on the hexagram's imagery, the superior person embodies Kun's virtue by being inclusive and fostering growth in others, much like the earth nurtures life. This involves practicing substantial virtues such as patience, humility, and tolerance—carrying the world with inner richness without self-aggrandizement.
How should I apply Kun's wisdom in the workplace or as an assistant?
It advises embracing a supportive role. Do your duty perfectly without claiming credit. Practice discretion in speech and action (like the "tied-up sack") and cultivate reliability and uprightness (like the virtue of "straight, square, great"). Success comes from quietly fulfilling responsibilities, enabling your superior or team, and allowing collective goals to be met.
The text advises "maintaining stillness." Is this about doing nothing?
No, it's about strategic receptivity. "Maintaining stillness" (from the statement) and cautious discretion (from the Fourth Line) refer to not acting impulsively, avoiding meddling, and waiting for the proper conditions or guidance. It involves gathering strength, observing carefully, and nurturing from a position of stability before engaging appropriately.
Why is the color "yellow" mentioned in the Fifth Line, and why is it auspicious?
In Chinese symbolism, yellow represents the center (earth) and the mean (zhong yong)—balanced and moderate. A yellow lower garment indicates an inner disposition of centrality, humility, and gentleness, held close to oneself. Integrating this fundamental virtue into one's character brings supreme good fortune (da ji) because it perfectly embodies Kun's harmonious, correct, and supportive nature.