Prime success. Favorable to the perseverance of a mare. The Noble One has somewhere to go. Go first and lose the way; go after and gain a master. Favorable. In the southwest, gain companions; in the northeast, lose companions. Calm perseverance brings good fortune.
彖傳 · Tuan Zhuan
Judgment Commentary
Utmost indeed is Kun's Prime. The ten thousand things depend on it for life; thus it obediently receives Heaven. Kun, thick, carries things; its virtue matches boundlessness. Containing, broad, bright, and great, the myriad things all succeed. The mare belongs to the kind of earth; it moves over the earth without bound, yielding and obedient, Favorable to persevere. Where the Noble One goes, going first loses the way; going after, by following, gains what endures. In the southwest, gain companions and go with one's kind. In the northeast, lose companions and in the end there is rejoicing. The good fortune of calm perseverance answers the earth's boundlessness.
象 · Xiang
Image
Earth's configuration is Kun. The Noble One carries things with generous virtue.
Special Texts
Wen Yan
Kun is utterly yielding, yet in movement it is firm; utterly still, yet its virtue is square. Later it gains a master and so has what endures, holding all things and transforming with brightness. Is not the way of Kun compliant? It receives Heaven and moves in season. A household that accumulates goodness will surely have surplus rejoicing. A household that accumulates what is not good will surely have surplus disaster. A minister murdering his ruler, a son murdering his father, does not arise from one morning or one evening. What leads to it grows by degrees; it comes from not discerning it early enough. The Yi says, Treading frost. Solid ice arrives. This surely speaks of compliance. Straight is its correctness. Square is its rightness. The Noble One, by reverence, makes the inside straight; by rightness, makes the outside square. When reverence and rightness are established, virtue is not solitary. Straight, square, great. Not practiced, nothing not favorable. Then one does not doubt the path one walks. Though yin has beauty, it keeps it contained so as to follow the king's affairs. It does not dare claim accomplishment. This is the way of earth, the way of wife, the way of minister. The way of earth does not accomplish, yet in another's place brings things to completion. When Heaven and Earth change and transform, grasses and trees flourish. When Heaven and Earth close, worthy persons hide. The Yi says, Tying shut the sack. No blame, no praise. This surely speaks of caution. The Noble One is yellow at the center and clear in principle, correct in position and dwelling in the body. Beauty is within and spreads through the four limbs, issuing in undertakings. This is beauty at its utmost. When yin grows doubtful toward yang, it must fight. Because it is suspected of lacking yang, dragon is named. It has not yet left its kind, therefore blood is named. Dark and yellow are the mingling of Heaven and Earth. Heaven is dark and Earth is yellow.
Yong
Use of Sixes
Favorable to lasting perseverance.
Commentary
Use of Sixes, lasting perseverance: it thereby brings great completion.
六爻 · Six Lines
Lines
Line 06
Top Six
Dragons battle in the open country. Their blood is dark and yellow.
Commentary
Dragons battle in the open country: their way is exhausted.
Line 05
Six in the Fifth
A yellow lower garment. Prime good fortune.
Commentary
A yellow lower garment, prime good fortune: pattern lies at the center.
Line 04
Six in the Fourth
Tying shut the sack. No blame, no praise.
Commentary
Tying shut the sack, no blame: caution keeps harm away.
Line 03
Six in the Third
Containing brilliance, one can persevere. Perhaps following the king's affairs. No accomplishment, yet there is completion.
Commentary
Containing brilliance, one can persevere: it is brought forth in its time. Perhaps following the king's affairs: this knows brightness and greatness.
Line 02
Six in the Second
Straight, square, great. Not practiced, nothing not favorable.
Commentary
The movement of Six in the Second is straight and square. Not practiced, nothing not favorable: the way of earth is bright.
Line 01
Initial Six
Treading frost. Solid ice is coming.
Commentary
Treading frost, solid ice: yin is beginning to congeal. Following its course docilely, it comes to solid ice.