Kun · The Receptive

Judgment

元亨，利牝马之贞。

Sublime success. It is favourable to hold to the steadfastness of a mare — yielding in manner, tireless in endurance.

The Chinese above is the received classical text. The English below it is a plain-language rendering written for this site — not a scholarly translation. The classical wording is terse and genuinely open to more than one reading, so where interpretations diverge we follow the mainstream one.

The Image (Da Xiang)

地势坤，君子以厚德载物。

大地的形势高下起伏、连绵不绝，这是坤卦，君子应当有如大地一样的敦厚之德来承载万物。

The Six Lines

• First line履霜，坚冰至。初六 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Second line直，方，大，不习无不利。六二 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Third line含章可贞。或从王事，无成有终。六三 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fourth line括囊；无咎，无誉。六四 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Fifth line黄裳，元吉。六五 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.
• Top line战龙于野，其血玄黄。上六 — classical Chinese line text. Translations vary substantially between traditions; consult a scholarly edition for depth.

Modern Interpretive Reference

Quality: Very Auspicious

Tendency: Receptivity, endurance, and the capacity to carry weight.

Guidance: Follow rather than lead here; support others and steadiness will bring success.

This section is editorial reflection written for this site, not classical commentary. Hexagram qualities are not fixed outcomes — context and response matter more than the label. For cultural reflection only; not a basis for any decision.