坤 · 顺
Judgement
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。
Sublime success, furthered by the perseverance of a mare. The superior man has somewhere to go: he who goes first loses his way; he who follows finds guidance. In the southwest he finds friends; in the northeast he forgoes them. Quiet perseverance brings good fortune.
The Image
地势坤，君子以厚德载物。
The earth's condition is receptive devotion. So the superior man of broad character carries the outer world.
The Lines
履霜，坚冰至。
Hoarfrost underfoot — solid ice is on its way.
“履霜坚冰”，阴始凝也；驯致其道，至坚冰也。
The yin begins to congeal; led along its course, solid ice arrives.
直方大，不习无不利。
Straight, square, and great. Without rehearsal, nothing goes unfurthered.
六二之动，“直”以“方”也。“不习无不利”，地道光也。
Its movement is straight and square; the way of earth shines forth.
含章可贞；或从王事，无成有终。
Hidden brilliance, kept in fidelity. One may serve the king’s business: no achievement of one’s own, but an ending.
“含章可贞”，以时发也；“或从王事”，知光大也。
Brilliance is held and issued in its time; serving the king broadens knowledge.
括囊，无咎无誉。
A sealed bag. No blame, no praise.
“括囊无咎”，慎不害也。
The sealed bag is careful, and so brings no harm.
黄裳，元吉。
A yellow skirt. Supreme good fortune.
“黄裳元吉”，文在中也。
Supreme good fortune: refinement dwells within.
龙战于野，其血玄黄。
Dragons war in the wilds; their blood is black and yellow.
“龙战于野”，其道穷也。
When dragons war in the wilds, the way is exhausted.
利永贞。
Profit in long-enduring fidelity.
用六“永贞”，以大终也。
Enduring fidelity, carried to a great end.
Reading
六爻皆阴。象为地、母马、母、腹。乾主启，坤主承——而承是更难守的一项，因为它看起来什么都不是。