Hexagram 2: The Receptive

Structure of the sign

The hexagram consists entirely of divided lines. The divided line corresponds to the dark, yielding, receptive primal power of yin. The attribute of the hexagram is devotion; its image is the earth. It is the perfect counterpart to the Creative—the counterpart, not the opposite; a complement, not a combatant. It represents nature over against spirit, earth over against heaven, space over against time, the female-maternal over against the male-paternal. Applied to human affairs, the principle of this counterpart is found not only in the relation between man and woman, but also between prince and minister, or father and son; indeed, even within the individual human being, this duality exists in the coexistence of the spiritual and the sensuous. Yet one cannot speak of a genuine dualism here, for between the two hexagrams there exists a relationship of clear hierarchy. In itself, the Receptive is of course just as important as the Creative. But through the attribute of devotion, the position of this primal power in relation to the Creative is defined. It must stand under the guidance and stimulation of the Creative; then its working is salutary. Only when it steps out of this position and seeks to stand as an equal alongside the Creative does it become evil. Opposition and struggle against the Creative then arise, working ruin for both sides.

The Judgment

The Receptive brings about sublime success, furthering through the perseverance of a mare. If the superior man undertakes something and seeks to lead, he goes astray; but if he follows, he finds guidance. It is furthering to find friends in the west and south, and to forgo friends in the east and north. Quiet perseverance brings good fortune. The four fundamental aspects of the Creative—'sublime success, furthering through perseverance'—are likewise found as designations of the Receptive. Here, however, perseverance is more precisely defined as the perseverance of a mare. The Receptive denotes spatial reality as contrasted with the spiritual potential of the Creative. When potential becomes actual, and the spiritual becomes spatial, this always occurs through a limiting, individual determination. This is indicated by appending to the term 'perseverance' the specific qualification 'of a mare.' The horse belongs to the earth just as the dragon belongs to heaven; through its tireless movement across the plain, it symbolizes the vastness of the earth. The expression 'mare' is chosen because the mare unites the strength and swiftness of the horse with the gentleness and devotion of the cow. Nature can bring the impulses of the Creative to fruition only because it is equal to the nature of the Creative. Its wealth consists in nourishing all beings, and its greatness in beautifying and glorifying all things. Thus it brings prosperity to all living creatures. While the Creative begets things, they are brought to birth by the Receptive. Applied to human affairs, it is a matter of conducting oneself appropriately according to the situation. One is not in an independent position, but acts as a helper. Here, something must be achieved. The task is not to wish to lead—which would only lead one astray—but to let oneself be led. If one knows how to maintain an attitude of devotion toward destiny, one will certainly find appropriate guidance. The superior man lets himself be guided. He does not advance blindly, but gathers from circumstances what is demanded of him, following this direction of fate. Since an achievement is required, one needs helpers and friends during the time of work and effort, when the ideas to be carried out are already established. The time of work and effort is expressed by the west and south. For the south and west symbolize the place where the Receptive labors for the Creative—like nature in summer and autumn; if one does not gather all one's forces then, one will not finish the work to be done. Therefore, obtaining friends here means finding accomplishment. But besides labor and exertion, there is also a time for planning and ordering; for this, solitude is needed. The east symbolizes the place where one receives orders from one's master, and the north the place where one reports on what has been accomplished. There, one must be alone and objective. In this sacred hour one must dispense with companions, lest purity be clouded by party hatred and favoritism.

The Image

The condition of the earth is receptive devotion. Thus the superior man of vast nature sustains the external world. Just as there is only one heaven, so there is only one earth. But while in the case of heaven the doubling of the trigram signifies duration in time, in the case of the earth it signifies spatial extension and solidity, with which it bears and sustains all that lives and moves. The earth in its devotion carries both good and evil without exception. Thus the superior man makes his character broad, steadfast, and capacious, so that he is able to bear and endure both men and things.

The lines