The Receptive Earth
The Yielding Mare
Strength that follows rather than leads: it gives form to what another begins, and is guided by it.
Kun is the counterpart of the Creative, Earth over Earth, and it carries the name of its element because the trigram of the Receptive is doubled. Its Judgement promises success through the perseverance of a mare, an animal strong upon the earth yet following rather than leading: one who takes the lead goes astray, while one who follows finds guidance. The Image describes the earth's condition as receptive devotion, so that the superior man, having breadth of character, carries the outer world. The first line warns that where hoarfrost lies underfoot, solid ice is near.
Light
Signifies devotion, capacity, patience, and fertile support. It is the power that gives form to what the Creative begins and that sustains others by yielding rather than by asserting.
Shadow
Yielding may sink into passivity, dependence, or a refusal to act at all. The top line shows the Receptive overstepping to contend, with dragons fighting in the meadow and their blood black and yellow.
