Line Two

Line 2

We began a discussion earlier about how the lines in hexagram one and two are the prototype for all the lines that follow. In the first line of hexagram one, being a time hexagram, and a time line, we saw that any action was premature, and there were possibly unseen circumstances that could come back and bite one. In hexagram two line one we saw that in the early stages, one would need to watch for and prevent decay. We also saw the existence of space with the hoarfrost on the ground.

Now, in line two, hexagram onewe see that “the dragon appears in the field.” Here, in hexagram one, we have a time element where the dragon appears, and as line two is properly a yin line, we see space in the sense that the dragon appears, “in the field.” In each trigram there is a central line. As the Chinese revered the “middle way,” the second and fifth lines are usually considered to be the trigram ruler. Line five being in the upper trigram is the hexagram ruler. There are exceptions to this, and in fact, line two in hexagram two is considered the ruler. More on this a little later. Therefore, line two is generally considered somewhat favorable, and line five even more favorable. Since line two, however, is in the lower trigram here, the line is still not the high point of the hexagram.

The important factor is that the dragon appears in the field. The movement has not reached its high point, but it is at its beginning stages. Nevertheless, the action is no longer hidden. The text says, “as yet he has no commanding position, but is still with his peers.” The second line, when yang, can often refer to the “general” in the field. He has not yet established himself politically, but has the option to prove himself militarily. When we get this line there is often an element of opportunity. The line tells us however, that if we wish to be “the superior man,” we are going to have to distinguish ourselves with our “seriousness of purpose.:”

In hexagram forty eight line two we can see some of these same themes. Whereas in line one, no one drinks from the mud of the well, for the well is not yet ready, in line two, the water is ready to be drawn up, (the dragon appears in the field,) but it is not being used for the proper purposes. As yet, the well “has no commanding position.” It appears in the field, but it is not yet being properly used. We must have “seriousness of purpose” to find out how to use the well properly. In hexagrams with a yang line two, as a rule, look for this “preparation theme.”