EN (English)
②
Line position 2 of 6
The second line
二 · Èr
The middle line of the lower trigram. Centrality is the most reliable good news in the classic, and the second place has it.
centrality
the official
balance
quiet competence
- Position
- 2 from the bottom
- Trigram
- Lower trigram
- Place
- Yin place
- Centrality
- Central (中)
- Corresponds with
- The fifth line
- Classical name
- 二 (Èr)
What it means
Of the six places, two are central: the second and the fifth, each sitting in the middle of its trigram. Centrality (中) is the quality the Judgment texts praise most consistently, and it usually outweighs the question of whether a line is the correct type for its place. A line in the centre is balanced, in proportion, not pushing.
The second line is the capable person who is not in charge. The classic's stock images are the official, the minister, the person doing the actual work at a distance from the court. Hexagram 1 puts the dragon in the field here, visible and useful, well short of the sky. Its position is a yin place, so an open line here is both central and correct, which is about as good as a line can be.
Its correspondence is with the fifth line, the ruler. That relationship carries much of the classic's political thinking: the competent subordinate and the leader who does or does not listen to one.
In a reading
A moving second line generally reads well. It suggests doing your own work properly at your own level, and it often indicates a relationship with someone more senior that is worth handling carefully.
Its warning is smaller than most: not overreaching, and not mistaking being right for being in a position to decide.
Latest Posts
Discover the ancient wisdom of tarot cards and unlock the mysteries of your spiritual journey. Our blog is your gateway to understanding the rich symbolism, meanings, and practical applications of tarot reading.
