Is line 2 of Immaturity in its correct place?

It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.

Hexagram 4, line 2

九二Line 2 of Immaturity

Nine in the second place · 蒙 méng

embracing the ignoranttaking a wifethe son runs the house

爻辭 The line text

包蒙吉；納婦吉；子克家。

The second line, undivided, (shows its subject) exercising forbearance with the ignorant, in which there will be good fortune; and admitting (even the goodness of women, which will also be fortunate. (He may be described also as) a son able to (sustain the burden of) his family.

Its symbolism

子克家，剛柔接也。

'A son able to (sustain the burden of) his family:'—as appears from the reciprocation between this strong line and the weak (fifth line).

In plain words

'To tolerate the ignorant brings good fortune; to take a wife brings good fortune; the son is able to manage the household.' Line two is the ruler of Meng — the only yang line in the lower trigram, central though in a yin place, corresponding to the yielding ruler at five. It is the teacher in the hexagram's story, and it teaches by embracing (包) rather than by driving. The three clauses are three forms of one virtue: patience with the unformed, a willingness to be joined with the soft, and the capacity of a junior person to carry responsibility because of that patience. The small Image explains the last with the structure: 'hard and soft meet' (剛柔接也) — line two below, line five above, each answering the other.

If this line is changing

Whoever depends on you now is inexperienced rather than wrong; make room for them, and you will find that being trusted with them gives you the standing you wanted.

Where the line stands

A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang line that moves when cast.
It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
It belongs to the lower trigram 坎 Kan (the Abysmal) (water).
It corresponds (應) with line 5: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.

之卦 When this line moves

蒙 Immaturity becomes ䷖ 23 剝 Peeling Away

The mountain worn down by the earth beneath: yin has grown until one yang line remains at the top. Not a time to go anywhere; the structure is peeling away.

What it becomes23 · 剝 Peeling Awaybō

The six lines of 蒙 Immaturity

Read 蒙 Immaturity for a question about

Love and relationships Work and career A yes-or-no decision

Questions about this line

What does Nine in the second place of hexagram 4, Immaturity, mean?: 'To tolerate the ignorant brings good fortune; to take a wife brings good fortune; the son is able to manage the household.' Line two is the ruler of Meng — the only yang line in the lower trigram, central though in a yin place, corresponding to the yielding ruler at five. It is the teacher in the hexagram's story, and it teaches by embracing (包) rather than by driving. The three clauses are three forms of one virtue: patience with the unformed, a willingness to be joined with the soft, and the capacity of a junior person to carry responsibility because of that patience. The small Image explains the last with the structure: 'hard and soft meet' (剛柔接也) — line two below, line five above, each answering the other.
What does hexagram 4 become when line 2 changes?: Immaturity becomes hexagram 23, 剝 Peeling Away: The mountain worn down by the earth beneath: yin has grown until one yang line remains at the top. Not a time to go anywhere; the structure is peeling away.
Is line 2 of Immaturity in its correct place?: It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.

Cast a reading Hexagram 4 in full Changing lines explained

Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).