Hexagram 33 遯 - DÙN / RETREAT

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Trigrams

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• Above: Qián, The Creative, Heaven
• Below: Gèn, Keeping Still, Mountain

The power of the dark is ascending. The light retreats to safety before it, so that the dark cannot harm it. This retreat is not a matter of human caprice but a law of natural events. Therefore, in this case, retreat is the correct course of action, allowing one to conserve strength instead of exhausting it.¹

As a monthly symbol, the hexagram is associated with the sixth month (July-August), during which the forces of winter already begin to show their influence again.

The Judgment

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Retreat. Success. In what is small, perseverance furthers.

Conditions are such that hostile forces, favored by the time, are advancing. In this case, retreat is the correct path, and through retreat one achieves success. Success consists in being able to carry out the retreat correctly. Retreat must not be confused with flight, which seeks nothing but escape at all costs. Retreat is a sign of strength. One must not miss the right moment while still in full possession of power and position. This means understanding how to interpret the signs of the times early on and preparing a temporary retreat instead of engaging in a desperate battle to the death. Thus, one does not simply yield the field to the adversary, but makes their advance difficult by still showing perseverance in details. In this way, the reversal is already prepared during the retreat. Understanding the laws of such an active retreat is not easy. The meaning hidden within such a time is significant.

The Image

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Mountain under Heaven: the image of Retreat. Thus the superior person keeps the inferior at a distance, not with anger, but with reserve.

The mountain rises up under heaven, but it is in its nature to ultimately come to a standstill. Heaven, on the other hand, retreats upward into the distance before it, remaining out of reach. This is the image of how the superior person behaves toward the ascending inferior person. He withdraws from him in his inner disposition. He does not hate him, for hatred is a form of inner involvement by which one binds oneself to the hated object. The superior person demonstrates strength (Heaven) by bringing the inferior to a halt through his reserve (Mountain).

The Lines

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Six at the beginning means:

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Retreat at the tail: this is dangerous. One must not attempt to undertake anything.

Since the sign represents something in retreat, the first line is the tail and the topmost line is the head. In a retreat, it is advantageous to be at the front. Here, one is at the back, in direct contact with the pursuing forces. This is dangerous. Under such perilous circumstances, it is not advisable to undertake anything. By keeping still, one most easily escapes the threatening danger.

Six in the second place means:

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He holds him fast with yellow ox-hide. No one can tear him loose.

Yellow is the color of the middle, indicating correctness and duty. The hide of an ox is firm and unbreakable.

While the superior individuals retreat and the inferior press forward, here an inferior person is depicted who holds so firmly and tenaciously to the superior that they cannot rid themselves of him. Because he wills what is right and is strong in his purpose, he achieves his goal. In this way, the line confirms the words of the Judgment: “In what is small (here meaning: for the inferior person), perseverance furthers.”²

Nine in the third place means:

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A halted retreat is distressing and dangerous. Keeping people as servants and maids brings good fortune.

When it is time to retreat and one is held back, it is both unpleasant and dangerous, as freedom of action is removed. In such a case, the only way out is to take the people who prevent one from leaving into one’s service, so to speak, in order to at least retain the initiative and not fall helplessly under their control. But even if this is a way out, the situation remains far from cheerful. For what can one truly accomplish with such servants?

Nine in the fourth place means:

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Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior person, and downfall to the inferior person.

In retreat, the higher individual parts ways amiably and gladly. The retreat is also easy for him internally because he does not need to violate his convictions. The one who suffers from this is only the inferior person, from whom he withdraws and who must decline without the guidance of the superior person.

Nine in the fifth place means:

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Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.

It is the task of the superior person to recognize in time when it is appropriate to retreat. When the right moment is chosen, the retreat can be carried out in a perfectly friendly manner without the need for unpleasant confrontations. Yet, despite the courteous external form, absolute firmness of resolve is necessary to avoid being misled by other considerations.

Nine at the top means:

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Cheerful retreat. Everything furthers.

The situation is unambiguous. Inner detachment is an established fact. This gives one the freedom to leave. When the path ahead is seen so clearly and without a doubt, a cheerful composure sets in, choosing the right course without any hesitation. Such a clear path always leads to good results.

Reference links

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• Hexagram look-up table
• Advanced hexagram correspondence table