Yijing CompassI Ching reading
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Hexagram 33 · King Wen sequence

Strategic Retreat

遯 · dùn

Modern reflection

Strategic retreat can preserve strength and direction.

Lower trigram: 艮 Mountain
Upper trigram: 乾 Heaven

Historical source

Thun indicates successful progress (in its circumstances). To a small extent it will (still) be advantageous to be firm and correct.

(The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for a mountain form Thun. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps small men at a distance, not by showing that he hates them, but by his own dignified gravity.

James Legge, 1882, public domain. Historical wording is shown for source transparency, not as a guaranteed prediction.

Changing-line passages

  1. Line 1The first SIX, divided, shows a retiring tail. The position is perilous. No movement in any direction should be made.
  2. Line 2The second SIX, divided, shows its subject holding (his purpose) fast as if by a (thong made from the) hide of a yellow ox, which cannot be broken.
  3. Line 3The third NINE, undivided, shows one retiring but bound,--to his distress and peril. (If he were to deal with his binders as in) nourishing a servant or concubine, it would be fortunate for him.
  4. Line 4The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject retiring notwithstanding his likings. In a superior man this will lead to good fortune; a small man cannot attain to this.
  5. Line 5The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject retiring in an admirable way. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
  6. Line 6The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject retiring in a noble way. It will be advantageous in every respect.

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