Hexagram 33: Retreat

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Qian (Heaven) · Lower trigram: Gen (Mountain)

Judgment

Success; small advantage in perseverance.

Image

A mountain beneath heaven: retreat. The noble one keeps distant from petty people, firm but without hostility.

Meaning of Hexagram Retreat

Retreat (遯) is hexagram #33 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Qian (Heaven) and lower trigram Gen (Mountain). It represents strategic withdrawal at the right moment preserves strength. When this hexagram is cast, the querent should meditate on the judgment and image to grasp what the Yi is saying about the current situation.

The Six Lines Explained

Line 1 (Chu Six)

"Duen wei, li, wu yong you you wang (Retreating tail, danger; do not act)"

Retreating last, like a tail; there is danger — do nothing for now. This is the lowest line, slow and unable to keep pace with the right moment to withdraw, so it is best to remain still to avoid danger.

Line 2 (Chu Six)

"Zhi zhi yong huang niu zhi ge, mo zhi sheng tuo (Bound with yellow ox-hide, cannot be loosed)"

The two sides are tied to each other as if bound with yellow ox-hide, impossible to untie. This line has a bond (with line 5) so strong it cannot be abandoned, even though it is a time to withdraw.

Line 3 (Nine)

"Xi duen, you ji li, xu chen qie, ji (Clinging retreat brings danger; caring for servants is auspicious)"

Retreating while clinging to private attachments is dangerous; but caring well for those below still brings good fortune. This line warns that private feelings can hinder a timely withdrawal.

Line 4 (Nine)

"Hao duen, junzi ji, xiaoren fou (Retreat despite attachment; auspicious for the noble, not for the petty)"

Though attached, one can still retreat — good for the noble person, but the petty person cannot manage it. The lesson: only one of strong character, who places righteousness above personal feeling, can let go at the right time.

Line 5 (Nine)

"Jia duen, zhen ji (Retreat with rectitude is auspicious)"

Retreating in accordance with what is right brings good fortune. This high line, together with line 2, upholds integrity while withdrawing, staying away from petty people.

Line 6 (Nine, Top)

"Fei duen, wu bu li (Soaring retreat; nothing is unfavorable)"

Retreating with ease and dignity, nothing is unfavorable. This final line is completely free of entanglement, able to withdraw calmly and most nobly of all in the hexagram.

The Transformed Hexagram

The hexagram has Gen (Mountain) as the inner trigram and Qian (Heaven) as the outer trigram. It stands opposite to Hexagram 19, Earth over Lake (Lin), in terms of yin-yang development. When a line moves, the resulting hexagram varies according to its position; the specific moving line must be identified to determine the transformed hexagram.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

This hexagram advises knowing when to withdraw at the right moment when circumstances are unfavorable (when negative forces are growing stronger). One should avoid letting personal feelings or private entanglements interfere with the right decision (as warned in line 3).

Love & Relationships

This hexagram does not directly speak of bonding but of "retreat, withdrawal"; in a romantic context it can be understood as knowing when to stop a relationship that is no longer suitable, even amid emotional attachment (line 3).

Health

One should know how to "retreat" at the right time — resting and reducing workload when the body shows signs of being overworked, avoiding excessive exertion.

Wealth

This is not a favorable time to expand new investments. One should withdraw and preserve capital when unfavorable signs appear, avoiding entanglement in investments that are hard to let go of.

Frequently Asked Questions about Retreat

What does Hexagram Heaven over Mountain (Dun) mean?

Dun means to retreat, hide, or withdraw. This hexagram speaks of the time to know when to retreat and hide oneself as negative (yin) forces grow stronger, rather than confronting them head-on.

Is casting the Dun hexagram a bad sign?

It is classified as an unfavorable hexagram, but the essence of "knowing when to retreat" is actually a wise act, not a failure — what matters is retreating at the right time and with the right attitude (as in lines 5 and 6).

Why does the Dun hexagram follow right after the Heng hexagram (constancy, endurance)?

Because of the natural law mentioned in the commentary: "after long duration one must withdraw; when day ends, night comes; when one grows old, one should retire" — after a period of sustained constancy (Heng), inevitably a time comes to stop and withdraw.