Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 33 — Heaven over Mountain (天山遯) - Retreat
遯
Lower Canon 下經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
遯：亨，小利貞。
Retreat. Success. In small matters perseverance furthers.
Image
象傳
象曰：天下有山，遯；君子以遠小人，不惡而嚴。
Mountain under heaven: the image of Retreat. Thus the superior man keeps the inferior man at a distance, not angrily but with reserve.
Interpretation
詮釋
遯卦象徵退避與隱退。小人漸長，君子宜退而不爭。退非逃避，而是明智保身之策。
Retreat and withdrawal. When inferior forces grow, the superior person withdraws without conflict. Retreat is not escape but wise self-preservation.
Six Lines
爻辭
Six at the beginning
初六
遯尾，厲，勿用有攸往。
At the tail in retreat. This is dangerous. One must not wish to undertake anything.
退在最後，危險。不可有所作為。猶豫不決最危險，應速退。
Retreating at the tail end is dangerous. Do not undertake anything. Hesitation is most dangerous; retreat quickly.
Six in the second place
六二
執之用黃牛之革，莫之勝說。
He holds him fast with yellow ox hide. No one can tear him loose.
用黃牛皮束縛，無法解脫。意志堅定，無人能動搖其退隱決心。
Bound with yellow ox hide, impossible to break free. Will is firm, no one can shake the resolve to retreat.
Nine in the third place
九三
係遯，有疾厲，畜臣妾吉。
A halted retreat is nerve-wracking and dangerous. To retain people as servants brings good fortune.
受牽絆之退，有病痛危險。蓄養僕從則吉。退時仍有牽掛，但應退則退。
Retreat with attachments brings illness and danger. Keeping servants brings fortune. Though ties remain, one must still retreat.
Nine in the fourth place
九四
好遯，君子吉，小人否。
Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior man and downfall to the inferior man.
愛好退隱，君子吉，小人否。君子能主動退讓得吉，小人則不能。
Loving retreat, fortune for the superior, misfortune for the inferior. The noble can actively yield with fortune, the petty cannot.
Nine in the fifth place
九五
嘉遯，貞吉。
Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.
美好的退隱，守正吉祥。退得適時得體，合乎道義。
Beautiful retreat, correctness brings fortune. Withdrawing at the right time with propriety, in accord with righteousness.
Nine at the top
上九
肥遯，無不利。
Cheerful retreat. Everything serves to further.
富足從容的退隱，無不利。心境開闊，退得瀟灑，萬事皆利。
Abundant and composed retreat, nothing fails to further. Mind expansive, retreating freely, all matters benefit.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 33