Dùn Regression Retreat [hexagram 33]

Yang line Yang line Yang line Yang line Yin - controlling line Yin line

Hiding, conceal, withdrawal
Heaven over
Mountain
Metal Metal element

Earth Lake
Lín [19] Convergence; Approach
Opposite
Wood Heaven
Dà zhuàng [34] Powerful; Great strength
Inverse
Heaven Wind
Gòu [44] Reaction; Encountering
Mutual

Lunar month: 6 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
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遁: , . Dùn: hēng, xiǎo lì zhēn.

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

彖傳: 遁, 遁. , . , 浸. 遁矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Dùn hēng, dùn ér hēng yě. gāng dāng wèi ér yīng, yǔ shí xíng yě. xiǎo lì zhēn, jìn ér cháng yě. dùn zhī shí yì dà yǐ zāi!

'Dun indicates successful progress:' - that is, in the very retiring which Dun denotes there is such progress. The strong (line) is in the ruling place, (the fifth), and is properly responded to (by the second line). The action takes place according to (the requirement of) the time. 'To a small extent it will (still) be advantageous to be firm and correct:' - (the small men) are gradually encroaching and advancing. Great indeed is the significance of (what is required to be done in) the time that necessitates retiring.

: , 遁; , 严. Xiàng zhuàn: Tiān xià yǒu shān, dùn; jūn zǐ yǐ yuǎn xiǎo rén, bù wù ér yán.

(The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for a mountain form Dun. 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.

young yang young yang young yang young yang young yin changing yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Fire
Tóng rén [13] Aggregation; Fellowship
Change
: 遁, , . Chū liù: dùn wěi, lì, wù yòng yǒu yōu wǎng.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows a retiring tail. The position is perilous. No movement in any direction should be made.

: 遁, . Xiàng zhuàn: Dùn wěi zhī lì, bù wǎng hé zāi yě.

There is ‘the peril of the position shown by the retiring tail:’ - but if ‘no movement’ be made, what disaster can there be?

young yang young yang young yang young yang changing yin young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Wind
Gòu [44] Reaction; Encountering
Change
: 执革, . Liù èr: zhí zhī yòng huáng niú zhī gé, mò zhī shèng shuō.

The 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.

: 执, . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhí yòng huáng niú, gù zhì yě.

‘He holds it as; by (a thong from the hide of) a yellow ox:’ - his purpose is firm.

young yang young yang young yang changing yang young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Earth
[12] Stagnation; Hindrance
Change
: 遁, , 臣妾. Jiǔ sān: xì dùn, yǒu jí lì, xù chén qiè jí.

The 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.

: , 疾惫. 臣妾, . Xiàng zhuàn: Xì dùn zhī lì, yǒu jí bèi yě. xù chén qiè jí, bù kě dà shì yě.

‘The peril connected with the case of one retiring, though bound,’ is due to the (consequent) distress and exhaustion. ‘If he were (to deal as in) nourishing a servant or concubine, it would be fortunate for him:’ - but a great affair cannot be dealt with in this way.

young yang young yang changing yang young yang young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Mountain
Jiàn [53] Progression; Gradual development
Change
: 遁, , 否. Jiǔ sì: hào dùn, jūn zǐ jí, xiǎo rén fǒu.

The 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.

: 遁, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jūn zǐ hào dùn, xiǎo rén fǒu yě.

‘A superior man retires notwithstanding his likings; a small man cannot attain to this.’

young yang changing yang young yang young yang young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Mountain
[56] Wandering; Journeying
Change
: 嘉遁, . Jiǔ wǔ: jiā dùn, zhēn jí.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject retiring in an admirable way. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.

: 嘉遁, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiā dùn zhēn jí, yǐ zhèng zhì yě.

‘He retires in an admirable way, and with firm correctness there will be good fortune:’ - this is due to the rectitude of his purpose.

changing yang young yang young yang young yang young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Mountain
Xián [31] Reaction; Influence
Change
: 肥遁, . Shàng jiǔ: féi dùn, wú bù lì.

The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject retiring in a noble way. It will be advantageous in every respect.

: 肥遁, ; . Xiàng zhuàn: Féi dùn, wú bù lì; wú suǒ yí yě.

‘He retires in a noble way, and his doing so will be advantageous in every respect:’ - he who does so has no doubts about his course.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also