遁 天山遯 乾上艮下 The old complex character of 遁 is 遯.
This hexagram has a Heaven trigram on top of a Mountain trigram. Heaven represents strength and the mountain represents a stop. The strength is stopped signifying retreat or withdrawal. It is not running away in panic but an intentional retreat and hiding to preserve strength and waiting for the right time to strike back. The retreat is needed because the situation is such that we cannot face the much stronger attacking force. Rather than be eliminated, it is better to retreat to preserve strength. The following hexagram 34 大状 is about Great Strength.
Description:
- 亨: smooth flow
- 小利贞: perseverance in righteousness brings benefits only in a limited area
Textual Commentary:
彖曰： 遁亨， 遁而亨也。 刚当位而应，与时行也。 小利贞，浸而长也。 遁之时义大矣哉！
The retreat brings forth smooth flow or success. The strong occupy the right position and be ready to respond. But responding to the situation of the time is important. Perseverance in righteousness brings benefits only in limited areas. This is because the influence of the darkness(literally the little one) is growing. The meaning of retreat at the proper time is great.
Pictorial Commentary: 象曰：天下有山， 遁；君子以远小人，不恶而严。
There is a mountain below the sky. Wise men move away from the inferior little men (narrow-minded, self-centered, and evil people). Not hating them, and keeping our discipline (in righteousness).
Moral Teaching:
- Watch the situation of the time, and respond accordingly.
- Sometimes, it is better to just Retreat to conserve our strengths and wait for the right opportunity in the future. This is the case when the darkness is gaining strength and righteousness takes a back seat.
- Don’t view Retreat as a shameful thing to do. It is the right thing to do at the right time. In the famous Chinese’s 36 Tactics, Retreat or Walk-away is ranked as the highest!
- Retreat does not mean running away and giving up. It means dodging the attack and yet preserving our strength and discipline and waiting for the right opportunity.
- It also means going into guerrilla warfare against the much larger conventional force; a surprise attack at the enemy’s weak spots and then hiding again.
Stage 1 Begin Six: Retreating at the last moment(literally, the tail) is dangerous. Don’t start any new projects. 初六：遁尾，厉，勿用有攸往。
The pictorial commentary explains the danger is going forward (literally, if not moving ahead what harm will there be?) 象曰：遁尾之厉，不往何灾也。
Anything takes time to do. Time for preparation is useful. Don’t make up one’s mind early and then hastily retreat at the last moment is dangerous. But it is not as bad staying on to try to fight an overwhelming enemy or a lost cause. Face the losses and plan the withdrawal or exit well. Conserve your resources as much as possible. Some people want to commit more resources to save a lost cause. It is just throwing good money at a losing business and wasting the money. Lending money to gamblers will not recover the money loss but just increase the loss.
Stage 2 Second Six: hold fast with strength yellow ox hide. No one can break loose. 六二：执之用黄牛之革，莫之胜说。
The pictorial commentary explains that the will or determination is strong. 象曰：执用黄牛，固志也。
When one determination is strong, others will not be able to overcome it. We can lose some battles and win the war provided our will is strong. In the face of overwhelming challenges, it is important that we keep our minds clear and our will strong.
Stage 3 Third Nine: The retreat is tied up. There is sickness and danger. Keeping the staff, men and women bring blessings and fortunes. 九三：系遁，有疾厉，畜臣妾吉。
The pictorial commentary explains being prevented from continued retreat shows that there are some problems (literally sickness) and tiredness. This is a time for conserving people and not for doing great things. 象曰：系遁之厉，有疾惫也。 畜臣妾吉，不可大事也。
A retreat is not without its challenges. There are many commitments that you cannot just walk out from. Exiting a business or breaking up a business partnership is a lot more difficult than starting one a new. How can we cut losses and yet keep the good people with us? The staff has easier options than the owners.
Stage 4 Forth Nine: Willingness in retreat brings fortune to the wise men. Inferior Little men are not able to retreat well. 九四：好遁君子吉，小人否。
The pictorial commentary explains that Wise men like retreats whereas Inferior Little men hate them. 象曰：君子好遁，小人否也。
Wise men have strength from within and not from external circumstances. They are able to have peace and joy independent of external circumstances. Mencius has a saying “富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈，此之谓大丈夫” meaning ‘richness does not cause me to be indulgence and lustful, poverty does not change my ambition, power does not subdue me.’ Paul has an equivalent saying Php 4:11-12 … I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Accept the retreat and be at peace with yourself and others.
Stage 5 Fifth Nine: Praise for the retreat. Perseverance brings blessings and fortunes. 九五：嘉遁，贞吉。
The pictorial commentary adds that the retreat is good because it is to complete one’s righteous ambition. 象曰：嘉遁贞吉，以正志也。
The retreat is successfully carried out so that we preserve our righteousness and realize our ambitions. As things go according to plan, even in a retreat, it calls for celebration. We retreat at the right time and in the right way keeping the good people, resources, and good relationships with us. All these are good for future expansion as happens in the next hexagram.
Stage 6 Top Nine: Taking a flight with retreat. Everything will be a good blessing (literally, there is nothing without benefits) 上九：肥遁，无不利。
The pictorial commentary adds that the benefits come from not having any doubts. 象曰：肥遁，无不利；无所疑也。
We have achieved inner strength at the topmost level. We are not easily stirred by external events. Our mind and heart are stable to have clarity in observing and understanding the right move to take, even in retreat. We are freed from biased thinking, confusion, and untidy knots of complex relationships between people and resources. We can see clearly and move quickly.
Summary:
A retreat is a good option at the right time when the ‘attacking forces’ (competitors) are much greater. Conserve your strengths and maintain your discipline. Strike out at the right opportunities and go into hiding again. i.e. employing guerrilla tactics.
Wisdom from the Stage Lines:
- Respond in time and not at the last moment
- Fear not. Be determined and don’t give up because of the challenges.
- Keep the good stuff
- Accept the Retreat. Be at peace with yourself and others.
- Celebrates successful Retreat. Retreat intact.
- Freed and able to see clearly and move quickly.
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