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A traveler walks freely along a broad mountain ridge with the former town far behind and open sky ahead.
Heaven above Mountain · Know when to step awayScene imagery · YiPhase original learning visual
Hexagram 33 · 天山遯
遯DÙN

Retreat

乾 · Heaven · 艮 · Mountain

遯是审时而退，并非怯懦。当天地之势正在改变，主动保持距离，可以保全原则，也为下一段路留下空间。

Retreat is a timely choice, not a failure of courage. When conditions turn, stepping back can preserve integrity and leave room for a wiser next move.

Original Chinese, independent English explanations and modern examples. Check the sources.保留经典原文，英文独立释读，生活例子单独说明。查看依据。

LESSON 33 · EVERYDAY I CHING

Step back at the right time

第 33 课 · 生活里的卦意

A short bilingual narration with moving views of all six line images.

跟着双语讲解与逐爻画面，理解这一卦的生活处境。

▶ Play Lessons▶ 播放课程
YiPhase · Today

In everyday life这一卦在生活中

A modern scene to help you recognize the situation. This is YiPhase's own example, separate from the classical text below.

用当代处境帮助理解卦意。以下为 YiPhase 独立编写的例子，与后面的经典原文分开。

A situation you may recognize一个可能熟悉的处境

You are a furniture maker in a shared neighborhood workshop. The market shifts, members argue, and a large chain offers to buy the cooperative. You consider stepping back from leadership, not out of cowardice, but to preserve your craft and integrity while leaving room for a wiser next move.

你是一家社区共享木工坊的家具匠人。市场变化，成员争执，一家大连锁店提出收购合作社。你考虑退出管理，并非怯懦，而是想保全手艺与原则，也为下一段路留下空间。

ASK YOURSELF想一想

Where might a timely step back protect your values better than pushing ahead?

在哪些事上，及时退一步比硬撑更能守住你的原则？

The Judgment

The Judgment卦辞

The original Chinese remains visible as the cultural source. The English translation and reading explain it without replacing it.

先保留经典中文，再提供英文直译与现代中文解释。英文用于理解，不替代原文。

《周易》经文 · Original Chinese
遯：亨。小利貞。

Retreat: passage. In small matters, steadfastness is favourable.

Beginner’s reading

When pushing ahead would entangle you, an orderly withdrawal can open a way through. Keep to what is right within the limits of the moment.

现代中文解说

形势不再适合硬进，及时退开反而能通达。“小利贞”提醒此时先守好能守住的正道与分寸，不要把退避当成大举争胜。

Classical Commentary

Tuan Commentary & The Image彖传与大象

These classical commentaries are shown separately from the Zhouyi core text, so their textual role stays clear.

以下属于解释《周易》的经典传文，页面与卦辞分层展示，方便初学者看清文本来源。

彖曰 · Tuan Commentary
彖曰：遯亨，遯而亨也。剛當位而應，與時行也。小利貞，浸而長也。遯之時義大矣哉！

《彖传》强调“遯而亨”与“与时行”：退得适时才有通路。渐长的压力尚未完全压倒正道，更需要先看清时机。

The Tuan Commentary locates success in timing. Pressure grows gradually; retreat can preserve a sound course before confrontation closes every option.

象曰 · The Image
象曰：天下有山，遯；君子以遠小人，不惡而嚴。

A mountain stands beneath heaven: Retreat. A cultivated person keeps distance from the petty without hatred, yet with firmness.

拉开距离并不等于愤恨或羞辱别人。守住边界，态度严正，才能安然退出无益的纠缠。

The Image recommends distance without hostility. A clear boundary can be both firm and free of contempt.

Six Changing Stages

Six Lines: Position and Change六爻：位置与变化

The lines move from dangerous delay at the rear to a strong bond that cannot be loosened, a retreat tethered by obligations, the choice to leave tempting gains, a dignified farewell, and finally a spacious, untroubled departure.

六爻从退在队尾、危急时不宜妄行开始；继而出现牢固牵系、被家事拖住的疲惫、舍得离开诱惑的抉择，最后走向正当而从容的退与无疑的宽裕。

初六
A lagging traveler at the rear of a retreat hides behind stones as an armed band approaches the exposed road.
初六 · Line 1 · 遯尾

遯尾，厲，勿用有攸往。

At the tail of retreat, there is danger; do not set out toward any destination.

已经落到撤退队尾，前路反而暴露在危险里。此刻不要慌忙再冲出去，先隐蔽、稳住，避免更大损失。

Last to withdraw, you are already exposed. Rushing onward may worsen the danger; shelter and assess the next safe opening.

Do not rush from the rear
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

You are last to leave the workshop after a bitter meeting. In the alley, an angry group blocks the way. Rushing toward the main road may worsen the danger. Stay inside, lock the back room, and wait for a safe opening.

激烈会议后，你最后离开木工坊。巷口有一群愤怒的人堵住去路。慌忙冲向大路可能让危险更大。先留在屋内，锁好后间，等安全时机再走。

Ask yourself: What danger invites you to pause instead of push?

想一想：哪种危险在提醒你先停步，而不是硬闯？

六二
Two people pull a tight ochre ox-hide strap across a wooden chest while a calm yellow ox stands nearby; the knot holds fast.
六二 · Line 2 · 莫之勝說

執之用黃牛之革，莫之勝說。

Held with yellow ox-hide leather; none can loosen it.

黄牛皮的结牢固难解，形容内心或关系的牵系极强。与其假装没有牵挂，不如认清究竟是什么把人留下。

The ox-hide bond will not slip. Before speaking of withdrawal, recognize the obligation or attachment that still holds you in place.

Know what binds you
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

A cooperative loan cosigned with your uncle and a promise to your late mentor are a tight ox-hide knot. You want to leave, but the bond will not slip. Before speaking of withdrawal, name the obligation that still holds you.

合作社贷款由你舅舅共同签字，你又对已故导师有过承诺，这像黄牛皮打的结，紧紧难解。你想离开，却感到被拉住。在谈退出前，先认清究竟是哪份责任还牵着你。

Ask yourself: Which promise or tie still keeps you in place?

想一想：哪一份承诺或牵绊，仍让你留在原地？

九三
A weary traveler with a pack caught by a gatepost pauses to pass provisions to household attendants beside the open mountain road.
九三 · Line 3 · 系遯

系遯，有疾厲，畜臣妾吉。

Retreat tied down: illness and danger; caring for household dependents is auspicious.

想退却被近处责任牵住，久拖会令人疲惫而危险。爻辞中的“臣妾”属于古代家内身份；今天可读为先照顾眼前依赖自己的人，勿以一己之退承担大事。

Withdrawal is tethered by close obligations, and delay is wearing. The old household terminology belongs to its era; the narrow good here is to care for those who rely on you while avoiding larger ventures.

Acknowledge close duties
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

Your apprentice needs training, and an elderly member needs daily help. Wanting to step back while they rely on you is tiring and risky. For now, care for them and keep the workshop small; avoid a large new venture.

你的学徒还要带，年长成员也需要日常照应。想退却被近处责任牵住，久拖会令人疲惫，也有风险。眼下先照顾好依赖你的人，把工坊维持在小规模，别接大扩张。

Ask yourself: Who depends on you right now, and what small care is enough?

想一想：现在谁在依赖你，怎样的照顾才算够？

九四
A scholar walks away from a manor gate toward the mountains while another person clings to rich gifts at a banquet table.
九四 · Line 4 · 好遯

好遯君子吉，小人否。

A willingly chosen retreat is auspicious for the cultivated person; not so for the petty person.

面前有宴席与财物，仍能好好地离开，是懂得舍取；只顾眼前利益而迟迟不退，则难得其吉。

Leaving while gifts still tempt you takes judgment. The good outcome belongs to the person able to release them; clinging to gain defeats the retreat.

Leave willingly
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

A chain offers a lucrative buyout and a showroom manager title. Walking away while gifts still tempt you takes judgment. If you cling to the gain and delay, the retreat defeats itself. Leave cleanly, or stay only for clear reasons.

连锁店给你丰厚收购价和展厅经理头衔。面对宴席与财物仍能好好离开，是懂得取舍；只顾眼前利益而迟迟不退，退避就失去意义。要么干净退出，要么只为清楚的理由留下。

Ask yourself: What tempting gain makes a clean exit harder?

想一想：哪一种诱人的好处，让你更难干净退出？

九五
An official and departing traveler exchange a seal and a respectful farewell at the village gate, with an open mountain path ahead.
九五 · Line 5 · 嘉遯

嘉遯，貞吉。

A commendable retreat; steadfastness is auspicious.

退身不失礼，也不丢原则。清楚交代责任后从容离开，使退出成为值得称许的选择。

A good retreat is deliberate and honorable. Hand over what is yours to hand over, then leave without compromising the principle that guided you.

Withdraw with grace
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

A good retreat is deliberate and honorable. Finish outstanding commissions, hand over the client list and keys, and train your successor. Then leave without compromising the principle that guided your craft. People remember how you departed.

好的退出是从容而有礼的。把手上的订单做完，把客户名单和钥匙交给接班人，并带好接替者。然后离开，不丢掉指引你手艺的原则。别人会记住你怎样退场。

Ask yourself: What would a respectful handover look like for you?

想一想：对你来说，怎样的交接才算有礼有节？

上九
A relaxed older traveler walks on a broad mountain ridge with the former town far behind and open sky ahead.
上九 · Line 6 · 肥遯

肥遯，无不利。

An ample, unencumbered retreat; nothing is unfavourable.

这里的“肥”是宽裕从容，不是身形。牵挂已放下，前路开阔，退得没有疑惧，才能真正自由。

Here 'ample' means spacious and unburdened. With no backward pull or second thought, retreat becomes a free path forward.

Leave with room to breathe
Picture this in daily life生活中的这一爻

Here, 'ample' means spacious and unburdened, not richer. With no backward pull or second thought, you move to a small studio, make what you love, and let the old workshop live on without you. The path is open.

这里的“肥”是宽裕从容，不是更富有。没有回头的拉扯，也不再反复犹豫，你搬到小工作室，做自己喜爱的家具，让旧工坊在没有你的情况下继续运转。前路开阔。

Ask yourself: What would it feel like to leave without backward pull?

想一想：若没有回头的拉扯，离开会是什么感觉？

Cultural Phrases

Classic Chinese Phrases可延展的中文经典短句

Chinese carries the cultural identity; English makes the meaning accessible. These phrases can later inform cards, objects, and décor.

中文保留文化识别，英文负责解释。这些短句可作为未来卡牌、装饰与文创的文字基础，具体载体仍需单独设计。

與時行也

行动要顺应时机。

Move with the time.

不惡而嚴

不怀恶意，也守住严正边界。

Firm boundaries without hatred.

Questions about this hexagram这一卦的常见问题

What does Hexagram 33, Retreat, describe?第33卦描述什么处境？

Retreat is a timely choice, not a failure of courage. When conditions turn, stepping back can preserve integrity and leave room for a wiser next move.

遯是审时而退，并非怯懦。当天地之势正在改变，主动保持距离，可以保全原则，也为下一段路留下空间。

How should I read its six lines?应该怎样阅读这六爻？

Read from the bottom line upward. Each position describes a different stage or condition. The highlighted line-position diagrams on this study page locate the line being explained; they are not a personal cast or a prediction.

从下往上读，结合不同位置与处境理解。这里的高亮卦画只说明正在讲哪一爻，不是个人起卦或预测结果。