Strategic Retreat ䷠
“Graceful deprecation — strategic withdrawal that preserves all critical data.”
Trigram Composition
Upper Trigram
☰
☰ Heaven (Qian)
Lower Trigram
☶
☶ Mountain (Gen)
Binary Structure
Binary: 001111
Hexagram Meaning
The Oracle Speaks
Mountain beneath heaven — the small advances, the great retreats. Retreat is not defeat; it is strategic repositioning. The strong withdraw at the right moment to preserve their power. Graceful deprecation of a service is better than catastrophic failure. Know when to pull back and you preserve everything that matters.
The Six Lines — Changing Line Oracles
When a line is “changing” (old yin or old yang), its oracle activates. These texts reveal the specific mutation occurring at that position in the hexagram.
Line 1 (Yin — broken) — Bottom
At the tail of the retreat. This is dangerous. One must not wish to undertake anything. Being last to retreat is the most dangerous position.
Line 2 (Yin — broken)
He holds him fast with yellow oxhide. No one can tear him loose. Absolute commitment to the retreat — nothing can pull you back in.
Line 3 (Yang — solid)
A halted retreat is nerve-wracking and dangerous. Retaining servants and concubines brings good fortune. The partial retreat — maintaining some connections while withdrawing.
Line 4 (Yang — solid)
Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior person and destruction to the inferior person. Clean separation benefits the disciplined.
Line 5 (Yang — solid)
Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune. Retreating with goodwill — closing the service with grace notes.
Line 6 (Yang — solid) — Top
Cheerful retreat. Everything serves to further. The joyful shutdown — mission accomplished, time to move on.
Related Hexagrams — Upper ☰ Heaven (Qian)
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Consult the I Ching