隨 → 遯
Hexagram 17: Following → Hexagram 33: Retreat
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 6).
Line 1
初九 官有渝。貞吉。出門交有功。
Nine at the beginning means: The standard is changing. Perseverance brings good fortune. To go out of the door in company Produces deeds.
Line 3
六三 係丈夫。失小子。隨有求得。利居貞。
Six in the third place means: If one clings to the strong man, One loses the little boy. Through following one finds what one seeks. It furthers one to remain persevering.
Line 6
上六 拘係之。乃從維之。王用亨于西山。
Six at the top means: He meets with firm allegiance And is still further bound. The king introduces him To the Western Mountain.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
遨遊無患，出入安全；長受其懽，君子萬年。
Roaming without misfortune, going out and returning in safety; enjoying lasting happiness, the gentleman lives ten thousand years.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Thunder rests within the lake, and the wanderer moves freely without harm. Going out and coming in, all is safe and sound. Joy extends without end, and the gentleman lives ten thousand years. The verse is a pure blessing of longevity and security — the traveler who follows the proper path encounters no danger, and his happiness stretches to the horizon. From Following to Retreat, the apparent contradiction resolves beautifully: Dun's heaven above the mountain is the sage's strategic withdrawal from the world, not flight from danger but a chosen departure that preserves integrity. The gentleman's endless joy comes precisely from knowing when to retreat — following the wisdom of timely withdrawal ensures that pleasure endures forever.
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