觀 → 遯
Hexagram 20: Contemplation → Hexagram 33: Retreat
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 3, 4).
Line 3
六三 觀我生進退。
Six in the third place means: Contemplation of my life Decides the choice Between advance and retreat.
Line 4
六四 觀國之光。利用賓于王。
Six in the fourth place means: Contemplation of the light of the kingdom. It furthers one to exert influence as the guest of a king.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
雍門內崩，賊賢傷人；暴亂狂悖，簡公失位。
Within the Yong Gate, collapse comes from within; the worthy are harmed and the good are struck down. In violent and reckless turmoil -- Duke Jian loses his throne.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind over earth witnesses internal collapse. Within the Yong Gate, rebellion erupts from within. Worthy men are harmed, villains run rampant, and in the violent chaos Duke Jian loses his throne. This alludes to the assassination of Duke Jian of Qi by the minister Tian Heng (Chen Chengzi) in 481 BC — an internal coup that dismantled legitimate authority from the inside. Heaven over mountain forms Retreat, which counsels timely withdrawal before the small overtakes the great. From Contemplation to Retreat, the lesson is grim: the observer who watches too long without acting sees the moment for retreat pass by. Duke Jian failed to withdraw when the Tian clan's power was still containable, and the palace gate became his grave.
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