遯 → 頤
Hexagram 33: Retreat → Hexagram 27: Nourishment
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 5).
Line 1
初六 遯尾厲。勿用有攸往。
Six at the beginning means: At the tail in retreat. This is dangerous. One must not wish to undertake anything.
Line 3
九三 係遯。有疾厲。畜臣妾吉。
Nine in the third place means: A halted retreat Is nerve-wracking and dangerous. To retain people as men- and maidservants Brings good fortune.
Line 4
九四 好遯。君子吉。小人否。
Nine in the fourth place means: Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior man And downfall to the inferior man.
Line 5
九五 嘉遯貞吉。
Nine in the fifth place means: Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
昏人宜明，賣食老昌，國祚東表，號稱太公。
The dim-witted man finds brilliance; selling food, the old man prospers. The dynasty's fortune shines eastward; he is titled Grand Duke.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Heaven above the mountain settles into mountain over thunder — Nourishment, where the mouth opens and closes with care. A man destined for obscurity finds brilliance; a food seller grows old and prosperous. The state's fortune is established to the east, and he is honored as Taigong. The verse alludes to Jiang Ziya (Taigong), who according to tradition was an impoverished butcher or food seller in his old age before King Wen recognized his talent. His title 'Taigong' means 'Grand Duke' — the man who sold food in obscurity became the architect of the Zhou dynasty's eastern campaigns. From Retreat to Nourishment, withdrawal takes the form of the humble food vendor quietly sustaining others until destiny calls. The mountain shelters thunder within — the nourishing mouth conceals the explosive potential of a future kingmaker.
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