遯 → 兌
Hexagram 33: Retreat → Hexagram 58: The Joyous Lake
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 6).
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 2
六二 執之用黃牛之革。莫之勝說。
Six in the second place means: he holds him fast with yellow oxhide. No one can tear him loose.
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 6
上九 肥遯无不利。
Nine at the top means: Cheerful retreat. Everything serves to further.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
牙蘖生達，陽倡於外，左手執籥，公言錫爵。
Buds and shoots sprout and flourish; the yang exerts itself outward. The left hand holds the flute; the duke announces the bestowing of rank.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Heaven above the mountain opens into doubled lake — the Joyous, where open expression creates communion. Buds and shoots break through the soil and reach the sun; yang energy manifests outward. The left hand holds a flute, and the lord speaks, bestowing a cup of honor. The verse celebrates emergence and recognition: what germinated underground now rises into light, and the musician's performance earns a noble's favor. From Retreat to the Joyous, the mountain's withdrawal yields to the lake's open receptivity. The seeds that retreated into earth now sprout; the talent that withdrew into privacy now performs before an audience. Joy here is the moment when retreat ends and expression begins — the bud's breakthrough, the flute's first note, the cup of honor that rewards the courage to emerge.
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