In practice
The judgment
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
The poetry
Retreat
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
The image
Under heaven, a mountain: retreat. So the noble person keeps the petty person at a distance, without loathing, yet with rigor.
The lines
- Line 6上九
You're in the right position to leave behind what has run its course. You can do it knowing it's right and without mourning the loss, and this will bring you great success.
A retreat at ease. Nothing that is not favorable.
- Line 5九五
Withdrawing at the right moment, and doing it on friendly terms with the circumstances and the people you leave behind, will bring you success.
A fine retreat. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 4九四
You need to leave this road behind without clinging and without regret, sure that it's the right thing. Otherwise, even if you let go, a grieving heart will keep you from opening up to what's new.
A retreat with affection. For the noble person, good fortune; for the petty person, not so.
- Line 3九三
If, just as you're leaving something behind, you still let circumstances tempt you to stay, you'll need to find allies to make even a little progress.
A tethered retreat. There is sickness, danger. Keeping servants and maids: good fortune.
- Line 2六二
If you leave behind what doesn't serve you and hold fast to what is fair and right, you'll reach your goals in the end.
Bound with the hide of a yellow ox: no one can work it loose.
- Line 1初六
In hard times, when retreat can't be avoided, you'll suffer losses if you don't pull back quickly and actively and still hope to get something out of that road.
Retreating at the tail. Danger. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Leaving Behind turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 1Activitylines 1 and 2
- 25Innocencelines 1 and 3
- 6Conflictlines 2 and 3
- 37The Tribelines 1 and 4
- 57Gentlenesslines 2 and 4
- 20Observinglines 3 and 4
- 30The Flamelines 1 and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2 and 5
- 35Advancelines 3 and 5
- 52Abidinglines 4 and 5
- 49Renewallines 1 and 6
- 28Excesseslines 2 and 6
- 45Meetinglines 3 and 6
- 39Held Backlines 4 and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, and 3
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 4
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 4
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 4, and 5
- 23The Falllines 3, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 3, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 4, and 6
- 8Unionlines 3, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 5, and 6
- 16Passionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 51Shocklines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
遯：亨。小利貞。
象曰：天下有山，遯；君子以遠小人，不惡而嚴。
初六：遯尾，厲，勿用有攸往。
六二：執之用黃牛之革，莫之勝說。
九三：係遯，有疾厲，畜臣妾吉。
九四：好遯君子吉，小人否。
九五：嘉遯，貞吉。
上九：肥遯，无不利。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.