Hexagram 33 of 64 · Heaven ☰ over Mountain ☶
Retreat
Dùn
Retreat with dignity — the strong person stepping back at the right moment, so that strength is preserved.
The Judgment
Retreat: success. In what is small, perseverance furthers. Withdrawal done correctly and in time is not defeat — it is the condition for a later advance.
The Image
Mountain under heaven: the mountain rises but heaven recedes above it, out of reach. The wise person keeps the inferior at a distance — not angrily, but with reserve — so that the hostile force cannot come close.
Hexagram 33 Meaning
Two yin lines have entered from below and are rising; the four yang lines above are withdrawing. This is the strategic retreat — not the panicked flight, but the orderly stepping back of someone who sees the season turning against them and moves before they are forced to. The hexagram promises success through it. The dark is rising; you do not fight it now, you make distance. And you do it with dignity, without bitterness, keeping your strength intact.
Retreat in Love
Step back. Something in the relationship — a person, a pattern, a demand — is rising against you and the wise response is distance rather than confrontation. That might mean a pause, a boundary, or leaving. The hexagram emphasises the manner: retreat gracefully, without hostility, without slamming doors. If you are asking whether to pursue someone, this is not the time. If asking whether to stay, the answer leans toward creating space.
Retreat in Career & Money
Withdraw before you are pushed. A role, a project, a company culture is turning against you; the hexagram favours leaving on your own terms, early, with your reputation and energy preserved. Keep the difficult people at arm’s length rather than fighting them. Retreat is not surrender — the four yang lines are still strong. It is repositioning for the next season.
What to Do
Recognise the turn and withdraw in good order. Keep distance from what is hostile; do not engage it. Preserve your strength and your dignity. The advance comes later.
Retreat as a Yes or No
no
No — the moment calls for withdrawal, not advance; step back and preserve what you have.
The Trigrams
Above: Heaven (乾 Qián) — the creative — strength, initiative, the father.
Below: Mountain (艮 Gèn) — keeping still — stillness, boundary, the youngest son.
The Six Lines of Retreat
Read when the line is moving (a 6 or 9 in the cast). Bottom line first.
- 1
Line 1 · yin
At the tail in retreat, this is dangerous — one must not wish to undertake anything: you are last to leave and exposed; do nothing.
- 2
Line 2 · yin
He holds him fast with yellow oxhide, no one can tear him loose: a bond of loyalty that survives the retreat.
- 3
Line 3 · yang
A halted retreat is nerve-wracking and dangerous; to retain people as men- and maidservants brings good fortune: you cannot fully withdraw — keep only those you can manage.
- 4
Line 4 · yang
Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior person and downfall to the inferior: leaving by choice, without regret.
- 5
Line 5 · yang
Friendly retreat, perseverance brings good fortune: a courteous, well-timed withdrawal — success.
- 6
Line 6 · yang
Cheerful retreat, everything serves to further: leaving with a light heart, nothing holds you back.
Will Retreat Appear in Your Cast?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does hexagram 33, Retreat, mean?
Two yin lines have entered from below and are rising; the four yang lines above are withdrawing. This is the strategic retreat — not the panicked flight, but the orderly stepping back of someone who sees the season turning against them and moves before they are forced to. The hexagram promises success through it. The dark is rising; you do not fight it now, you make distance. And you do it with dignity, without bitterness, keeping your strength intact.
What does Retreat mean in love?
Step back. Something in the relationship — a person, a pattern, a demand — is rising against you and the wise response is distance rather than confrontation. That might mean a pause, a boundary, or leaving. The hexagram emphasises the manner: retreat gracefully, without hostility, without slamming doors. If you are asking whether to pursue someone, this is not the time. If asking whether to stay, the answer leans toward creating space.
What does Retreat mean for career and money?
Withdraw before you are pushed. A role, a project, a company culture is turning against you; the hexagram favours leaving on your own terms, early, with your reputation and energy preserved. Keep the difficult people at arm’s length rather than fighting them. Retreat is not surrender — the four yang lines are still strong. It is repositioning for the next season.
Is hexagram 33 a yes or a no?
Retreat answers "no". No — the moment calls for withdrawal, not advance; step back and preserve what you have.
Previous hexagram
32. Duration
endurance
Next hexagram
34. The Power of the Great
great strength
Last updated: August 30, 2026
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