天山遁
退避保身，知进知退
The Judgment
Retreat: success. In small matters, perseverance brings reward.
The hexagram of Retreat speaks of withdrawing and stepping aside. When one yields at the right moment, the way stays open; holding to what is right in small things proves advantageous. When the times turn against you, a decisive retreat that preserves your strength is the wiser course.
天下有山，遁。君子以远小人，不恶而严。
遁亨，遁而亨也。刚当位而应，与时行也。小利贞，浸而长也。遁之时义大矣哉！
Interpretation(original text)
遁，退也。《序卦》曰：「物不可以久居其所，故受之以遁。」遁卦上乾为天，下艮为山，天高山止，阳气上升而远遁，故名遁。遁非消极逃避，乃君子审时度势、明哲保身之道，退而蓄势，义在不与小人正面相争。
上乾天，下艮山。天体运行于上而不可及，山巍峨耸立而止于下，天远山阻，有退避隐遁之象。程颐释曰：「天在上，有远去之象；山在下，有止而不进之象。」阳刚在上而阴柔渐长，二阴浸入卦体，小人势力渐增，君子当知进退之机。
初六、六二为阴爻，居下而渐长，象征小人势力方兴未艾。九三至上九四阳连贯，阳刚之气仍盛但已受侵蚀。九五居尊得正，为卦之主爻，与六二正应，能以中正之德从容退隐。王弼注曰：「五以正应而嘉遁，乃退之至美者也。」
遁继恒卦之后，恒为久守不变，物不可久居，故当退避。遁与大壮互为综卦，遁退则大壮进，阴阳消长、进退互根。《杂卦》云：「遁则退也。」遁大壮一退一进，合为一组，体现阴阳盈缩之理。
The Lines
At the tail of the retreat: danger. It does not further one to undertake anything.
To lag behind at the very tail of a withdrawal is perilous; this is no moment to press forward. Better to hold still and wait it out.
Image: 遁尾之厉，不往何灾也。
初六处遁卦之始，居最下位，退避时落在最后如同尾巴，故曰「遁尾，厉」。阴爻居阳位，不中不正，且无正应。朱熹谓：「在遁之后，危之道也。」此时宜静守不动，切勿轻举妄动，否则有凶险。
He is bound fast with the hide of a yellow ox; none can loosen the hold.
Held as though tied with tough yellow oxhide, so firmly that no one can break free, an image of a will so resolute it cannot be shaken.
Image: 执用黄牛，固志也。
六二以阴居阴位，得中得正，上与九五正应。「执用黄牛之革」喻其意志坚固、不可动摇。程颐解曰：「二五正应，志在从五，其守坚如黄牛之革。」黄为中色，牛为顺物，以中顺之德固守其志，虽当遁时而能安处不移。
A retreat that is held back: there is sickness and danger. To keep servants and maids brings good fortune.
A withdrawal snagged and entangled brings illness and hazard; yet tending to those close at hand, one's household and dependents, turns out well.
Image: 系遁之厉，有疾惫也。畜臣妾吉，不可大事也。
九三以阳居阳位得正，然处下卦之极，与初六、六二两阴相比而系累。「系遁」谓退避时被牵绊，有疾厉之忧。王弼注：「系于所在，不能远遁。」然畜臣妾则吉，盖能安于小事而不图大举，知所退守，亦为明智。
A willing retreat. For the superior man, good fortune; the small man cannot manage it.
To step back gracefully and without regret is something the noble-minded do to their benefit, while the petty-minded cannot bring themselves to it. Knowing when to let go is the mark of wisdom.
Image: 君子好遁，小人否也。
九四以阳居阴位，不当位而有柔和之质。与初六正应，然能割舍情缘从容退隐，故曰「好遁」。君子能好之，小人不能也。程颐曰：「好者，美也、善也。能好而遁，是贤达之君子。」此爻体现退隐的自觉与从容。
An admirable retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.
A withdrawal so well timed that it earns praise; holding to the right course brings good fortune. To retreat just as the moment ripens is the highest art.
Image: 嘉遁贞吉，以正志也。
九五居尊位，以阳居阳，中正之至。与六二正应，退隐得宜，众皆嘉美，故曰「嘉遁贞吉」。朱熹释曰：「阳刚中正，下应六二，遁而正志，遁之嘉美者也。」五爻为全卦之主，代表退隐的最高境界——从容有度、正道自持。
A serene and ample retreat. Nothing that does not further.
To withdraw completely, free of ties and burdens, so that nothing stands in the way. Only by letting go entirely can one come away whole.
Image: 肥遁无不利，无所疑也。
上九居卦之极，阳刚充实，遁而远去，了无牵挂，故曰「肥遁无不利」。程颐谓：「在外而无应于内，超然远遁，无所系累，遁之最远者，故曰肥遁。」「肥」取宽裕无碍之意。彻底放下、全身而退，乃遁道之完成。
Divination Reference(original text)
大势不利时应果断减仓离场，保全本金比逆势操作重要得多，宜转入防御性资产。
形势不利时主动退让、韬光养晦，保存实力以待时机，切勿强撑硬上。
感情中遇到难以调和的矛盾时，适当保持距离反而有利于关系修复。
身心疲惫时应退而休养，减少社交应酬，给自己充分的恢复空间。
Traditional Reading(original text)
遁卦代表退避隐遁之象。当前形势不利，小人势力渐长，宜主动退让、韬光养晦，保全实力以待转机。退避并非懦弱，而是智者的抉择。
事业上应审时度势，若遇到小人阻碍或大环境不利，不宜硬拼，应以退为进，积蓄力量等待时机。可考虑转换赛道或暂时蛰伏。
商业活动中应保守经营，减少冒险投资。若合作伙伴不可靠或市场环境恶化，应果断收缩战线，保全资本为上。
学业或名声方面，不宜急于求成。宜独处静修、潜心钻研，暂时远离纷争是非，厚积薄发。
感情方面可能遇到阻碍或第三者干扰。若对方态度暧昧，宜保持距离冷静观察，切勿纠缠不休。
面对重大抉择时，退一步海阔天空。不要因为面子或短期利益而勉强坚持，果断撤退往往是最明智的选择。
School Interpretations(original text)
遁者退也。阴渐长而阳渐消，小人得势而君子退避。识时务者为俊杰，退而保身，方为上策。
此卦天在上、山在下，天高远而山阻隔，有隐遁退避之象。阴气渐长，小人势力增大，君子应审时度势、主动引退。凡事不可强为，以退为进方能保全。得此卦者，运势不佳，诸事不顺，宜退守忍让，伺机而动。
运势衰退，宜守不宜攻，暂避风头。
保守理财，减少投入，勿贪高利。
家宅有迁移之象，远离是非之地为佳。
注意脾胃及筋骨之疾，静养为宜。