Tun / Retreat
above: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
below: K^ en Keeping Still, Mountain
Thun indicates successful progress (in its circumstances).
To a small extent it will (still) be advantageous to be firm
and correct.
Overall Meaning
Retreat, the symbol of regression
Thun is the hexagram of the sixth month; the yin influence is represented by two weak lines, and has made good its footing in the year. The figure thus suggested to King Wan the growth of small and unprincipled men in the state, before whose advance superior men were obliged to retire. This is the theme of his essay, - how, 'when small men multiply and increase in power, the necessity of time requires superior men to withdraw before them.' Yet the auspice of Thun is not all bad. By firm correctness the threatened evil may be arrested to a small extent.