Retreat — 二九

The Line

Interpretation

Yellow is the color of the middle. It points to the correct, the dutiful. The leather of an ox is firm and untearable. While the noble retreat and the lowly press after, here is depicted a lowly one who holds so firmly and tenaciously to the noble that they cannot free themselves from him. And because he wills what is right and is so strong in his will, he reaches his goal. In this way the line confirms the words of the Judgment: "In small matters" (here as much as: for the petty man) "perseverance is favorable."