Original Line Text
九二：不克讼，归而逋，其邑人三百户，无眚
Jiu Er: Failure in litigation; retreat and withdraw. Your community of three hundred households will remain unharmed.
Interpretation
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“Failure in litigation” (不克讼)
- Core Meaning: Losing a legal dispute or confrontation, failing to achieve desired outcomes.
- Symbolic Basis: As a yang line (阳爻) in a yin position (阴位), Jiu Er symbolizes misplaced rigidity. Its clash with the fifth line (九五, also yang) reflects an imbalance of power—fighting a stronger opponent guarantees defeat.
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“Retreat and withdraw” (归而逋)
- Manifestations: Strategic retreat after defeat, avoiding direct confrontation (e.g., laying low, preserving resources).
- Underlying Logic: The lower trigram Kan (坎, water) signifies danger. Jiu Er’s position within Kan warns: “Recognize peril and withdraw to survive.”
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“Your community… will remain unharmed” (其邑人三百户，无眚)
- Outcome: Timely concession protects oneself and affiliated groups (family, team, community) from collateral damage.
- Modern Application: In business or workplace conflicts, partial compromises prevent greater losses (e.g., reputation, resources).
Practical Wisdom
- Conflict Management:
- Strategic Retreat: When overpowered (e.g., by authority or resources), avoid futile resistance. Example: Tian Ji’s horse-racing strategy (战国田忌赛马)—sacrificing minor battles to win the war.
- Group Preservation: Prioritize collective safety over personal pride. Retreat not only saves oneself but also shields dependents.
- Communication Strategy:
- Damage Control: Minimize public defenses after defeat to curb reputational harm.
- Silent Resilience: Focus on regrouping rather than justifying losses.
Hexagram Context
- Hexagram Symbolism: Song (天水讼) combines heaven (乾, rigidity) above water (坎, danger), reflecting tension between strength and peril. Jiu Er embodies survival wisdom in asymmetric conflicts.
- Line Position:
- Misplaced Authority: As a middle line in a lower position, it mirrors the dilemma of “subordinates challenging superiors”—a structurally doomed struggle.
- Connection to Line 1: Line 1 (初六) advises early conflict avoidance (“do not prolong disputes”), which could prevent Jiu Er’s forced retreat.
Guidance for Action
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Retreat strategically after defeat Protect affiliated groups |
Stubbornly appealing Dragging others into conflict |
| Accept temporary failure Adapt to circumstances |
Aggressive retaliation Wishful thinking |
Note: This line aligns with the Tao Te Ching’s teaching: “Yield to survive; bend to straighten” (曲则全，枉则直). It emphasizes flexibility as a lifeline in weakness.