げきたい

voluntary demotion

If the most experienced member of the 6th rank of the Chamberlain's Office (government positions outside the ritsuyo code working directly under the emperor) could not move to the 5th rank due to a lack of openings, they could voluntarily return to the bottom level of the 6th rank to continue working within the office A metaphor invoking the usually strong shorebird鷁 being blown back退 by the wind . ≒逆退