Hexagram 13 · 同人 · Tóng Rén
Fellowship
- Element:
- Heaven over Fire
- Key themes:
- unity, cooperation, shared goals, harmony, collaboration
Image
Heaven above fire, symbolizing the warmth and light of fellowship and shared purpose.
Overall message
Hexagram 13 represents the importance of unity, cooperation, and shared goals. It emphasizes the need to build and maintain harmonious relationships, both within your inner circle and with external allies. Success comes from mutual support, shared goals, and working together towards a common purpose.
Foster unity and cooperation. Work together with others towards shared goals. Success comes from collaboration, mutual respect, and harmonious relationships.
Classical text (Legge, 1882)
Judgment. Thung Zăn (or 'Union of men') appears here (as we find it) in the (remote districts of the) country, indicating progress and success. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to maintain the firm correctness of the superior man.
Image. (The trigrams for) heaven and fire form Thung Zăn. The superior man, in accordance with this), distinguishes things according to their kinds and classes.
From James Legge's translation of the I Ching (Sacred Books of the East, vol. XVI, 1882). Public domain.
The six lines
Line 6 · Isolation
Isolating oneself from others leads to failure. Unity and cooperation are essential.
Avoid isolation. Stay connected and work collaboratively with others.
Line 5 · Strong Leadership
Strong and wise leadership is crucial for maintaining unity and harmony.
Lead with integrity and fairness. Ensure that your actions benefit the entire group.
Line 4 · External Support
Seek support from external allies. Broaden your network to include those who can offer valuable assistance.
Expand your alliances. Look for support beyond your immediate circle.
Line 3 · Conflict in Fellowship
Conflict may arise within the group. Address issues with honesty and fairness.
Resolve conflicts with integrity. Ensure that all voices are heard and respected.
Line 2 · Inner Circle
Strengthen your inner circle. Focus on building strong, reliable relationships.
Nurture your closest alliances. Ensure that your core group is solid and dependable.
Line 1 · Seeking Fellowship
The beginning of forming connections. Seek out those who share your values and goals.
Be open to forming new alliances. Look for trustworthy and like-minded individuals.
Related hexagrams
Opposite: If every line of this hexagram were inverted (yang to yin and vice versa), you would have Hexagram 7 · 师 · Shī. This is the hexagram's structural counterpart — the situation it could become if every dynamic flipped.
Nuclear: The hexagram hidden inside this one, built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5, is Hexagram 44 · 姤 · Gòu. The nuclear hexagram describes the inner pattern that produced this situation — what is going on underneath.
If only one line of this hexagram changed in your cast, you would arrive at:
- Line 1 changing → Hexagram 33 · 遯 · Dùn
- Line 2 changing → Hexagram 1 · 乾 · Qián
- Line 3 changing → Hexagram 25 · 无妄 · Wú Wàng
- Line 4 changing → Hexagram 37 · 家人 · Jiā Rén
- Line 5 changing → Hexagram 30 · 离 · Lí
- Line 6 changing → Hexagram 49 · 革 · Gé