Hexagram 13 of 64 · King Wen order
同人Fellowship with Men
Tóng Rén · ䷌ · above: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián · below: Fire ☲ 離 Lí
Focuses on universal brotherhood and collaboration based on shared goals and openness.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
同人于野，亨。利涉大川，利君子貞。
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.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. In Thung Zan the weak (line) has the place (of influence), the central place, and responds to (the corresponding line in) Khien (above); hence comes its name of Thung Zan (or 'Union of men').
2. Thung Zan says:—
3. The language, 'Thung Zan appears here (as we find it) in (the remote districts of) the country, indicating progress and success, and that it will be advantageous to cross the great stream,' is moulded by its containing the strength (symbolled) in Khien. (Then) we have (the trigram indicating) elegance and intelligence, supported by (that indicating) strength; with the line in the central, and its correct, position, and responding (to the corresponding line above):—(all representing) the correct course of the superior man. It is only the superior man who can comprehend and affect the minds of all under the sky.
The Image 象
天與火，同人；君子以類族辨物。
(The trigrams for) heaven and fire form Thung Zăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, distinguishes things according to their kinds and classes.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
同人于門，無咎。
The first NINE, undivided, (shows the representative of) the union of men just issuing from his gate. There will be no error.
Small Image: '(The representative of) the union of men is just issuing from his gate:'—who will blame him?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 33, Retreat.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
同人于宗，吝。
The second SIX, divided, (shows the representative of) the union of men in relation with his kindred. There will be occasion for regret.
Small Image: '(The representative of) the union of men appears in relation with his kindred:'—that is the path to regret.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 1, The Creative.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
伏戎于莽，升其高陵，三歲不興。
The third NINE, undivided, (shows its subject) with his arms hidden in the thick grass, and at the top of a high mound. (But) for three years he makes no demonstration.
Small Image: 'He hides his arms in the thick grass:'—because of the strength of his opponent. 'For three years he makes no demonstration:'—how can he do anything?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 25, Innocence.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
乘其墉，弗克攻，吉。
The fourth NINE, undivided, (shows its subject) mounted on the city wall; but he does not proceed to make the attack (he contemplates). There will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'He is mounted on his city-wall;' but yielding to the right, 'he does not proceed to make the attack (he contemplated).' (Where it is said),'There will be good fortune,' (that shows how) he feels the strait he is in, and returns to the rule of law.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 37, The Family.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
同人，先號咷而後笑。大師克相遇。
In the fifth NINE, undivided, (the representative of) the union of men first wails and cries out, and then laughs. His great host conquers, and he (and the subject of the second line) meet together.
Small Image: The first action of (the representative of) the union of men (here described) arises from his central position and straightforward character. 'The meeting secured by his great host' intimates that the opponents of it have been overcome.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 30, The Clinging, Fire.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
同人于郊，無悔。
The topmost NINE, undivided, (shows the representative of) the union of men in the suburbs. There will be no occasion for repentance.
Small Image: '(The representative of) the union of men appears in the suburbs:'—his object has not yet been attained.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 49, Revolution.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦7. The Army 師
every line changedInverse 綜卦14. Possession in Great Measure 大有
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.