Hexagram 13
同人 Tóng Rén · Fellowship
Legge: Thung Zan
☰ Heaven (Qián) above ☲ Fire (Lí)
Scryway summary
Modern commentary written for Scryway. Not part of the classic text.
Common cause with others, in the open. Look past factions to what is truly shared.
The judgment
Thung Zan (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.
The image
(The trigrams for) heaven and fire form Thung Zan. The superior man, in accordance with this, distinguishes things according to their kinds and classes.
The lines, bottom to top
- Bottom line, solid
The first line, undivided, (shows the representative of) the union of men just issuing from his gate. There will be no error.
- Second line, broken
The second line, divided, (shows the representative of) the union of men in relation with his kindred. There will be occasion for regret.
- Third line, solid
The third line, 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.
- Fourth line, solid
The fourth line, 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.
- Fifth line, solid
In the fifth line, 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.
- Top line, solid
The topmost line, undivided, (shows the representative of) the union of men in the suburbs. There will be no occasion for repentance.
Quoted from James Legge (trans.), The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1882. Public domain. The image is from Legge’s Appendix II. Words in parentheses are Legge’s additions.