Hexagram 13: Fellowship
Community, brotherhood
| Chinese | 同人 (Tóng Rén) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☰ Heaven — The Creative (Metal) |
| Lower trigram | ☲ Fire — The Clinging (Fire) |
| Keywords | fellowship, community, cooperation, openness |
| Opposite | Hexagram 7: The Army |
| Inverted | Hexagram 14: Great Possession |
What does Hexagram 13 (Fellowship) mean?
Fellowship 同人 (Tóng Rén) is hexagram 13 of the I Ching, formed by Heaven (The Creative) over Fire (The Clinging). Its theme is community, brotherhood, with key ideas of fellowship, community, cooperation, openness. The Judgment reads: “Fellowship with Men in the open. Success.”
The Judgment of Fellowship
Fellowship with Men in the open. Success.
The Image of Fellowship
Heaven together with fire.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 13
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“Fellowship with men at the gate. No blame.”
Open, inclusive fellowship from the very start sets the right tone. No hidden agendas at the threshold.
Six in the second place
“Fellowship with men in the clan. Humiliation.”
Restricting fellowship to one's own group is a form of exclusion that ultimately brings embarrassment and limits.
Nine in the third place
“He hides weapons in the thicket; he climbs the high hill in front of it. For three years he does not rise up.”
Distrust leads to a defensive, secretive posture that accomplishes nothing. Hidden aggression prolongs isolation.
Nine in the fourth place
“He climbs up on his wall; he cannot attack. Good fortune.”
Recognising that attack is impossible or wrong, one holds back. Restraint at the height of tension is itself good fortune.
Nine in the fifth place
“Men bound in fellowship first weep and lament, but afterward they laugh. After great struggles they succeed in meeting.”
Genuine fellowship is forged through shared difficulty. Tears precede laughter; perseverance through hardship creates the deepest bonds.
Nine at the top
“Fellowship with men in the meadow. No remorse.”
Fellowship that extends beyond close circles to the wider world is complete, even if less intimate. No regret remains.
Will Fellowship answer your question?
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