同人 Tóng rén Companionship (Seeking harmony) [hexagram 13]
Heaven over Fire
Metal element
Lunar month: 7 ; Host (controlling) line : 2
The Descision
Companionship out in the wilds brings progress. A great journey is advantageous. It is wise to be steadfast.
‘Companionship out in the wilds brings progress. A great journey is advantageous’ – comes from strength at its beginning. Ingenuity supported by strength is the wise course. Only the wise can express the will of heaven.
同人于野, 亨. 利涉大川, 利君子贞. Tóng rén yú yě, hēng. lì shè dà chuān, lì jūn zǐ zhēn.
彖传: 同人, 柔得位得中, 而应乎乾, 曰同人. 同人曰, 同人于野, 亨. 利涉大川, 乾行也. 文明以健, 中正而应, 君子正也. 唯君子为能通天下之志. Tuàn zhuàn: Tóng rén, róu dé wèi dé zhòng, ér yìng hū qián, yuētóng rén. tóng rén yuē, Tóng rén yú yě, hēng. Lì shè dà chuān, qián xíng yě. Wén míng yǐ jiàn, zhōng zhèng ér yìng, jūn zǐ zhèng yě. Wéi jūn zǐ wéi néng tōng tiān xià zhī zhì.
The Image
Heaven and fire signify companionship. It is wise to distinguish things by type and category.
象传: 天与火, 同人; 君子以类族辨物. Xiàng zhuàn: Tiān yǔ huǒ, tóng rén; jūn zǐ yǐ lèi zú biàn wù.
Companionship at the gate. All is well.
‘Companionship at the gate’ – who can disapprove of this?
初九: 同人于门, 无咎. Chū jiǔ: tóng rén yú mén, wú jiù.
象传: 出门同人, 又谁咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Chū mén tóng rén, yòu shéi jiù yě.
Companionship only within the family. There will be cause for regret.
‘Companionship only within the family’ – an unwise course.
六二: 同人于宗, 吝. Liù èr: tóng rén yú zōng, lìn.
象传: 同人于宗, 吝道也. Xiàng zhuàn: Tóng rén yú zōng, lìn dào yě.
Hiding weapons in the long grass and climbing the hill. Three years of inaction.
‘Hiding weapons in the long grass’ – the opponent is too strong to challenge. ‘Three years of inaction’ – there is no alternative.
九三: 伏戎于莽, 升其高陵, 三岁不兴. Jiǔ sān: fú róng yú mǎng, shēng qí gāo líng, sān suì bù xīng.
象传: 伏戎于莽, 敌刚也. 三岁不兴, 安行也. Xiàng zhuàn: Fú róng yú mǎng, dí gāng yě. sān suì bù xīng, ān xíng yě.
Ascending the battlements but unable to attack; all goes well.
‘Ascending the battlements’ – yet yielding; ‘but unable to attack’ – aware of the predicament.
九四: 乘其墉, 弗克攻, 吉. Jiǔ sì: chéng qí yōng, fú kè gōng, jí.
象传: 乘其墉, 义弗克也, 其吉, 则困而反则也. Xiàng zhuàn: Chéng qí yōng, yì fú kè yě, qí jí, zé kùn ér fǎn zé yě.
Companionship starts with sorrow but ends in laughter. Only by gathering all with common purpose can all succeed.
Companionship engenders a centered and candid view. ‘Only by gathering all with common purpose’ – opponents will be overcome.
九五: 同人, 先号啕而后笑. 大师克相遇. Jiǔ wǔ: tóng rén, xiān háo táo ér hòu xiào. dà shī kè xiāng yù.
象传: 同人之先, 以中直也. 大师相遇, 言相克也. Xiàng zhuàn: Tóng rén zhī xiān, yǐ zhōng zhí yě. dà shī xiāng yù, yán xiāng kè yě.
Companionship in the countryside. No regrets.
‘Companionship in the countryside’ – the goal has yet to be achieved.
上九: 同人于郊, 无悔. Shàng jiǔ: tóng rén yú jiāo, wú huǐ.
象传: 同人于郊, 志未得也. Xiàng zhuàn: Tóng rén yú jiāo, zhì wèi dé yě.
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