䷌ Fellowship with Men tóng rén
Core Meaning
The hexagram T'ung Jen (Fellowship with Men) emphasizes unity among people and finding common ground while respecting differences. The key lies in 'fellowship with men in the open country', meaning forming alliances openly and honorably in an expansive setting, rather than forming 'fellowship with men in the clan' creating small cliques. The superior man must 'organize the clans and make distinctions between things', differentiating categories but maintaining broad unity, only then can he 'facilitate the will of all under heaven'.
The Judgment
Fellowship with men in the open country. Success. It furthers one to cross the great water. It furthers the perseverance of the superior man.
Interpretation:
The Hexagram of Fellowship with Men symbolizes uniting the multitude. Uniting people in the vast open country leads to success. It is beneficial to cross great rivers and beneficial for the superior man to maintain integrity.
The Image
Heaven together with fire, the image of Fellowship with Men (T'ung Jen). Thus the superior man organizes the clans and makes distinctions between things.
Structure
Heaven is above, Fire is below. Heaven and Fire are together. Li (Fire) represents brightness and civilization. Qian (Heaven) represents strength and the way of heaven. It symbolizes openly and honorably uniting the multitude.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial nine: Fellowship with men at the gate. No blame.
Six in the second place: Fellowship with men in the clan. Humiliation.
Nine in the third place: He hides his weapons in the thickets; He climbs the high hill. For three years he does not rise.
Nine in the fourth place: He climbs on his wall; he cannot attack. Good fortune.
Nine in the fifth place: Fellowship with men. First he cries and weeps, then he laughs. After great struggles, they succeed in meeting.
Top nine: Fellowship with men in the open country. No remorse.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
Suitable for building broad alliances and team collaboration. 'Fellowship with men at the gate' indicates the need for openness and inclusivity from the start. However, avoid 'fellowship with men in the clan' (forming small groups). 'He hides his weapons in the thickets' reminds one to have strategic patience and not rush for success. The nine in the fifth place, 'first he cries and weeps, then he laughs', implies achieving success after overcoming difficulties.
❤️ Relationships
Emphasizes openness and inclusivity. 'Fellowship with men in the open country' indicates having a broad mind and not being confined to small circles. 'Fellowship with men in the clan' (uniting only within the family) has too narrow a scope. One must, like 'organizing the clans and making distinctions between things', acknowledge differences but seek broad common ground. Such relationships can last.
🎯 Decision Making
Currently suitable for extensive cooperation and alliance building. 'It furthers one to cross the great water' suggests that unity can overcome difficulties. However, be wary of the narrowness of 'fellowship with men in the clan'. 'For three years he does not rise' reminds that some matters require long-term preparation. 'He climbs on his wall; he cannot attack' indicates that one should retreat when necessary and not force an attack.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest danger is forming factions. 'Fellowship with men in the clan' (forming small cliques) will bring trouble. One should 'fellowship with men in the open country' (be open and honorable) rather than secretly forming parties. If 'he hides his weapons in the thickets' for selfish motives rather than justice, it will inevitably fail.
Applicable Scenarios
The Fellowship with Men hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
Liu Bei 'fellowshipped with men in the open country', recruiting talented individuals regardless of their origin or status. Though Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang, and others came from diverse backgrounds, they united for a common ideal. This exemplifies 'the superior man organizes the clans and makes distinctions between things', acknowledging differences but seeking broad common ground. On the other hand, while Cao Cao's side was strong, it was riddled with internal factions, forming 'fellowship with men in the clan' (small cliques), ultimately making it difficult to truly unify the realm. This confirms the wisdom of 'Fellowship with men in the open country leads to success; fellowship with men in the clan brings humiliation'.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Fellowship with Men hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: