I Ching Reading

Hexagram 13: Fellowship

同人 · Tóng Rén · Heaven over Fire

communitycooperationopennessshared goals

Fellowship (同人, Tóng Rén) is hexagram 13 of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, in the traditional King Wen order. It is made of Heaven (☰) above Fire (☲).

Meaning of hexagram 13

People unite around a common purpose beyond narrow interests. Success comes from working in the open with those who share your aim.

Advice

Reach out, drop your cliques, and build on what you have in common.

The two trigrams

Fellowship places ☰ Heaven (Qián), strong, creative and persistent, above ☲ Fire (Lí), bright, clinging and clear. The lower trigram is the inner side of the situation and the upper one its outer side.

Hexagram
13. Fellowship
Chinese name
同人 Tóng Rén
Upper trigram
☰ Heaven (Qián)
Lower trigram
☲ Fire (Lí)
Lines
5 yang (solid) and 1 yin (broken)
Place in the sequence
13 of 64 (King Wen order)

The six lines of Fellowship

A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. In a reading, a changing line (a 6 or a 9 in the three-coin method) draws attention to its position.

  1. First line (yang, solid): the beginning. The root of the matter: early stirrings, foundations, and what has not yet shown itself.
  2. Second line (yin, broken): the inner circle. Your immediate surroundings and steady supports: how things work at close range.
  3. Third line (yang, solid): the threshold. A point of tension between inner and outer, often a test or a restless push forward.
  4. Fourth line (yang, solid): the approach. Stepping into wider circles or nearer to authority; caution and good relationships matter here.
  5. Fifth line (yang, solid): the center of power. The place of influence and clear leadership: where the situation is most fully expressed.
  6. Sixth line (yang, solid): the culmination. The far edge of the situation: completion, overreach, or letting go.

Related hexagrams