Hexagram 13 Tóng Rén (同人): Fellowship, Meaning and Six Lines
Thirteenth hexagram of the I Ching: Fire beneath Heaven, open fellowship. Judgement, six lines, moving lines and a careful reading of the hexagram of Fellowship.
Key points
| Number | 13 of 64 (King Wen order) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 同人 (Tóng Rén) |
| Approximate pronunciation | tohng ren |
| Name (French tradition followed here) | Tong Ren, Fellowship |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Li, Fire |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Qian, Heaven |
| Lines, from bottom to top | yang / yin / yang / yang / yang / yang |
| Twin hexagram | No. 14, Da You, Possession of Great Things |
Hexagram 13: Tóng Rén (同人), name and composition
Hexagram 13 is called “Fellowship” or “Union with Men”; literally, “the same people”. It speaks of what allows people who are different to recognise one another and act together.
Hexagram no. 13 is written 同人 and transliterated Tóng Rén in pinyin; it is pronounced approximately “tohng ren”. It is made of two trigrams stacked one above the other: below, inside, Li (Fire); above, outside, Qian (Heaven). The overall image is therefore Heaven above Fire.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yang (solid), yin (broken), yang (solid), yang (solid), yang (solid), yang (solid). In King Wen’s order it forms a pair with hexagram 14 (Da You, Possession of Great Things), which is the same figure turned upside down.
The judgement in brief
The judgement places the meeting in an open place, the plain: one gathers in broad daylight, not within a closed circle. Success is announced; crossing the great river is favourable, and so is the perseverance of a person of worth.
General meaning
Fire is beneath Heaven: the flame rises towards the sky, a common light and horizon. A single yin line, the second, lies at the centre among yang lines: everyone gathers around a central line that agrees with them. The hexagram distinguishes open fellowship, founded on a shared aim, from the clique, founded on narrow interests. The second line reminds us that shutting oneself into one’s clan is petty.
Fellowship is built on transparency and perseverance. It asks us to identify what draws people together, such as a project or a value, more than what sets them apart. It does not erase differences; it brings them into order.
The six lines, one by one
The lines are counted from bottom to top. Here, summarised in our own words, is the image the ancient text attaches to each one; the last column gives the hexagram obtained if that line alone is moving.
| Line | Nature | Summarised image | If it is moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yang (solid) | Gathering at the gate: at the start, everyone is welcomed; no fault. | No. 33 (Dun) |
| 2 | yin (broken) | Gathering by clan, among close kin: narrowness and regret. | No. 1 (Qian) |
| 3 | yang (solid) | Hiding weapons in the undergrowth and holding a hill: mistrust lasts, and for three years one cannot rise again. | No. 25 (Wu Wang) |
| 4 | yang (solid) | Climbing the rampart without managing to attack: one gives it up, a good sign. | No. 37 (Jia Ren) |
| 5 | yang (solid) | First one cries and weeps, then one laughs: after trials, one ends up reunited. | No. 30 (Li) |
| 6 | yang (solid) | Uniting at the edge, on the outskirts: no regret, but the union remains shallow. | No. 49 (Ge) |
The moving lines
A moving line is a line that the casting marks as unstable: one reads its own text, then it turns into its opposite, which gives a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. A moving yang line is called “nine”, a moving yin line “six”. Without a moving line, one keeps to the general judgement.
For Tong Ren, a moving line describes the state of the fellowship: a broad welcome, a withdrawal into one’s clan, lasting mistrust, a renunciation of aggression, a reunion after trial, or a union that is only on the surface.
A modern reading, with caution
Today, Tong Ren is often read in connection with associations, collectives, colleagues or blended families. A careful reading takes from it one question: is the group open, or does it shrink to a circle of intimates? It invites you to clarify a shared aim rather than to rely on good feeling. The hexagram does not say whether a group will last.
Questions for reflection
- Does our group rest on a shared aim, or only on habits?
- Who has stayed at the gate, without our having wanted it?
- What mistrust are we maintaining, like the hidden weapons of the third line?
- What would I gain by opening up to people who are different from me?
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing an open fellowship with a circle of friends.
- Maintaining long-lasting mistrust.
- Seeking unanimity rather than agreement on a common aim.
- Settling for a union that is only on the surface.
Names, translations and a reminder
The name “Tong Ren, Fellowship” follows one tradition of translation among others. Other translations speak of Fraternity, Union with Men or Camaraderie; the character 同 means “similar, together”. Compare two translations if you can.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, consulted as a tool for reflection, never as a prediction; it does not replace medical, legal, financial or safety advice. This page summarises the text in our own words.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 13 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of open fellowship: people who differ come together around a shared aim, in broad daylight, without withdrawing into a clan.
What is the difference between Tong Ren and Bi (hexagram 8)?
Bi speaks of people attaching themselves to a leader. Tong Ren speaks of what draws together people from different backgrounds on a shared project.
Why does the text speak of the plain?
The plain is an open place, without walls. It illustrates a transparent meeting, as opposed to keeping to oneself.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 13?
Li (Fire) below, inside, and Qian (Heaven) above, outside.
What is the twin hexagram of number 13?
Number 14, Da You, Possession of Great Things: in King Wen’s order hexagrams come in pairs, the second being the same figure turned upside down.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.