tóng rénAlso known as “Fellowship with Men” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Thung Zăn” (Legge)
fellowshipcommunityshared purpose
In plain words
Fire rising to heaven: people gathering in the open field. Fellowship succeeds when it is public and principled rather than clannish, and it makes great undertakings possible.
The attitude it asks for
Unite around shared aims rather than factions; openness makes the great river crossable.
Structure
Upper trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Thung Zăn (or 'Union of men') appears here (as we find it) in the (remote districts of the) country, indicating progress and success. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to maintain the firm correctness of the superior man.
In Thung Zăn the weak (line) has the place (of influence), the central place, and responds to (the corresponding line in) Khien (above); hence comes its name of Thung Zăn (or 'Union of men').
Thung Zăn says:—
The language, 'Thung Zăn appears here (as we find it) in (the remote districts of) the country, indicating progress and success, and that it will be advantageous to cross the great stream,' is moulded by its containing the strength (symbolled) in Khien. (Then) we have (the trigram indicating) elegance and intelligence, supported by (that indicating) strength; with the line in the central, and its correct, position, and responding (to the corresponding line above):—(all representing) the correct course of the superior man. It is only the superior man who can comprehend and affect the minds of all under the sky.
The Image
天與火，同人；君子以類族辨物。
(The trigrams for) heaven and fire form Thung Zăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, distinguishes things according to their kinds and classes.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
同人于郊，无悔。
The topmost line, undivided, (shows the representative of) the union of men in the suburbs. There will be no occasion for repentance.
Its symbolism
同人于郊，志未得也。
'(The representative of) the union of men appears in the suburbs:'—his object has not yet been attained.
In the fifth line, undivided, (the representative of) the union of men first wails and cries out, and then laughs. His great host conquers, and he (and the subject of the second line) meet together.
Its symbolism
同人之先，以中直也。大師相遇，言相克也。
The first action of (the representative of) the union of men (here described) arises from his central position and straightforward character. 'The meeting secured by his great host' intimates that the opponents of it have been overcome.
The fourth line, undivided, (shows its subject) mounted on the city wall; but he does not proceed to make the attack (he contemplates). There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
乘其墉，義弗克也，其吉，則困而反則也。
'He is mounted on his city-wall;' but yielding to the right, 'he does not proceed to make the attack (he contemplated).' (Where it is said), 'There will be good fortune,' (that shows how) he feels the strait he is in, and returns to the rule of law.
The third line, undivided, (shows its subject) with his arms hidden in the thick grass, and at the top of a high mound. (But) for three years he makes no demonstration.
Its symbolism
伏戎于莽，敵剛也。三歲不興，安行也。
'He hides his arms in the thick grass:'—because of the strength of his opponent. 'For three years he makes no demonstration:'—how can he do anything?
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 13, People United, mean?
Fire rising to heaven: people gathering in the open field. Fellowship succeeds when it is public and principled rather than clannish, and it makes great undertakings possible.
Which trigrams form People United?
乾 above 離 — heaven over fire. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 姤 Encounter.
What happens when a line of People United changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get People United in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - — — — — is People United. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.