Fellowship

Upper trigram: Heaven (strong, initiating) · Lower trigram: Fire (illuminating, clinging)

Judgment

Heaven above, fire below: the flame reaches toward the sky. This hexagram speaks of the value of friendship and shared purpose built out in the open, before everyone’s eyes. Not hidden private interests but an open common principle truly brings people together. Crossing a great river together becomes possible; the stance of the mature person is to look to what is just and right.

Image

Heaven together with fire: a bright union. The noble-minded sort people and things into groups, noting distinctions to find common ground.

Meaning of the six lines (bottom to top)

1. 1Line 1 (from the bottom)Fellowship at the gate. No private interest yet; an open and equal beginning leads to good results.
2. 2Line 2 (from the bottom)Fellowship only within your own clan. Closing off to a narrow circle may look like privilege but can lead to narrowing in the long run.
3. 3Line 3 (from the bottom)Weapons hidden in the thicket. Distrust and suspicion can hinder relationships for years.
4. 4Line 4 (from the bottom)Climbing the wall but not attacking. Giving up conflict and returning to agreement counts as good.
5. 5Line 5 (from the bottom)First weeping, then laughing: reunion after parting. True fellowship is tested by obstacles and grows stronger.
6. 6Line 6 (from the bottom)Fellowship in the meadow: not a narrow union but a broad, distant bond. No regret, yet no great aim is fully achieved.