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GUA 13 · TONG2 REN
FELLOWSHIP W/ OTHERS
Overall Image (大象)
Heaven accompanies flame
Fellowship with Others
The noble young one, according to kind and family,
distinguishes the beings▼
Overall Image (大象)
Heaven accompanies flame
Fellowship with Others
The noble young one, according to kind and family,
distinguishes the beings
In view of star-spattered heaven above, a flame rains its sparks into night, each spark
a star, adding its point of light. Around this, a constellation of wide-eyed hominids
perform their rites to the grand design. And the sage is found among them, fostering
the fellowship with analogies, distinguishing the beings by family and class, to draw
things together, not cut them apart. And yet he will keep all relevant scales in mind.
The fire does not enlighten the night, but the flame will make for a focus in common,
a unifying vision, a bonding experience and quite a little spectacle. So gathered here
we agree to disagree, exchange the best of our stories and songs, make our peace.
Main Judgment (Fellowship with Others) (卦辞)
Fellowship with Others
on the frontier
Fulfillment
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
And worth the noble young one’s persistence▼
Main Judgment (Fellowship with Others) (卦辞)
Fellowship with Others
on the frontier
Fulfillment
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
And worth the noble young one’s persistence
The little groups huddle together, at least well enough to find warmth and keep up
their courage and hope. In the midst of each circle, the radius point, is one thing held
in consensus, a thing believed in, an interest or goal, a line of descent or a niche in
the world. But the stars give humankind far too much room for agreement, no one
school of thought can possibly fill all the available space. Thus we push and branch
outwards and cover this sphere and peer into space from all different angles and the
oddest directions. And so the search for the greater world means going across the
great waters, across our cultural boundaries, across the ages of time, outside of our
niches and sometimes out of our minds. After ages of trials and wars, the clans start
to take steps towards consensus, overcoming our disparities by returning to our old
common grounds. But we share much fantasy still, including the notion that there is
one truth and that only one school may own it. We yet need the breadth of all of our
minds to get around all of our problems. Our hope is as much in seeing things not
the same way. Our frontier isn’t the known: is that not the whole point of frontiers?
Commentary on the Judgment (彖传)
Fellowship with others
The flexible finds a position, gains the center
and resonates with the creative
So this is called fellowship with others
Fellowship with others says that
Fellowship with others on the frontier (is) fulfillment
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
(Meaning) higher order endeavor
Refinement (and) clarity make use of strength
The central (lines) (are) correct (and) correspond
The noble young one (is) principled
Only the noble young one develops the capacity
To comprehend the direction of all under heaven▼
Commentary on the Judgment (彖传)
Fellowship with others
The flexible finds a position, gains the center
and resonates with the creative
So this is called fellowship with others
Fellowship with others says that
Fellowship with others on the frontier (is) fulfillment
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
(Meaning) higher order endeavor
Refinement (and) clarity make use of strength
The central (lines) (are) correct (and) correspond
The noble young one (is) principled
Only the noble young one develops the capacity
To comprehend the direction of all under heaven
Key Words (关键词)
Society, social organization, human association, classes of people, community▼
Key Words (关键词)
Society, social organization, human association, classes of people, community
Extended family, fraternity, agreement, coalition; crossing cultural boundaries Ethnocentrism, anthropocentrism & xenophobia; common purposes & causes Mutual endorsement and admiration societies, like-minded people, consensus Schools of thought, group-think, cultural diversity, relativity of mores & values Belief systems, collective associations, mass follies; symposiums, convergences
Structure & Connections
Structure Class
No Family
This classification indicates the hexagram's role in the 12 Sovereign Cycle (Earthly Branches) or its structural family.
Astrology
note:Sol in Air
planet:Sun
element:Air
Qabalah
note:Tipareth in Yetzirah
sphere:Tipareth
The Lines
11st • YangFellowship with others at the gate
Not a mistake▼
1
1st • YangFellowship with others at the gate
Not a mistake
13.1x Departing the gate (in) fellowship with others:
Given this, who is in error?
The fellowship meets at the gate, sharing rumors and stories, pestering the visitors for news of a large world not very distant, getting big earfuls of wondrous reports, of a world of difference out there. Common cause is so easy here, but they start to poke their noses out into the larger world, not yet funneling out, not ranging far and wide. They begin to speak about going beyond and plan their first adventure, from the threshold of this gate to the first great shore, beginning to open to newer ideas. Some men devour their enemies, some eat their fallen comrades, while another tribe buries good meat in the dirt. This must be witnessed by someone! As a child leaves crib, a youth leaves home, a man leaves province, the sage leaves nations to embrace a whole earth and siblings across the great waters. But first is the first great shore.
22nd • YangFellowship with others only within the clan
Embarrassing▼
2
2nd • YangFellowship with others only within the clan
Embarrassing
13.2x Fellowship with others (only) within the clan:
An embarrassing course
Communities of interests not shared are not wrong, nor is seeking ground not held in common. Yes, others are different. And other races and cultures are different, even under their skin. But no more different than one of your eyes from the other, giving a disparity that allows a perception of depth. This fellowship admits only one clan. They only seek similarities to their own superior persons. Thus even their gods look like members. They will fashion and arm their devils from everything not their own. When they journey across the great water they drag the familiar along and make a big deal out of spreading their ways. They think of themselves as especially chosen and as given the only truth. But this is inbred and incestuous. And thus they spawn monsters while thinking to breed some superior race. Superior man is their sacrifice.
33rd • YangCaching weapons in the underbrush
Climbing one’s highest hill
Three years without rising up▼
3
3rd • YangCaching weapons in the underbrush
Climbing one’s highest hill
Three years without rising up
13.3x Caching weapons in the underbrush:
The rivalry (is) strong
* Three years with no exuberance:
Security in action
He really tried hard to find fellows among the others, but his trust is easily broken. In life one can reach out to many wrong someones. Imagine your view of the odds when this happens on the first trip beyond. It might take three years to come back. Suspicion mounts. When looking for possible enemies the suspects are everywhere; any divergence or slight disagreement means enmity. Thus he makes no loud noises, no demonstrations, no startled movements. But as safe as these years might be from attack, they are also silent, empty and joyless. Better to use those years up on the hill as time to ponder the broader horizons, the view from the top to look for better ways down and to learn what he thought was coldness was not really caring. Have three years been wasted? Not if one’s real opponents are now known as fear and mistrust.
44th • YangMounting those battlements
But not capable of attack
Promising▼
4
4th • YangMounting those battlements
But not capable of attack
Promising
13.4x Mounting those battlements
Means that nothing can be done
* One’s promise
(Is) due to being distressed and then revising the principles Equipped to face the great world with a courage and caution both learned at home, he takes the evening watch and climbs the town’s wall with his spears, more ready for encounters in the sense of self-defense. Scouting from above, awaiting some sign of foes to menace his line, his gaze keeps coming back to the grizzly band of tough looking nomads camped outside of the gate, scarred up, missing limbs and presumably teeth. They are probably telling insightful and humorous stories, but he hears only ominous mumbling. That’s a kerchief on the big one’s belt, not scalps. At least from up here he can watch how people behave, although this is less than the wealth of those stories. He dares not open the gate and invite them in to dinner. Going out would change him. Is he not a captive here, in this his own home town?
55th • YangFellowship with others begins with wailing and weeping
but then follows with laughter
Mighty armies can entertain each other▼
5
5th • YangFellowship with others begins with wailing and weeping
but then follows with laughter
Mighty armies can entertain each other
13.5x Fellowship with others with such a beginning:
Through balance (comes) orientation
* Mighty armies entertaining each other:
Praising each other’s abilities
We are forced by our fate into fellowship and condemned to this earth with billions of parasites: the poor ones intrude on our pockets, sick ones intrude on our health, old ones discourage our lofty ambitions and dead ones remind us too much of time. Those with a different language or color are not much better than beasts. And only two men with bad will, armies and opposite views, can double all of these problems. Those who have crossed some great streams in their lives and longed for home from the far distant shores, know that these others are not the alien beings portrayed in the struggles for power. Some might think to ask: what or whose needs do the enemies serve? No social contract cannot be rewritten. No rules of engagement are sacred. Enjoying diversity overcomes differences better than making both sides the same.
6Top • YangFellowship with others on the frontier
Nothing to regret▼
6
Top • YangFellowship with others on the frontier
Nothing to regret
13.6x Fellowship with others on the frontier:
The goals (are) not yet achieved
Let’s end the debate with a compromise: Some of us evolved and some never did. Perspective softens frustration - great things take time in large portions. So today a few of the males rejoice with some of the females in the high mountain meadows and wide open fields. This world is not yet at peace, nor is humankind more than halfway evolved. No guarantees exist of continued human existence. The greatest truths are still mysteries. No creature comes down from the sky to right all wrong. Nor yet has the night sky returned a glad echo. The cosmos is quiet and still much too big. This tribe which has gathered this day is a marginal fringe on an uncharted ground. But the cult is the seed of a culture and humankind is best adapted to live in these small bands. Below in the meadow life embraces life. Good things begin.
Reference in Original Text & Resources
This content is derived from Bradford Hatcher's THE BOOK OF CHANGES: Yijing, Word By Word.
Original text for Hexagram 13 begins on Page 138-146.
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