Zhouyi, received text. Traditional characters are retained from the electronic reference; punctuation is editorial.
A contemporary perspective
Name the purpose you share. Cooperation needs substance beyond apparent agreement.
This is Fatefold’s original reflective interpretation, not a word-for-word translation or a classical prediction about a modern question.
Classical line statements · bottom to top
01
初九 同人于門，无咎。
02
六二 同人于宗，吝。
03
九三 伏戎于莽，升其高陵，三歲不興。
04
九四 乘其墉，弗克攻，吉。
05
九五 同人，先號咷而後笑，大師克，相遇。
06
上九 同人于郊，无悔。
Read the structure
The lower trigram is Li · Fire; the upper is Qian · Heaven. The six lines describe positions and stages within one situation, rather than six independent answers. Name the purpose you share. Cooperation needs substance beyond apparent agreement.
The Tuan discusses the judgment through polarity, position and timing. Its conditions belong with the judgment; an isolated favorable or unfavorable word does not settle a whole situation.
Great Image · from pattern to conduct
天與火，同人。君子以類族辨物。
The Great Image turns Fellowship into a model for conduct. Alongside divinatory language, this layer asks how to act. Consider whether your approach to fellowship fits the actual conditions.
Line-by-line commentary
初九 · 1
同人于門，无咎。
《小象》：出門同人，又誰咎也。
Fellowship begins through open, concrete contact.
The first line concerns an initial stage and its readiness.
六二 · 2
同人于宗，吝。
《小象》：同人于宗，吝道也。
A closed circle can narrow cooperation.
Line two is central within the lower trigram; consider nearby coordination. Centrality is not an automatic favorable verdict.
九三 · 3
伏戎于莽，升其高陵，三歲不興。
《小象》：伏戎于莽，敵剛也；三歲不興，安行也。
Concealed hostility and prolonged stalemate undermine fellowship.
Line three ends the lower trigram and invites attention to a threshold and its pressures.
九四 · 4
乘其墉，弗克攻，吉。
《小象》：乘其墉，義弗克也。其吉，則困而反則也。
Restraint preserves an opening for cooperation.
Line four enters the upper trigram; consider a transition of setting or responsibility.
九五 · 5
同人，先號咷而後笑，大師克，相遇。
《小象》：同人之先，以中直也；大師相遇，言相克也。
A difficult separation can precede a meaningful meeting.
Line five is central in the upper trigram; consider responsibility and the use of resources.
上九 · 6
同人于郊，无悔。
《小象》：同人于郊，志未得也。
A distant connection need not be forced into intimacy.
The top line ends this pattern; consider excess, closure and a next stage.
Relate it to your question
Separate known facts, unconfirmed information and available actions. Which part of this symbol fits, and which does not?
