Two Hearts as One

Are the people of “one heart” with you only your own small circle, or is your door open to others too?

Original

同人于野，亨。利涉大川，利君子貞。九五：同人，先號咷而後笑，大師克相遇。子曰：「君子之道，或出或處，或默或語。二人同心，其利斷金；同心之言，其臭如蘭。」

In plain words

Fellowship in the open country: success. It is favourable to cross the great river, favourable for the noble person to hold true. Line 5: fellowship; first wailing, then laughter; the great armies manage to meet. Confucius said: “The way of the noble person: sometimes going out to serve, sometimes staying home; sometimes silent, sometimes speaking. When two people are of one heart, their edge can cut metal. Words spoken from one heart are fragrant as orchids.”

Key words

同人tóng rénHexagram 13, Fellowship: fire beneath heaven, people gathering together.
斷金duàn jīnTo cut through metal: the sharpness of two people of one heart.
臭xiùScent. Here it means fragrance, not a bad smell.

Reading it step by step

The last page was about modesty: keeping your mountain underground. But for people to walk together, each being modest on their own isn't enough. What does it really take to be “of one heart”? The answer of Tongren (Fellowship) is a little surprising.

First: fellowship happens in the open country. The ancients called the land outside a town the outskirts, and beyond the outskirts, the wilds. Gather people in open country and everyone can see; there are no corners for forming factions. The image is fire beneath heaven: a campfire lights the ground and people come in from every side. The most telling line is line 2.

It is the only broken line, central, correctly placed, and perfectly paired with line 5. It could hardly be better placed, yet its text says: “fellowship within the clan: narrow.” Looking for companions only among your own kin is too small. The closer you are to the centre, the easier it is to look after only your own circle. When everyone needs to pull together, even an ideal one-to-one bond becomes a clique.

line 1 · at the gategathering in plain view

no blame

line 2 · in the clanonly among your own

narrow

judgment · in the openno corners to hide in

success

The more open the gathering place, the more hearts can meet.

Second: before hearts meet, there are often tears. All five solid lines want to get close to line 2. Line 3 hides troops in the brush and cannot move for three years. Line 4 climbs the wall, thinks better of attacking, and is fortunate for it. Line 5 “first wails, then laughs.” One reading sets this line in the early Zhou. King Wu has died; the young King Cheng is guided by his uncle, the Duke of Zhou.

Rumours say the Duke means to seize the throne, and the king half believes them. Then a metal-sealed casket is opened. Inside is the prayer the Duke wrote when King Wu lay ill: take my life instead of my brother's. The young king weeps, the misunderstanding dissolves, uncle and nephew are of one heart again, and the royal house is steadied. The wailing comes from seeing clearly; the laughter, from making peace.

Third: one heart is not the same as one shape. Confucius, reading this line, begins: sometimes going out, sometimes staying home; sometimes silent, sometimes speaking. The paths can differ while the heart is shared. Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya were friends from youth, and Bao later recommended Guan to Duke Huan of Qi as chief minister. When Guan lay dying, the duke asked whether Bao should succeed him. Guan said no: Bao was too upright to tolerate people less able than himself. That is not betrayal. It is what a true friend knows: what you are suited for, and what you are not. Two people like that have an edge that cuts metal; their words are fragrant as orchids.

Today: the work group chat splits into smaller and smaller threads; at family gatherings we sit only with the relatives we like; a start-up hires only old classmates. Fellowship asks: is your door open? And the person who is “of one heart” with you: do you really understand them? Understanding runs both ways. You can't only ask to be understood.

Keep the door open; then hearts can meet.

One line to carry

Keep the door open; then hearts can meet.

Today's question

Think of someone of “one heart” with you: do you know what they are suited for, and what not? Then think of someone you've left outside the door. How could you invite them in?