8. Bǐ 比

Above is Kan (Water), and below is Kun (Earth). The metaphorical image of this hexagram is the world ocean, consisting of many separate water flows, lakes, rivers, and seas. Water is what, by moisturizing, nourishes a great multitude of objects. Moving across the Earth, water freely communicates through streams. Observing this, a wise ruler realizes the vastness of the country entrusted to him imposes limitations on the execution of unilateral governance. To come into contact with a multitude of people and to kin with them, many states are established and endowed with territories and possessions. They kin with other rulers, prompting them to unite with their state. In this way, governance is carried out, and the wise ruler governs those with whom he does not interact directly.
The I Ching often uses the image of governing a country under the leadership of a wise ruler, so an alternative image for understanding this hexagram could be a country whose governance is evenly and wisely distributed among regions and the center, or a large organization where the leader correctly delegates authority, not confining the solution to all problems and questions to himself.
By giving - we receive, by sharing - we become richer, by uniting - stronger. We cannot achieve happiness and well-being, acting alone and not uniting with other people. Attraction between people arises naturally, to resist and assert one's egoism is unreasonable and destructive from the standpoint of achieving a result. Hence the main image of Bi — union and mutual aid. The five broken lines of the hexagram are bound together because they are united by a strong fifth Line. The leading position of this line guarantees that they can further strengthen their true interests.
Like waters that strengthen in union, communities strengthen. There is nothing more favorable than harmonious relations between people. To survive and thrive, people love their neighbors and care for each other.
To achieve this, we must pay attention not only to those around us but also to our inner self. Through our mistakes and misunderstandings, we discover guiding principles that make relationships work. We must cultivate a sincere desire for harmony and mutual support in relationships with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and people close to us.