zhènAlso known as “The Arousing” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kăn” (Legge)
shockthunderawakening
In plain words
Thunder upon thunder: shock. It arrives with alarm and is followed by laughter; the shock shakes a hundred miles, yet the sacrificial spoon is not dropped.
The attitude it asks for
Let the jolt wake you rather than scatter you; examine yourself, keep your composure, and keep the essential thing in hand.
Structure
Upper trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Lower trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Kăn gives the intimation of ease and development. When (the time of) movement (which it indicates) comes, (the subject of the hexagram) will be found looking out with apprehension, and yet smiling and talking cheerfully. When the movement (like a crash of thunder) terrifies all within a hundred lî, he will be (like the sincere worshipper) who is not (startled into) letting go his ladle and (cup of) sacrificial spirits.
Kăn (gives the intimation of) ease and development.
'When the (time of) movement (which it indicates) comes, (its subject) will be found looking out with apprehension:'—that feeling of dread leads to happiness. 'And yet smiling and talking cheerfully:'—the issue (of his dread) is that he adopts (proper) laws (for his course). 'The movement (like a crash of thunder) terrifies all within a hundred li:'—it startles the distant and frightens the near. 'He will be like the sincere worshipper, who is not startled into letting go his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits:'—he makes his appearance, and maintains his ancestral temple and the altars of the spirits of the land and grain, as presiding at all sacrifices.
The Image
洊雷，震；君子以恐懼脩省。
(The trigram representing) thunder, being repeated, forms Kăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, is fearful and apprehensive, cultivates (his virtue), and examines (his faults).
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，无咎。婚媾有言。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject, amidst the startling movements (of the time), in breathless dismay and looking round him with trembling apprehension. If he take action, there will be evil. If, while the startling movements have not reached his own person and his neighbourhood, (he were to take precautions), there would be no error, though his relatives might (still) speak against him.
Its symbolism
震索索，中未得也。雖凶无咎，畏鄰戒也。
'Amid the startling movements he is in breathless dismay:'—he has not found out (the course of) the due mean. 'Though evil (threatens), he will not fall into error:'—he is afraid of being warned by his neighbours.
The fifth line, divided, shows its subject going and coming amidst the startling movements (of the time), and always in peril; but perhaps he will not incur loss, and find business (which he can accomplish).
Its symbolism
震往來厲，危行也。其事在中，大无喪也。
'He goes and comes amid the startling movements, and (always) in peril:'—full of risk are his doings. 'What he has to do has to be done in his central position:'—far will he be from incurring any loss.
The third line, divided, shows its subject distraught amid the startling movements going on. If those movements excite him to (right) action, there will be no mistake.
Its symbolism
震蘇蘇，位不當也。
'He is distraught amid the startling movements going on:'—(the third line) is in a position unsuitable to it.
The second line, divided, shows its subject, when the movement approaches, in a position of peril. He judges it better to let go the articles (in his possession), and to ascend a very lofty height. There is no occasion for him to pursue after (the things he has let go); in seven days he will find them.
Its symbolism
震來厲，乘剛也。
'When the movement approaches, he is in a position of peril:'—(a weak line) is mounted on a strong (one).
The first line, undivided, shows its subject, when the movement approaches, looking out and around with apprehension, and afterwards smiling and talking cheerfully. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
震來虩虩，恐致福也。笑言啞啞，後有則也。
'When the (time of) movement comes, he will be found looking out with apprehension:'—that feeling of dread leads to happiness. 'He yet smiles and talks cheerfully:'—the issue (of his dread) is that he adopts (proper) laws (for his course).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 51, Shock (Thunder), mean?
Thunder upon thunder: shock. It arrives with alarm and is followed by laughter; the shock shakes a hundred miles, yet the sacrificial spoon is not dropped.
Which trigrams form Shock (Thunder)?
震 above 震 — thunder over thunder. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 蹇 Impasse.
What happens when a line of Shock (Thunder) changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Shock (Thunder) in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - - - — - - - - is Shock (Thunder). You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.