Zhen 震爲雷
A time of sudden shocks
Something startling happens, but it is not much once it passes. Respond calmly at first.
What does I Ching hexagram 51 (The Arousing (Thunder)) mean?
Thunder booming again and again, a hexagram of shock. If you stay calm when startled, you stay safe and learn a lot.
- The Arousing (Thunder) in love
- Even when something startling happens, calm down and look at the other person.
- The Arousing (Thunder) at work and with money
- Shocks and changes come, but calm responses are lucky.
- Advice
- Keep enough ease to smile even when startled.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · The Arousing (Thunder)
No blame“Success. When thunder comes, there is fear and trembling, then laughter and chatter. Thunder terrifies for a hundred miles, yet the ladle of sacrificial wine is not spilled.”
The Image: Thunder upon thunder: the arousing. The noble person is fearful and reflective and cultivates himself.
原文 · 亨。震來虩虩，笑言啞啞。震驚百里，不喪匕鬯。 / 洊雷，震；君子以恐懼修省。
The six lines of hexagram 51
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
Auspicious“Thunder comes with fear; afterward, laughter and chatter: good fortune.”
A scare at first, then relief. It leads to a better state.
原文 · 震來虩虩，後笑言啞啞，吉。
Line 2 · 六二
Caution“Thunder comes with danger; you lose your valuables and climb the nine hills. Don’t chase them; in seven days you will get them back.”
You lose something in the shock. Let it go and it comes back.
原文 · 震來厲，億喪貝，躋于九陵，勿逐，七日得。
Line 3 · 六三
Neutral“Thunder, in a daze; if you keep moving, no harm.”
Keep moving forward gently and you avoid trouble.
原文 · 震蘇蘇，震行无眚。
Line 4 · 九四
Neutral“Thunder gets stuck in the mud.”
The shock leaves you bogged down. Take time to recover.
原文 · 震遂泥。
Line 5 · 六五
Caution“Thunder goes and returns; danger, but no loss; there is business to attend to.”
Repeated shocks, but you hold your ground and keep working.
原文 · 震往來厲，億无喪，有事。
Line 6 · 上六
Misfortune“Thunder, shaken and terrified, eyes wide; going forward brings misfortune. If the thunder is not at one’s own body but at one’s neighbor, no blame. Marriage may bring talk.”
Panic is the danger. Take heed of others’ trouble before it reaches you.
原文 · 震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，无咎。婚媾有言。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 57. Xun (The Gentle (Wind))
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 52. Gen (Keeping Still (Mountain))
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.