Hexagram 51: Zhèn (The Arousing Thunder)
震为雷 · 第 51 卦 · Thunder over Thunder · 中文版
The Judgment
Zhen 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 Li, he will be (like the sincere worshipper) who is not (startled into) letting go his ladle and (cup of) sacrificial spirits.
震：亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
Zhen (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 Lu:' - 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.
彖曰：震，亨。震来虩虩，恐致福也。笑言哑哑，后有则也。震惊百里，惊远而惧迩也。出可以守宗庙社稷，以为祭主也。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) thunder, being repeated, forms Zhen. The superior man, in accordance with this, is fearful and apprehensive, cultivates (his virtue), and examines (his faults).
象曰：洊雷，震；君子以恐惧修省。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, 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.
'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).
初九：震来虩虩，后笑言哑哑，吉。 象曰：震来虩虩，恐致福也。笑言哑哑，后有则也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, 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.
'When the movement approaches, he is in a position of peril:' - (a weak line) is mounted on a strong (one).
六二：震来厉，亿丧贝，跻于九陵，勿逐，七日得。 象曰：震来厉，乘刚也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third six, divided, shows its subject distraught amid the startling movements going on. If those movements excite him to (right) action, there will be no mistake.
'He is distraught amid the startling movements going on:' - (the third line) is in a position unsuitable to it.
六三：震苏苏，震行无眚。 象曰：震苏苏，位不当也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject, amid the startling movements, supinely sinking (deeper) in the mud.
'Amid the startling movements, he sinks supinely in the mud:' - the light in him has not yet been brilliantly developed.
九四：震遂泥。 象曰：震遂泥，未光也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, 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).
'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.
六五：震往来厉，亿无丧，有事。 象曰：震往来厉，危行也。其事在中，大无丧也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The topmost SIX, 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.
'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.
上六：震索索，视矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其邻，无咎。婚媾有言。 象曰：震索索，中未得也。虽凶无咎，畏邻戒也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.