Zhen
Sudden Awakening
When you receive Hexagram 51, Zhen, the I Ching turns your attention to sudden awakening. Thunder. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Thunder. Ease and development. When the thunder comes, apprehension, then smiling talk. When the crash terrifies all within a hundred li, the sincere worshipper does not let go his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits.
Classical (Legge)Kan 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.
The Image
Thunder repeated. Zhen. The centered one, in fearful apprehension, cultivates virtue and examines his faults.
Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) thunder, repeated, forms Kan. The superior man, in accordance with this, is fearful and apprehensive, cultivates (his virtue), and examines (his faults).
The Changing Lines
The thunder comes. Fearful apprehension, then smiles and cheerful talk. There will be good fortune.
Classical (Legge)The (time of) movement comes — Loss with fearful apprehension; afterwards he will appear (composed) and with smiles. There will be good fortune.
The thunder approaches with peril. He judges it better to let go the things he most values and to ascend a very lofty height. He need not go in pursuit of them. In seven days he will find them.
Classical (Legge)The movement approaches with peril. He judges it better to let go (the things he most values), and to ascend a very lofty height. He need not go in pursuit of them. In seven days he will find them.
He is distraught amid the startling movements going on. If those movements excite him to right action, there will be no mistake.
Classical (Legge)He is distraught amid the startling movements going on. If those movements excite him to (right) action, there will be no mistake.
Amid the startling movements, he sinks supinely in the mud.
Classical (Legge)Amid the startling movements, he sinks supinely (in the mud).
He goes and comes amid the startling movements of the time, and always in peril. Perhaps he will not incur loss, and find business which he can accomplish.
Classical (Legge)He goes and comes amid the startling movements (of the time), and always in peril; but perhaps he will not incur loss, and find business (which he can accomplish).
Breathless dismay amid the startling movements, trembling and looking round. If he acts, misfortune. If he takes precautions before the shock reaches him, no error, though his relatives may speak against him.
Classical (Legge)Amidst the startling movements (of the time), he is in breathless dismay and looks 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 neighbourhood, (he were to take precautions), there would be no error, though his relatives might (still) speak against him.
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