震 Zhèn Energizing (Arousal) [hexagram 51]
Wood element
Spring Equinox ; Host (controlling) line : 1
The Descision
Energizing brings ease and progress. Thunder brings shock and alarm yet met with smiles and laughter. The thunder terrifies all within a hundred miles! But, do not allow the sacrificial cup and ladle to fall.
‘Energizing brings ease and progress. Thunder brings shock and alarm’ – the dread turns to happiness. ‘Yet met with smiles and laughter’ – as the phenomenon follows its course. ‘The thunder terrifies all within a hundred miles!’ – startling those far away and near at hand. ‘But, do not allow the sacrificial cup and ladle to fall.’ – continuing to protect the ancestral shrine and the altars to the spirits.
震: 亨. 震来虩虩, 笑言哑哑. 震惊百里, 不丧匕鬯. Zhèn: hēng. zhèn lái xì xì, xiào yán yǎ yǎ. zhèn jīng bǎi lǐ, bù sàng bǐ chàng.
彖传: 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. Tuàn zhuàn: Zhèn, hēng. Zhèn lái xì xì, kǒng zhì fú yě. Xiào yán yǎ yǎ, hòu yǒu zé yě. Zhèn jīng bǎi lǐ, jīng yuǎn ér jù ěr yě. Chū kě yǐ shǒu zōng miào shè jì, yǐ wéi jì zhǔ yě.
The Image
Thunder repeated forms ‘Energizing’. The wise accordingly, though apprehensive refine virtue and examine shortcomings.
象传: 洊雷, 震; 君子以恐惧修省. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiàn léi, zhèn; jūn zǐ yǐ kǒng jù xiū xǐng.
Thunder brings fear and alarm but later laughing and chatting. Good fortune.
‘Thunder brings fear and alarm’ – the apprehension leads to contentment. ‘But later laughing and chatting’ – as the phenomenon follows its course.
初九: 震来虩虩, 后笑言哑哑, 吉. Chū jiǔ: zhèn lái xì xì, hòu xiào yán yǎ yǎ, jí.
象传: 震来虩虩, 恐致福也. 笑言哑哑, 后有则也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn lái xì xì, kǒng zhì fú yě. Xiào yán yǎ yǎ, hòu yǒu zé yě.
Thunder brings peril. Choose to let go of all possessions in order to climb to a high place. No reason to search for them, in seven days they will be found.
‘Thunder brings peril’ – weakness rests on strength.
六二: 震来厉, 亿丧贝, 跻于九陵, 勿逐, 七日得. Liù èr: zhèn lái lì, yì sàng bèi, jī yú jiǔ líng, wù zhú, qī rì dé.
象传: 震来厉, 乘刚也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn lái lì, chéng gāng yě.
Thunder comes – disconcerting. If energized into action, there will be no mistake.
‘Thunder comes – disconcerting’ – an inappropriate position.
六三: 震苏苏, 震行无眚. Liù sān: zhèn sū sū, zhèn xíng wú shěng.
象传: 震苏苏, 位不当也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn sū sū, wèi bù dàng yě.
Thunder arrives but stuck in mire.
‘Thunder arrives but stuck in mire’ – ability is not fully developed.
九四: 震遂泥. Jiǔ sì: zhèn suì ní.
象传: 震遂泥, 未光也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn suì ní, wèi guāng yě.
Thunder all around, all in peril. However, there is no great loss and there is work to be done.
‘Thunder all around, all in peril’ – all dealings are at risk. ‘Work to be done’ – comes from the middle and will incur ‘no great loss’.
六五: 震往来厉, 亿无丧, 有事. Liù wǔ: zhèn wǎng lái lì, yì wú sàng, yǒu shì.
象传: 震往来厉, 危行也. 其事在中, 大无丧也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn wǎng lái lì, wēi xíng yě. qí shì zài zhōng, dà wú sàng yě.
Thunder brings ruin and wide-eyed dismay. Any action will go badly. If preparations had been made before the neighborhood was threatened there would be no blame, even if relatives grumble about it.
‘Thunder brings ruin and wide-eyed dismay’ – the middle way has not yet been found. ‘There would be no blame’ – paying heed to neighbor’s warnings.
上六: 震索索, 视矍矍, 征凶. 震不于其躬, 于其邻, 无咎. 婚媾有言. Shàng liù: zhèn suǒ suǒ, shì jué jué, zhēng xiōng. zhèn bù yú qí gōng, yú qí lín, wú jiù. hūn gòu yǒu yán.
象传: 震索索, 中未得也. 虽凶无咎, 畏邻戒也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn suǒ suǒ, zhōng wèi dé yě. suī xiōng wú jiù, wèi lín jiè yě.
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