Zhèn Excitation Enactment [hexagram 51]

Yin line Yin line Yang line Yin line Yin line Yang - controlling line
Thunder, earthquake

Wood Wood element

Wind/Wood Wind/Wood
Xùn [57] Acquiescence; Submission
Opposite
Mountain Mountain
Gèn [52] Immobility; Stillness
Inverse
Water Mountain
Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship
Mutual

Spring Equinox ; Host or Controlling line : 1
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: . 虩虩, 哑哑. , 鬯. Zhèn: hēng. zhèn lái xì xì, xiào yán yǎ yǎ. zhèn jīng bǎi lǐ, bù sàng bǐ chàng.

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 worshiper) who is not (startled into) letting go his ladle and (cup of) sacrificial spirits.

: , . 虩虩, 恐. 哑哑, . , 惧迩. 守宗庙社稷, . 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.

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 worshiper, 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.

: 洊, ; 恐惧修省. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiàn léi, zhèn; jūn zǐ yǐ kǒng jù xiū xǐng.

(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).

young yin young yin young yang young yin young yin changing yang
I Ching transform
Thunder
Earth
[16] Inspiration; Delight
Change
: 虩虩, 哑哑, . Chū jiǔ: zhèn lái xì xì, hòu xiào yán yǎ yǎ, jí.

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject, when the movement approaches, looking out and around with apprehension, and afterward smiling and talking cheerfully. There will be good fortune.

: 虩虩, 恐. 哑哑, . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn lái xì xì, kǒng zhì fú yě. Xiào yán yǎ yǎ, hòu yǒu zé yě.

‘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).

young yin young yin young yang young yin changing yin young yang
I Ching transform
Thunder
Lake
Guī mèi [54] Union; Marrying Maiden
Change
: , 亿, 跻, 逐, . Liù èr: zhèn lái lì, yì sàng bèi, jī yú jiǔ líng, wù zhú, qī rì dé.

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.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn lái lì, chéng gāng yě.

‘When the movement approaches, he is in a position of peril:’ - (a weak line) is mounted on a strong (one).

young yin young yin young yang changing yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Thunder
Fire
Fēng [55] Abundance; Plentitude
Change
: , 眚. Liù sān: zhèn sū sū, zhèn xíng wú shěng.

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.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn sū sū, wèi bù dàng yě.

‘He is distraught amid the startling movements going on:’ - (the third line) is in a position unsuitable to it.

young yin young yin changing yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Earth
Thunder
[24] Return; Turning back
Change
: 遂泥. Jiǔ sì: zhèn suì ní.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject, amid the startling movements, supinely sinking (deeper) in the mud.

: 遂泥, . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn suì ní, wèi guāng yě.

‘Amid the startling movements, he sinks supinely in the mud:’ - the light in him has not yet been brilliantly developed.

young yin changing yin young yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Lake
Thunder
Suí [17] Sucession; Pursuit
Change
: , 亿, . Liù wǔ: zhèn wǎng lái lì, yì wú sàng, yǒu shì.

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).

: , 危. , . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn wǎng lái lì, wēi xíng yě. qí shì zài zhōng, dà wú sàng yě.

‘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.

changing yin young yin young yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Thunder
噬嗑 Shì kè [21] Gnawing; Eradicating
Change
: 索索, 视矍矍, . 躬, , . . Shàng liù: zhèn suǒ suǒ, shì jué jué, zhēng xiōng. zhèn bù yú qí gōng, yú qí lín, wú jiù. hūn gòu yǒu yán.

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 neighborhood, (he were to take precautions), there would be no error, though his relatives might (still) speak against him.

: 索索, . , 畏. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn suǒ suǒ, zhōng wèi dé yě. suī xiōng wú jiù, wèi lín jiè yě.

‘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 neighbors.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also