Hexagram 51 震 - ZHÈN / THE AROUSING
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Trigrams#
- Above: Zhèn, the Arousing, Thunder
- Below: Zhèn, the Arousing, Thunder
The hexagram Zhèn represents the eldest son, who seizes rule with energy and power. A Yang line develops below two Yin lines and presses upward forcefully. This movement is so vehement that it causes terror. It is symbolized by thunder, which bursts forth from the earth, causing fear and trembling through its shock.
The Judgment#
The Arousing brings success. Thunder comes: oh, oh! Laughing words: ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, and he does not let the sacrificial spoon and chalice fall.
The shock rising from the manifestation of God within the earth fills man with fear, but this fear of God is a good thing, for it allows happiness and joy to follow. When someone has learned internally what fear and trembling mean, they are protected against terror from external influences. Even when thunder roars, terrifying everything within a radius of a hundred miles, one remains so composed and reverent internally that the sacrificial ritual is not interrupted. Such a deep, inner seriousness, which causes all external terrors to bounce off harmlessly, is the frame of mind that leaders and rulers of men must possess.
The Image#
Continuous thunder: the image of the Arousing. Thus the superior man, in fear and trembling, sets his life in order and examines himself.
The continuous thunder carries fear and trembling with its shock. Thus, the superior man always stands in reverence before the manifestation of God, putting his life in order and searching his heart to see if anything secretly contradicts the divine will. In this way, reverence becomes the foundation of true character building.
The Individual Lines#
Nine at the beginning means:#
Thunder comes: oh, oh! Afterward follow laughing words: ha, ha! Good fortune!
The fear and trembling of the shock come upon a person first, making them feel at a disadvantage compared to others. But this is only temporary. Once you pass through the judgment, relief follows. Thus, the very terror you must initially face ultimately brings good fortune.
Six in the second place means:#
The shock comes with danger. A hundred-thousand fold you lose your treasures and must climb the nine hills. Do not chase after them. After seven days you will get them back.
This describes a situation where a shock brings danger and severe losses. Circumstances are such that resisting the direction of the times is futile and will yield no success. Therefore, one should simply retreat to high areas that remain inaccessible to the threatening dangers. One must accept the loss of property and not worry excessively about it. Without chasing after these possessions, they will return on their own once the period of unsettling shocks has passed.
Six in the third place means:#
The shock comes and makes one bewildered. If one acts as a result of the shock, one remains free from misfortune.
There are three kinds of shock: the shock of heaven, which is thunder; the shock of fate; and finally, the shock of the heart.
Here, it is less about inner shock and more about the shock of fate. During such turbulent times, it is all too easy to lose one’s presence of mind, misjudging every opportunity for action and mutely letting fate take its course. If you allow the shock of fate to spur you into inner movement, you will overcome these external blows without much difficulty.
Nine in the fourth place means:#
The shock sinks into the mud.
The success of inner movement depends partly on circumstances. If the environment offers neither resistance to fight energetically nor yielding compliance to achieve victory, but is instead as sticky and sluggish as mud, the movement becomes paralyzed.
Six in the fifth place means:#
The shock goes to and fro: danger. Yet one loses nothing at all, only there is business to attend to.
This does not describe a single shock, but a repeated one that leaves no time to catch one’s breath. Nevertheless, the shock brings no loss, because one is careful to stay at the center of the movement, thus escaping the fate of being tossed helplessly back and forth.
Six at the top means:#
The shock brings ruin and anxious looking around. Going ahead brings misfortune. If it has not yet reached one’s own body, but has only reached the neighbor, there is no blame. One’s companions have talk to make.
When inner shock reaches its peak, it robs a person of presence of mind and clarity of vision. In such a state of agitation, it is naturally impossible to act prudently. The right course of action is to keep still until composure and clarity return.
However, one can only do this as long as they haven’t caught the panic themselves, even if the disastrous effects of this excitement can already be observed in the surroundings. By withdrawing from action in time, one remains free from error and harm. Yet, companions in their state of excitement, who refuse to be warned, will certainly be dissatisfied. But one must not pay any attention to that.
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