51 · Shock (ZHÈN)
Shock is thunder's jolt and the sudden change it resembles. The judgment moves from fear to speech and laughter while a ritual spoon and vessel are not dropped. The six lines ask how a person can respond: take warning, protect life over possessions, move despite trembling, avoid getting stuck, keep essential duties intact, and learn from a disturbance nearby without rushing into it.
The judgment
Shock: passage. Thunder comes and people tremble; afterward they laugh and speak. It startles a hundred leagues, yet the ritual spoon and aromatic offering are not lost.
The spoon and aromatic offering belong to ancient ritual. They stand for responsibilities kept secure even under a sudden shock. Relief comes after attention and recovery, not from pretending nothing happened.
Original Chinese text
震：亨。震來虩虩，笑言啞啞。震驚百里，不喪匕鬯。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Thunder comes and one trembles; afterward there is cheerful speech and laughter: auspicious.
Original Chinese
震來虩虩，後笑言啞啞，吉。
- 六二 · Line 2 — Shock comes with danger; one may lose shell valuables, climbs the nine hills, does not chase them, and after seven days something is regained.
Original Chinese
震來厲，億喪貝，躋于九陵，勿逐，七日得。
- 六三 · Line 3 — Under shock one trembles; moving through the shock brings no calamity.
Original Chinese
震蘇蘇，震行无眚。
- 九四 · Line 4 — Shock sinks into mud.
Original Chinese
震遂泥。
- 六五 · Line 5 — Shock goes and comes, with danger. One may lose nothing essential; there is work to do.
Original Chinese
震往來厲，億无喪，有事。
- 上六 · Line 6 — Trembling, with darting eyes: setting out is ill-omened. The shock strikes not one's own body but a neighbor; no blame. Marriage partners have words.
Original Chinese
震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，無咎。婚媾有言。