I Ching hexagram · 51 of 64
Hexagram 51: The Arousing 震 Zhèn · Shock, awakening, action
Shock startles. Stay composed and grow from it. Shock brings success. Shock comes: oh, oh! Then laughing words: ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, yet he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and cup.
- Upper: ☳ Thunder
- Lower: ☳ Thunder
- Nuclear: 39
- Opposite: 57
Number
51 of 64
Chinese name
震 Zhèn
Upper trigram
☳ Thunder
Lower trigram
☳ Thunder
Nuclear hexagram
䷦ 39. Obstruction
Opposite hexagram
䷸ 57. The Gentle
What hexagram 51 means
Hexagram 51 doubles the trigram Thunder: a crash of thunder, then another. It describes shock, sudden events and awakening, the jolt that shakes us out of complacency.
The shock passes, and those who stay composed come through it laughing. Use the fright to examine yourself and set your life in order; inner calm is the real protection.
The Judgement · 卦辞
震：亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。
Shock brings success. Shock comes: oh, oh! Then laughing words: ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, yet he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and cup.
The Image · 象曰
洊雷，震；君子以恐惧修省。
Thunder repeated: the image of shock. The noble person, in fear and trembling, sets their life in order and examines themselves.
The lines and trigrams
The Arousing doubles the trigram ☳ Thunder (震 Zhèn), so its quality of movement and arousal fills both the inner and the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 51 in your life
Love and relationships
A sudden surprise or upheaval. Stay calm, talk it through and use the shake-up to renew the relationship.
Personal growth
Let shocks wake you up rather than knock you down. Self-reflection turns fear into strength.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 51 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初九 · Nine at the beginning
Shock comes: oh, oh! Then laughing words: ha, ha! Good fortune after the fright.
Line 2 六二 · Six in the second place
Shock brings danger and you lose your treasures. Climb to safety and don't chase them; in seven days they return.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
Shock leaves you dazed. Let it spur you to act, and there is no misfortune.
Line 4 九四 · Nine in the fourth place
Shock gets stuck in the mud. Energy is bogged down.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Shock comes and goes, with danger. Nothing is lost if you keep your centre and attend to what must be done.
Line 6 上六 · Six at the top
Shock brings trembling and wild glances. Acting now brings misfortune; withdraw in time, even if others talk.
Hexagram 51 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 51 mean?
Hexagram 51, The Arousing (震 Zhèn), is about shock, awakening, action. Shock startles. Stay composed and grow from it. Hexagram 51 doubles the trigram Thunder: a crash of thunder, then another. It describes shock, sudden events and awakening, the jolt that shakes us out of complacency.
What does hexagram 51 mean in love?
A sudden surprise or upheaval. Stay calm, talk it through and use the shake-up to renew the relationship.
What does hexagram 51 mean for work and money?
Unexpected events, sudden change or a wake-up call. Respond calmly and use the jolt to improve how you work.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 51?
Hexagram 51 is made of the Thunder trigram (Zhèn) doubled, above and below.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 51?
Its nuclear hexagram is 39, Obstruction. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 57, The Gentle. Turned upside down it becomes 52, Keeping Still.
All 64 hexagrams
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