Hexagram 51 · The Arousing

震 · Zhèn

Hexagram 51, The Arousing (震, Zhèn), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Thunder below and Thunder above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with shock and thunder — arousal into action. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Upper trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Symbol: ䷲ · Name: 震 (Zhèn) · Number: 51 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   震来虩虩，后笑言哑哑，吉。
   The Image says: “震来虩虩”，恐致福也；“笑言哑哑”，后有则也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   震来厉，亿丧贝，跻于九陵，勿逐，七日得。
   The Image says: “震来厉”，乘刚也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   震苏苏，震行无眚。
   The Image says: “震苏苏”，位不当也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   震遂泥。
   The Image says: “震遂泥”，未光也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   震往来，厉；亿无丧，有事。
   The Image says: “震往来，厉”，危行也；其事在中，大无丧也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   震索索，视矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其邻，无咎。婚媾有言。
   The Image says: “震索索”，中未得也；虽“凶”“无咎”，畏邻戒也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 51?

Hexagram 51 is The Arousing (震, Zhèn), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Thunder below and Thunder above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Arousing?

The judgment of The Arousing reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。”. Its Great Image reads: “洊雷，震。君子以恐惧修省。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Arousing symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Arousing is associated with shock and thunder — arousal into action. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.