DIANJI · 典籍
Hexagram 51 · The Arousing
A source-aware reading page for I Ching hexagram 51, The Arousing.
Read I Ching hexagram 51, The Arousing, with its judgment, changing lines, textual layers, sources, and a clearly labeled modern reading.
Chinese text
亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。
震象征突发巨变与雷霆。通达。巨变来临时内心警惧（虩虩），随后能谈笑自若（哑哑）。雷声震惊百里，真正有定力的主祭者也不会吓掉手中祭器（匕鬯）。
初九 震来虩虩，后笑言哑哑，吉。
六二 震来厉，亿丧贝，跻于九陵。勿逐，七日得。
六三 震苏苏，震行无眚。
九四 震遂泥。
六五 震往来厉，亿无丧，有事。
上六 震索索，视矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其邻，无咎。婚媾有言。
English support translation
亨。震来虩虩，笑言哑哑。震惊百里，不丧匕鬯。
Success comes through this. The shock strikes and everyone trembles in alarm, then laughter and easy chatter follow right after. Even though the tremor is felt for a hundred miles around, the ceremony continues without the sacred vessel being dropped.
Initial Nine: The shock hits and everyone startles in alarm -- but the laughter and easy talk that follow right after bring good fortune.
Six in the second: The shock arrives with real danger -- vast wealth is lost, and you're forced to climb to the highest ground for safety. Don't chase after what's gone; within a full cycle of days, it comes back on its own.
Six in the third: The shock leaves you shaken and unsteady -- but if that jolt actually moves you to act, no real harm follows.
Nine in the fourth: The shock lands, but gets swallowed up in the mud -- nothing moves.
Six in the fifth: Shocks keep arriving from every direction, and the danger is real -- yet nothing essential actually gets lost, and the necessary work still has to continue.
Six at the top: So rattled by the shock that you can barely stand still, eyes darting everywhere -- pressing forward now brings misfortune. If the blow lands on your neighbor before it reaches you, there's nothing to fault in taking the warning; though people close to you will have plenty to say about it.