The Arousing (Thunder)

震來虩虩，後笑言啞啞，吉。

Shock arrives with fear; afterward, speech and laughter return. Favorable.

Fear is followed by laughter in Line 1, whose verdict is favorable. Its change makes Earth below Thunder, Hexagram 16. The contrast is between two Thunder trigrams and a single Thunder above Earth, setting repeated shock beside the theme of enthusiasm.

震來厲，億喪貝，躋于九陵，勿逐，七日得。

Shock arrives with danger, and wealth is lost in great measure. Climb the nine hills; do not pursue it. After seven days, it is regained.

Line 2 describes lost wealth and a climb to safety, then forbids pursuit and specifies recovery after seven days. Changing it makes Lake below Thunder, Hexagram 54. That figure’s marriage imagery concerns a constrained position; the seven-day statement belongs to the present line.

震蘇蘇，震行无眚。

Shock leaves one faint and unsettled. Moving through the shock brings no calamity.

Shock leaves Line 3 unsettled, yet action in response is without calamity. Changing it makes Fire below Thunder, Hexagram 55. Movement remains above, while light replaces the repeated shock below: an image to compare with the line’s disturbed response.

震遂泥。

Shock sinks into mud.

Shock is stuck in mud at Line 4. Its change makes Earth above Thunder, Hexagram 24, leaving a single firm line at the base. The image of a return beginning below contrasts with the present line’s arrested movement.

震往來厲，億无喪，有事。

Shock comes and goes with danger. No great loss; there is work to do.

Danger accompanies shock coming and going at Line 5, but the line also speaks of avoiding great loss and continuing work. Its change makes Lake above Thunder, Hexagram 17. Following supplies a second theme alongside repeated disturbance and responsibility.

震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，无咎。婚媾有言。

Shock brings trembling and an alarmed gaze. Setting out brings misfortune. The shock reaches a neighbor, not one's own body: no fault. Marriage partners have words of complaint.

The shock is observed in a neighbor rather than suffered directly, yet alarm and complaints between marriage partners remain. Changing Line 6 makes Fire above Thunder, Hexagram 21. Its theme of dealing with an obstruction offers a comparison with fear observed at a distance.