51. Taking Action

Name and Structure

Zhen means shake, shock, or quake. In the I Ching, it is the symbol of Thunder. Wilhelm translates Zhen as The Arousing (Shock, Thunder), and Blofeld translates it as Thunder. Here I consider the significance of Thunder and employ the term Taking Action.

Sequence of the Gua

For taking charge of a sacrificial vessel,
no one is more suitable than the eldest son.
Thus, after Establishing the New,
Taking Action follows.

Decision

Taking Action.
Prosperous and smooth.
Thunder comes—alarm! alarm!
Laughing and talking—ha! ha!
Thunder shocks a hundred li.
The sacrificial spoon and chalice do not fall.

Commentary on the Decision

Thunder—Taking Action.
Prosperous and smooth.

Thunder comes—alarm! alarm!
Being fearful brings good fortune.
Laughing and talking—ha,ha!
After that, there is a principle to follow.

Thunder shocks a hundred li.
It startles the distant and frightens the near.
Coming forth, he is able to protect the temple of ancestors,
and the state as well,
And take charge of all sacrifices.

Commentary on the Symbol

Thunder is dual.
Action is doubled.
In correspondence with this,
The superior person with fearful mind
Is cultivating his virtue and examining his fault.

Fifth Six

Thunder comes, back and forth
Adversity
No great loss.
Something will happen.

Thunder comes, back and forth. Adversity.
One takes risk in doing.
Important matters are central.
Nothing at all is a great loss.

Significance

This gua is one of the eight among the sixty-four accomplished gua that is made by doubling one of the eight primary gua. Here, the accomplished gua is Zhen, Taking Action, and the primary gua is Thunder. The structure of the gua is Thunder above, Thunder below. When Thunder is doubled, the potential energy is tremendous. In the I Ching, Thunder represent the eldest son of Heaven and Earth. It symbolizes the beginning of a created being. After the eldest son is born, a new cycle starts, and a new generation starts out. Thunder is a gua of the spring season. An ancient Chinese adage says, “Once the spring thunder bursts, myriad beings on Earth are awakened.”k After that, the Earth will be green again and farmers can begin work in the field. Tis is a picture of prosperity.

Taking Action advises people to adopt a cautious heart and a cautious mind in dealing with a new situation before expecting success. Taking action brings success, and it is tempting to try to enhance success. But the wise man keeps himself calm and remains at ease. He does not let the excitement lead to failure in important matters. With a cautious mind, he cultivates his virtues and examines his errors. This is the key to success. The host of the gua is unusual—it is the solid line at the bottom. I hints that the positive energy is taking action and moving upward from below.

After King Wen’s new system was established, people were shocked, feeling as if a thunderstorm was striking. Some felt alrm. When the benefits became known, they talked to each other and laughed together. However, King Wen, from beginning to end, was as calm in carrying out the reformation as a priest holding a sacrificial spoon and chalice without letting them fall. The Duke of Zhou records how the people were happy but not the slave owners. Dangerous counterattacks were anticipated, for some in-laws o the tyrant stood against the reformation.

Fifth Six. Taking Action alternates to Following (17)

“Thunder comes, back and forth” suggests moving forward and backward. The line is a yin element at a yang place, central but not correct. If it moves forward, it reaches the top line–at the end of the action, there is no way to go forward. If it comes back, its corresponding line at the second position is also a yin element, and there will be no response. It is an unfavorable situation.
This line describes the time during the reformation when King Wen surveyed the whole situation. HJe remained calm and at ease. Although the shock of reformation affected everyone in a radius of a hundred li, he would not let the sacrificial spoon and chalice (political power) fall. There was no great loss at the moment, but he sensed that matters of importance could be affected.

51. Taking Action

Name and Structure

Zhen means shake, shock, or quake. In the I Ching, it is the symbol of Thunder. Wilhelm translates Zhen as The Arousing (Shock, Thunder), and Blofeld translates it as Thunder. Here I consider the significance of Thunder and employ the term Taking Action.

Sequence of the Gua

For taking charge of a sacrificial vessel,
no one is more suitable than the eldest son.
Thus, after Establishing the New,
Taking Action follows.

Decision

Taking Action.
Prosperous and smooth.
Thunder comes—alarm! alarm!
Laughing and talking—ha! ha!
Thunder shocks a hundred li.
The sacrificial spoon and chalice do not fall.

Commentary on the Decision

Thunder—Taking Action.
Prosperous and smooth.

Thunder comes—alarm! alarm!
Being fearful brings good fortune.
Laughing and talking—ha,ha!
After that, there is a principle to follow.

Thunder shocks a hundred li.
It startles the distant and frightens the near.
Coming forth, he is able to protect the temple of ancestors,
and the state as well,
And take charge of all sacrifices.

Commentary on the Symbol

Thunder is dual.
Action is doubled.
In correspondence with this,
The superior person with fearful mind
Is cultivating his virtue and examining his fault.

Significance

This gua is one of the eight among the sixty-four accomplished gua that is made by doubling one of the eight primary gua. Here, the accomplished gua is Zhen, Taking Action, and the primary gua is Thunder. The structure of the gua is Thunder above, Thunder below. When Thunder is doubled, the potential energy is tremendous. In the I Ching, Thunder represent the eldest son of Heaven and Earth. It symbolizes the beginning of a created being. After the eldest son is born, a new cycle starts, and a new generation starts out. Thunder is a gua of the spring season. An ancient Chinese adage says, “Once the spring thunder bursts, myriad beings on Earth are awakened.”k After that, the Earth will be green again and farmers can begin work in the field. Tis is a picture of prosperity.

Taking Action advises people to adopt a cautious heart and a cautious mind in dealing with a new situation before expecting success. Taking action brings success, and it is tempting to try to enhance success. But the wise man keeps himself calm and remains at ease. He does not let the excitement lead to failure in important matters. With a cautious mind, he cultivates his virtues and examines his errors. This is the key to success. The host of the gua is unusual—it is the solid line at the bottom. I hints that the positive energy is taking action and moving upward from below.

After King Wen’s new system was established, people were shocked, feeling as if a thunderstorm was striking. Some felt alrm. When the benefits became known, they talked to each other and laughed together. However, King Wen, from beginning to end, was as calm in carrying out the reformation as a priest holding a sacrificial spoon and chalice without letting them fall. The Duke of Zhou records how the people were happy but not the slave owners. Dangerous counterattacks were anticipated, for some in-laws o the tyrant stood against the reformation.