What this change means
Thunder doubles, below and above, as the first, third and fourth lines of Simplicity move. The quiet mountain hidden in the ground is suddenly shaken. Here the two judgments stand in balance. Simplicity asks you to avoid display, keep things simple, act fairly and let your qualities be recognized in their own time. The resulting hexagram, 51 Shock, speaks of unexpected events that would frighten others, and of the value of staying composed and acting calmly when they come. The bridge between them is that humility steadies you. Someone with nothing to prove has less to lose when the ground trembles, and can respond instead of panicking. When a jolt arrives, don't rush to defend your image. Look inward, keep your footing and do the next right thing. That calm is often what lets you succeed where others falter.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 15 Simplicity
This isn't the time to boast or show off. It's time to keep things simple and to make sure you act fairly; your qualities and talents will show on their own and be recognized.
Success. The noble person reaches the end.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
- Line 1 of 15 Simplicity
Doing great things without pretension or pride will let you bring what you want to a good end, because you'll have no opponents.
Humble in their humility, the noble person can cross the great river. Good fortune.
- Line 3 of 15 Simplicity
If, despite your position and fame, you stay humble, you won't create rivalries and you'll succeed.
A noble person humble in toil. Reaching the end: good fortune.
- Line 4 of 15 Simplicity
If you carry out your tasks with dedication and without expecting recognition, you'll have great success.
Nothing that is not favorable. Humility spread wide.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 15 Simplicitylines 1, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Simplicity
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 2, and 3
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, and 4
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 4
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 5
- 29Waterlines 2, 3, and 5
- 49Renewallines 1, 4, and 5
- 28Excesseslines 2, 4, and 5
- 45Meetinglines 3, 4, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 3, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 1, 4, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 4, and 6
- 35Advancelines 3, 4, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 1, 5, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 5, and 6
- 20Observinglines 3, 5, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.