What this change means
This movement drains the lake: Thunder below becomes Water, Thunder above becomes Lake, and the water runs out beneath it. Three lines move, so both judgments weigh the same. Shock asks for composure in the face of sudden fear, holding on to what matters while others drop it. The resulting hexagram, 47 Overwhelmed, describes a harder stretch: circumstances press against you, the wrong people surround you, and your words may not be believed. There isn't much to do outwardly except accept it and wait for better conditions. That's where the composure of Shock becomes essential. Your real resource is the light inside you, and leaning on that strength is what keeps you upright now. Don't waste energy arguing to be believed. Stay calm, conserve yourself, and let your conduct speak until the pressure eases.
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 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.
- The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed
Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.
Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.
- Line 1 of 51 Shock
You see what's coming before it happens. That makes you worry ahead of time, but it also sets you looking for solutions, so when others start to worry, you'll already be focused on solving things.
Thunder comes, and there is dread; afterward, laughter and easy talk. Good fortune.
- Line 2 of 51 Shock
Situations may come up that seem hard to face, and you may even suffer losses. There's nothing to fear: what you lose you'll get back, and you'll be on the path of achievement again.
Thunder comes: danger. Countless cowries are lost; one climbs the nine hills. Do not chase them: in seven days they are found.
- Line 5 of 51 Shock
Obstacles come one after another and seem endless. Still, staying connected to your center and true to your purpose will keep you from losses.
Thunder going and coming: danger. Of much, nothing is lost; there is a duty to carry out.
The trigrams
The way back
47 Overwhelmed → 51 Shocklines 1, 2, and 5
Other transformations of Shock
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, and 3
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 3, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 3, and 4
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, and 5
- 8Unionlines 1, 4, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 2, 4, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 3, 4, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 3, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 2, 3, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2, 4, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 5, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3, 5, and 6
- 42Increaselines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.