The Zhen hexagram signifies shock. Heavy thunder rumbles and roars over a thousand miles. Men who have done nothing bad are shocked and frightened. He can get what he seeks, except he has no way to get an official post and title. People can only hear thunder but cannot see its form.

When Heavenly Master Li Jing met with Mother Dragon and begged to stay for a night and moved the rain for the dragons, he obtained this hexagram, and was promoted in the end to the post of the vice prime minister.

King Wen's Judgment: The Zhen hexagram signifies success. The thunder clashes - crack! crack! Afterwards there is laughter and talking - ha! ha! The thunder shocks [roars and resonates, travels] for a thousand miles. The superior man calmly performs the sacrificial service without dropping the spoon and chalice.

Symbol Tradition: The Double Zhen trigram symbolizes Thunder. The superior person with concerned mind examines himself [his own faults] and cultivates his virtue [improves himself, sets his life in order].

Confucius: The Zhen hexagram indicates success. Shock: at the time of thunder roaring. Alarm: to be frightened and panicked looking book. Rumbling: appalling resounding of thunder over a hundred miles. Sacrifice: the superior man is calm, the eldest son performs the sacrificial service holding the spoon and chalice with steady hands. The oracle for this hexagram says that fear can lead to blessing.

At first he looked for repentance, then comes success.
Among the rumbling of thunder arrives the splendid Spring.
When orioles sing, all the flowers are in riotious colors,
From then on, appointment will ensure the meeting of each other.

Nine at the fourth line: The thunder brings stagnation in the mire.

This line indicates that the satisfaction of his desires may bring dangers.

For an individual of great virtue and merit, the individual limits his desires to avoid indulgence, and corrects his mistakes to avoid sinking. Although he cannot establish himself for a great cause, he can preserve his life and avoid destruction.

For just an ordinary individual, the individual lives a humble and ignoble life without any decency. He lives a plain life in obscurity.

In such a year, an official has the danger of demotion and dismissal, a scholar suffers the disaster of job suspension and demotion, and a commoner lives a humble and ignoble life. He has no way at all for improvement. He may even be imprisoned and sentenced, and there is no hope for him to enjoy a glorious and happy life.

Two poems for the fourth line:

There will be no danger wherever he goes,
But it is not fitting for him to move his house.
When a bright moon rises in the clear sky,
He will set sail to return down the river.

The second:

White jade is hidden in the mud.
And yellow gold is buried in soil.
They shine brightly for a long time,
But they need someone to find them.

Weather: There are rumbles and roars of thunder. If the first line of the hexagram is reversed there will be black clouds and heavy rain. If the third line of the hexagram is reversed, there will be wind and rain.

House: It is a residence on the east or the west side of a temple or near a stream. Nearby there are historic sites and altars. If there is an alarm in the house, be on your guard against disaster and the six domestic animals. It is better to move. Incense burning helps a lot.

Seeking an official post: If you get the hexagram in spring or summer, you are sure to be promoted to a high post. If in winter and autumn, it will be just a title without anything real or solid.

Marriage: Two go-betweens come to talk about the matter. It will be a success for the northwest one, and failure for the southeast one. The woman with purple color is reticent, cruel and strict toward her husband.

Pregnancy: It is a boy born on the Chinese calendar day of chen or si . The labor brings fear and alarm. If the third line of the hexagram is reversed there will be disaster for the mother. If the first line of the hexagram is reversed, the son will get hurt.

Traveler: The letter will arrive on the Chinese calendar day of chen or mao . There will be no misfortune or danger if three men travel together.

Looking for a person: One can see him on the way in the southeast.

Location of family tomb: It is in the directions of yi  (East) and geng (West). The mountain in the West is low. It is near fields and water.

Seeking wealth: Seek in a hurry on the day and/or in the Chinese month of shen (lunar September) or you (lunar October).

Dealings: It is settled on the Chinese calendar day of wu or wei .

Chasing a robber: There is an alarm and a fear. He can be caught in the southwest.

Calling on a noble man: He can be seen on the Chinese calendar day of wu or wei .

Expecting a thing: It is difficult to succeed.

The lost: It can be found in the direction of either east or west.

Harvest of crops or cocoons: It is ample.

Illness: He went to the southwest before the temple and offended the three saints, the ghost of weapons, the ghost of the wounded and dead, the ghost of grass and wild land, and the ghost of five magic powers. They took away his ethereal and corporal souls. He was frightened and fell ill on the way, or he met with the ghost of ancient tombs, or the corpse embracing ghost. He then has fits of cold and fever, pains in his bones and joints. Blood and qi rush to the head. Offer sacrifice to the family ancestors, the ghost of weapons, the ghost of the wounded and dead, the ghost of the underwood, the god of the temple, the god of five magic powers, the god of roaming plagues, the god of armor, the flying snake and white tiger.

For a child: Offer sacrifice to the parents of his pervious life, the god of Wuyou, drive away the earth demons, and there will be good fortune.

Lawsuit: There is an alarm concerning an argument. Repeated persuasion bring no harm. The person with ["kou" - mouth] or  ["mu" - tree, wood] in his name is a noble man.

Ji Bu, a general under Xiang Yu, obtained this hexagram when he fled for his life. Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, pardoned him for his loyalty.

King Wen's Judgment: The Zhun hexagram signifies that supreme success lies in perseverance. It is not the time to take action [undertake anything, act lightly] but to establish feudal lords [find major assistants].

Symbol Tradition: Clouds and Thunder symbolize a difficult birth. The superior man tries to make order out of disorder [regulates things and systemizes them, trying to set them in good order].

Confucius: This hexagram signifies that supreme success lies in perseverance. But it is not a time to take any action.

He has experienced many dangerous waves,
But now the boat flows steady on the water.
A man at the riverside gives some good advice,
He feels easy to seek to realize his ambition.

Nine at the fifth line: It is difficult to distribute the oil. Small measures will bring good fortune, but big measures will bring bad fortune.

This line indicates that the inferior virtuous have nothing to do with the inferior and he cannot engage in a great cause.

For an individual of great virtue and merit, the individual is just and righteous from birth, and kind-hearted but achieves small successes.

For just an ordinary individual, the individual is sure to meet with failure, for he craves greatness and success.

In such a year, any capable man should not take any wanton or hasty action to invite misfortune, but should be prudent and careful to avoid trouble or disaster.

Two poems for the fifth line:

Good fortune flows from minor things at home;
The great ambition he cherishes brings great disaster.
When he comes to the place at the foot of the mountain,
He should be vigilant against his own repeated ignorance.

The second:

It is favorable for him to seek in the west,
And get through difficulty gradually in autumn and winter.
There is no need for more hesitation and doubt,
For he should feel free to make his own arrangements.