51. Chen

	Thunderclap
	Upper Trigram:	Chen, Thunderclap, Movement
	Lower Trigram:	Chen, Thunderclap, Movement
	Governing Ruler:	Bottom nine

The Image
Thunder repeated: the image of Chen. The superior man, in accordance with this, is fearful and apprehensive, cultivates his virtue, and examines his faults.

Miscellaneous Signs
Chen starts, Ken stops.

The Judgement
Chen gives the intimation of ease and development. When the time of movement comes, its subject will be found looking out with apprehension, and yet smiling and talking cheerfully. When the movement, like a crash of thunder, terrifies all within a hundred miles, he will not be startled into letting go his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits.

Commentary
Chen gives the intimation of ease and development.
'When the time of movement which it indicates comes, its subject will be found looking out with apprehension': that feeling of dread will bring happiness.
'And yet smiling and talking cheerfully': the issue of his dread is that he adopts proper laws for his course.
'The movement, like a crash of thunder, terrifies all within a hundred miles': it startles the distant and frightens the near.
'He will be like the sincere worshipper, who is not startled into letting go his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits': he makes his appearance, and maintains his ancestral temple and the altars of the spirits of the land and grain, as presiding at all sacrifices.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom nine
Showing its subject, when the movement approaches, looking out and around with apprehension, and afterwards smiling and talking cheerfully. There will be good fortune. Or a concubine whose position is improved by means of her son. There will be no error.

'When the time of movement comes, he will be found looking out with apprehension': that feeling of dread leads to happiness.
'He yet smiles and talks cheerfully': the issue of his dread is that he adopts proper laws for his course.

Six in the second place
Showing its subject, when the movement approaches, in a position of peril. He judges it better to let go of the articles in his possession, and to ascend a very lofty height. There is no occasion for him to pursue after these articles: in seven days he will find them.

'When the movement approaches, he is in a position of peril': a weak line is mounted on a strong one.

Six in the third place
Showing its subject distraught amid the startling movements going on. If these excite him to right action, there will be no mistake.

'He is distraught amid the startling movements going on': because he is in a position unsuited for him.

Nine in the fourth place
Showing its subject amid the startling movements, slowly sinking deeper into the mud.

'Amid the startling movements, he is slowly sinking deeper into the mud': the light in him has not yet been sufficiently developed.

Six in the fifth place
Showing its subject going and coming amidst the startling movements of the time, and always in peril; but perhaps he will not incur loss, and find business to accomplish.

'He goes and comes amidst the startling movements of the time, and always in peril': full of risks are his doings.

Top-most six
Showing its subject amidst the startling movements of the time, in breathless dismay, and looking round him with trembling apprehension. If he take action, there will be evil. If, while the startling movements have not yet reached his own person and his neighbourhood, he were to take precautions, there would be no error, though his relatives might speak against him.

'Amid the startling movements he is in breathless dismay': he has not found the course of the due mean.
'Though evil threatens, he will not fall into error': (but) he is afraid, being warned by his neighbour.