Ch^ en / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)

above:Ch^ en The Arousing, Thunder
below:Ch^ en The Arousing, Thunder

Chan gives the intimation of ease and development. When (the time of) movement (which it indicates) comes, (the subject of the hexagram) 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 li, He will be (like the sincere worshipper) who is not (startled into) letting go his ladle and (cup of) sacrificial spirits.

Overall Meaning

Shock, the symbol of exciting power

Chan among the trigrams represents thunder, and according to Wan's arrangement and significance of them, 'the oldest son'. It is a phonetic character in which the significant constituent is Yu, meaning rain, and with which are formed most characters that denote atmospheric phenomena. The hexagram is formed of the trigram Chan redoubled, and may be taken as representing the crash or peal of thunder; but we have seen that the attribute or virtue of the trigram is 'moving, exciting power'; and thence, symbolically, the character is indicative of movement taking place in society or in the kingdom. This is the meaning of the hexagram; and the subject is the conduct to be pursued in a time of movement - such as insurrection or revolution - by the party promoting, and most interested, in the situation. It is shown how he ought to be aware of the dangers of the time, and how by precaution and the regulation of himself he may overcome them.

The indication of a successful issue given by the figure is supposed to be given by the undivided line at the bottom of the trigram. The subject of it must be superior to the subject of the two divided lines above. It is in the idea of the hexagram that he should be moving and advancing; - and what can his movement be but successful?

The next sentence shows him sensible of the danger of the occasion, but confident and self-possessed. The concluding sentence shows him rapt in his own important affairs, like a sincere worshipper, thinking only of the service in which he is engaged. Such a symbol is said to be suggested by Wan's significance of Chan as 'the oldest son'. It is his to succeed to his father, and the hexagram, as following Ting, shows him presiding over the sacrifices that have been prepared in the caldron. This is too fanciful.