Eight Trigrams Chart for the I Ching (Book of Changes) (original) (raw)

Eight Trigrams I Ching (Book of Changes) Eight Gates to the Greater World

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

Bibliography Notes Quotations Notes General Attributions I

General Attributions II Feng Shui Qigong/Yoga Five Elements

Martial Arts I Ching Meanings Medical Other

Interpretation by Charm

Cloud Hands Blog

� Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2004-2020
By Michael P. Garofalo, All Rights Reserved.

Eight Trigrams

I. General Attributions
Trigram Symbol	Trigram Name	Meaning	Direction	Season	Yin-Yang
	Chien Qi�n 乾	Heaven, Sky, Air	South	Summer	Supreme Yang
	Sun X�n 巽	Wind	Southwest	Mid-Summer	Young Yin
	K'an 坎	Water	West	Autumn	Middle Yin
	Ken G�n 艮	Mountain	Northwest	Mid-Autumn	Mature Yin
	K'un Kūn 坤	Earth	North	Winter	Supreme Yin
	Chen Zh�n 震	Thunder	Northeast	Mid-Winter	Young Yang
	Li 離	Fire	East	Spring	Middle Yang
	Tui Du� 兌	Lake Valley	Southeast	Mid-Spring	Mature Yang
CM1	CM2	CM3	MG1	MG2	MG3

II. General Attributions
Trigram Symbol	Eastern Cosmos	Five Elements 五行 Wǔx�ng	Western Cosmos	Daily Cycle	Annual Cycle
1	Chien Heaven South Summer	Metal, Sky West White Tiger Lung, Taste Father	Will, Spirit Intutition Wood Fire South Youth Midday Summer Full Moon	Noon 12 pm - 3pm	June 21st - September21st Summer Solstice Lithia
2	Sun Wind	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Sister		Afternoon 3pm - 6 pm
3 水	K'an Water West Autumn	Water North Black Tortoise Kidney, Touch Second Daughter	Emotions Feelings Water, Cups Middle Age Evening Waning Moon West Autumn	Late Afternoon Sunset 6 pm - 9pm	September 22nd - December20th Autumnal Equinox
4	Ken Mountain	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen. Smell First Daughter		Evening 9pm - 12 pm	October 31st - December 20th
5 土	K'un Earth North Winter	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen, Smell Mother	Body Sensations Earth, Coins Old Age Night New Moon North Winter	Midnight 12 am - 3 am	December 21st - March 19th
6	Chen Thunder	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Brother		Early Morning Sunrise 3am - 6am	February 2nd - March19th Chinese New Year Imbolic
7 火	Li Fire Spring East	Fire South Red Phoenix Heart, Sound Second Son	Mind Thinking Air Metal, Swords Infancy Dawn Crescent Moon Spring East	Morning 6am - 9am	March 20th - June 20th Spring Equinox, Ostara
8	Tui Lake Valley Irrigated Field	Metal, Lake West White Tiger Lung, Taste First Son		Mid-Morning 9am - 12pm	May 1st - June 20th Beltane
CM4	CM5	CM6	MG4	MG5	MG6

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Eight Trigrams by Mike Garofalo, 2005

III. Martial Arts Attributions
Trigram Symbol	Eastern Cosmos	T'ai Chi Ch'uan	BaGua Zhang	Coming	Coming
	Chien Heaven South Summer	Peng Wardoff Step Forward	Coming	Coming	Coming
	Sun Wind	Cai Pulling Move Back	Coming	Coming	Coming
	K'an Water West Autumn	Ji Press Face Left	Coming	Coming	Coming
	Ken Mountain	Kao Shoulder	Coming	Coming	Coming
	K'un Earth North Winter	Lu Roll Back Centered	Coming	Coming	Coming
	Chen Thunder	Lie Splitting Move Back	Coming	Coming	Coming
	Li Fire Sprint East	An Push Look Right	Coming	Coming	Coming
	Tui Lake Valley Marsh Irrigated Field	Shou Elbow Strike Step Forward	Coming	Coming	Coming
CM1	CM5	CM7	CM8	CM9	CM10

IV. Eight Core Hexagrams I Ching Attributions
Hexagram Symbol	Number Name	General Meaning
	# 1 Chien Khien Heaven	"Heaven creates, develops, brings about fruition and consummation. " [Ct1] "What is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm." [Lt2] Meanings: strength, creativity, ruling, originating, Yang, fathering.
	# 57 Sun Wind	"Wind is small but developmental. It is beneficial to have somewhere to go. It is beneficial to see a great person." [Ct1] "There will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement." [Lt2] Meanings: penetrating, gentleness. equaling, scattering.
	#29 K'an Khan Pitfalls Water	"Mastering Pitfalls (Double Pitfall): In mastering pitfalls there is truthfulness; thus the mind develops. There is excellence in practice." [Ct1] "The possession of sincerity, through which the mind is penetrating. Action, in accordance with this, will be of high value." [Lt2] Meanings: withdrawal, abysmal, perilous, injuring, danger, adapt to diffiuclt circumstances, flow like water around obstacles.
	# 52 Ken Mountain	"Stopping at the back, one does not have a body; walking in the garden, one does not see a person. No fault." [Ct1] Meanings: stillness, calmness, resting, completing, undisturbed, inner stillness.
	# 2 K'un Khwan Earth	"With earth, creativity and development are achieved in the faithfulness of the female horse. The superior person has somewhere to go. Taking the lead, one goes astray; following, one finds the master. Stability in rectitude is good." [Ct1] "What is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his proper lord." [Lt2] Meanings: receptivity, acceptance, nurturing, yielding, storing, devoting, mothering, Yin, endless productive potential.
	#51 Chen K�n Thunder	"Thunder is developmental. When thunder comes, there is alarm, then laughter. Thunder startles for a hundred miles, but one does not loose spoon and wine." [Ct1] "Kan gives the intimation of ease and development. When the time of movement comes, the person will be found looking out with some 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 of his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits." [Lt2] Meanings: alertness, active, arousing, moving, inciting, producing, explosive and vibrational energy.
	# 30 Li Fire	"Fire is beneficial for correctness and development. Raising a cow brings good fortune." [Ct1] "It will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and thus there will be a free course and success. Let its subject also nourish a docility of the cow, and there will be good fortune." [Lt2] Meanings: clinging, dependable, spreading, transforming the host, light.
	# 58 Tui Joy	"Joy is developmental, beneficial if correct." [Ct1] "Shows the pleasure of inward harmony and sincerity, and in good fortune. " [Lt2] Meanings: joyful, thankful, playful, pleasuring, courting, rejoicing, pleasure, hidden in deep currents. Associated with freshwater in low areas: rivers through a valley, marshes, lakes, irrigation ditches and canals - a sight that will bring joy to any farmer's heart.
CM11	CM12	CM13

V. Taijiquan and Yoga Exercise Workout Cycle
Exercise Cycle	Energy Levels	Eight Brocades Qigong	Eight Rivers Qigong
1 Chen	Warm-up Thunder over Earth	Bouncing on Toes	Turning the Thunderous Prayer Wheel
2 Li	Heat Building Springtime Gusto Starting the Fire	Punching with Angry Eyes	Grasping the Fire Dragon's Tail
3 Tui	Energetic and Joyful Rivers Run Down to the Warm Valley Increase Circulation	Bending Down and Bending Back	The Wild Geese Joyfully Return to the Lake in the Valley
4 Chien	Vigorous Summertime Fire in the Heavens Pure Yang	Bear	Salutation to the Stars
5 Sun	Lively Moving Following the Wind	Drawing the Bow	The Wind Moves the Clouds
6 K'an	Cooling Down Slowing Down Feel the Autumn Rain	Holding Up the Void	Coming
7 Ken	Calming Cooling Pausing Rest on the Mountain	Separate Heaven and Earth	Coming
8 K'un	Resting Relaxing Pure Yin Winter Snow on the Earth	Wise Owl	Coming
MG7	MG8	MG9	MG10

VI. Medical Attributions
Trigram	Coming	Bodily Associations	Coming	Coming	Coming
Chien Heaven South	Coming	Head Lungs Taste	Coming	Coming	Coming
Sun Wind	Coming	Thighs Liver Sight	Coming	Coming	Coming
K'an Water West	Coming	Ears Kidney Touch	Coming	Coming	Coming
Ken Mountain	Coming	Hands Spleen Smell	Coming	Coming	Coming
K'un Earth North	Coming	Belly Spleen Smell	Coming	Coming	Coming
Chen Thunder	Coming	Foot Liver Sight	Coming	Coming	Coming
Li Fire East	Coming	Eyes Heart Sound	Coming	Coming	Coming
Tui Valley	Coming	Mouth Lung Taste	Coming	Coming	Coming
CM14	CM15	CM16	CM17	CM18	CM19

VII. Other Attributions
Trigram	Qigong	Buddhism Eightfold Path	Mountains Rivers Zen Order	Coming	Coming
Chien Heaven South	Direct Qi Transmit Qi	Skillful Action	Right Action	Coming	Coming
Sun Wind	Conserve Qi	Skillful Livelihood	Work Practice	Coming	Coming
K'an Water West	Dissolve Qi	Skillful Effort	Body Practice	Coming	Coming
Ken Mountain	Transform Qi	Skillful Mindfulness	Zazen	Coming	Coming
K'un Earth North	Store Qi	Skillful Concentration	Liturgy	Coming	Coming
Chen Thunder	Discover Qi Gather Qi	Skillful Understanding	Zen Study	Coming	Coming
Li Fire East	Circulate Qi	Skillful Thinking	Academic Study	Coming	Coming
Tui Valley	Purify Qi	Skillful Speech	Art Practice	Coming	Coming
CM20	CM21	CM22	CM23	CM24	CM25

VIII. Five Elements, Five Movements
Trigram	Element	Bodily Associations	Attributes	Coming	Coming
Chien Heaven Sky Air East	Wood	Liver Gall Bladder Eyes Tendons Muscles Nails, Nerves	Green Spring East Windy Sour	Coming	Coming
Li Fire South	Fire	Heart Small Intenstine Tongue Blood Vessles	Red Summer South Hot Bitter	Coming	Coming
K'un Earth Southwest	Earth	Spleen Stomach Mouth Flesh, Muscles	Yellow Late Summer Center Damp Sweet	Coming	Coming
Ken Mountain West	Metal	Lungs Large Intenstine Bladder Nose Skin, Hair	White Autumn West Dry Pungent	Coming	Coming
K'an Water North	Water	Kidney Bladder Ears Bones, Teeth Hair	Dark Blue Winter North Cold Salty	Coming	Coming
	CM26	CM26	CM26	CM26	CM26

Eight Trigrams by Mike Garofalo, 2019

Sacred Circle at the Valley Spirit Center Chart of Associations, Attributions, Elementals, Spirits, and Symbolism Eastern and Western Magicks Our Sacred Circle Garden in Red Bluff, California
Valley Spirit Sacred Circle Symbolism	Eastern Cosmos Trigrams	Five Elements 五行 Wǔx�ng	Western Cosmos Magick	Daily Cycle Human Age
North Green Earth Winter Body Oaks	K'un Earth North Winter 土	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen, Smell Mother Valley Spirit	Body, Flesh, Beings Sensations Touch Earth, Soil, Stone Birth and Death Night New Moon Pentacle, Coins North Winter Trees and Shrubs Salt Oak Trees	Midnight 12 am - 3 am Conception to Birth to 10 Years Old: Babies, Childhood, and 90-100+ Years Old Birth and Death
Northeast Lime Green Cypresses	Chen Thunder	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Brother		Early Morning Sunrise 3am - 6am 10 to 20 Years Old
East Yellow Air Spring Mind Spirit Olives	Li Fire Spring East 火	Fire South Red Phoenix Heart, Sound Second Son	Mind Thinking Air Smell Metal, Swords Childhood and Youth Dawn Crescent Moon Spring East Incense, Bells Olives, Aspens	Morning 6am - 9am 20 to 30 Years Old Young Adults
Southeast Orange Bottlebrush	Tui Lake Valley Irrigated Field	Metal, Lake West White Tiger Lung, Taste First Son		Mid-Morning 9am - 12pm 30 to 40 Years Old
South Red Fire Summer Will Action Bay Laurel	Chien Heaven South Summer	Metal, Sky West White Tiger Lung, Taste Father	Will, Spirit Intuition Wood Fire Sight South Adult and Middle Age Midday Summer Full Moon Staff, Stave Red Candle Almonds Walnuts	Noon 12 pm - 3pm 40 to 50 Years Old
Southwest Purple Redwoods	Sun Wind	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Sister		Afternoon 3pm - 6 pm 50 to 60 Years Old
West Blue Water Autumn Emotions	K'an Water West Autumn 水	Water North Black Tortoise Kidney, Touch Second Daughter	Emotions, Blood Feelings Water, Cups Taste Middle and Old Age Evening Waning Moon West Autumn Cauldron, Chalice Willows, Laurels	Late Afternoon Sunset 6 pm - 9pm 60 to 70 Years Old Wise Elders
	Inner Entrance
Northwest Turquoise Liquid Ambers	Ken Mountain	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen. Smell First Daughter		Evening 9pm - 12 pm 70 to 80+ Years Old Wise Elders
Center White	Tai Chi Grant Ultimate		Wholeness Harmony Interdependence Individual Self Circle Web White - All Colors

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Eight Trigrams and Hexagrams Charts

Links, Bibliography and Resources

Bagua Daoyin: A Unique Branch of Daoist Learning - A Secret Skill of the Palace. By He Jinghan and David Alexander (Translator). Singing Dragon, 2008. 148 pages. ISBN: 1848190093. VSCLC.

Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. By John Bracy and Liu Xing-Han. Consulting editors: Li Zhong-Quan and Liu Men-Gen, Beijing, China. Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1998. Index, bibliography, notes, 139 pages. ISBN: 1556432763. VSCLC.

We are the leading the world in providing best actualtests VCP5-DCV and certkiller 000-006 prep solutions. Our incredible offers for testking 642-813 and testking 642-832 are accessible at reasonable prices; our testking 352-001 is very rare in IT world.

Ba Gua Zhang ( Pa Kua Chang): Bibliography, links, resources, quotes, and notes. The Eight Palms and circle walking internal martial arts.

Baguazhang

Cloud Hands Blog

Druid's Journey

The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training. By John Daido Loori. Edited by Bonnie Myotai Treace and Konrad Ryushin Marchaj. Boston, Shambhala, 2002. 270 pages. ISBN: 1570629528. VSCLC.

The Eight Ox Herding Pictures - A Chan/Zen Allegory

Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path. By Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001. Index, bibliography, 268 pages. ISBN: 0861711769. A clear and insightful commentary on the Eightfold Path of Buddhism. Refer also to the Eight Precepts. VSCLC.

Eight Trigrams Chart

Five Elements 33Kb.

Five Elements Attributions of Trigrams (VIII)

Five Elements Information 23Kb.

General Attributions of Trigrams (!) Trigram symbol, Chinese name, cardinal direction, season of the year, Yin and Yan designation in chart form.

General Attributions of Trigrams (II) Trigram symbol, Chinese name and Eastern cosmos meaning, Five Elements attribution, Western magikal cosmos, time of the day, months and days of the year.

Glossary of Hatha Yoga Postures

Hexagram Attributions of Eight Trigrams Combined (IV)Hexagram symbol, name, Eastern cosmos meaning.

Qigong (Dao-yin) and Yoga Exercise Cycle and the Eight I Ching Trigrams (V)Exercise cycle definitions and sequences for the Eight Section Brocade Qigong and Eight Rivers Qigong.

Internal Martial Arts and the Eight I Ching Trigrams (III)Trigram symbol, Eastern cosmos meaning, T'ai Chi Ch'uan actions, BaGua Zhang, Other.

Pa Kua Chang (Ba Gua Zhang)

Parkha20Kb.

Qigong (Chi Kung), Chinese Yoga

Qigong Attributions of Trigrams (IV)

Sacred Circles

The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom. By Angeles Arrien. Sounds True, 2005. 208 pages. ISBN: 1591792525.

The Spirit of Gardening

T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes. By Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions International Ltd., 2001. 224 pages. ISBN: 0892819448. VSCLC.

Tai Chi Chuan Lun

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

T'ai Chi Ch'uan and the I Ching. By Liu, Da. Harper Collins, 1972. ISBN: 0060616679.

The Tao of Meditation: Way to Enlightenment. By Jou, Tsung Hwa. Scottsdale, Arizona, Tai Chi Foundation, 1983, 2000. 176 pages. ISBN: 0804814651.

The Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan: Way to Rejuvenation. By Jou, Tsung Hwa. Edited by Shoshana Shapiro. Warwick, New York, Tai Chi Foundation, 1980. 263 pages. First Edition. ISBN: 0804813574. An excellent comprehensive textbook. A Third Edition is now available. VSCLC.

Taoism: Bibliography, links, resources. All the books used to research this short study on hexagrams and Trigrams are also cited in Taoism.

Trigrams - Feng Shui Institute

Valley Spirit TaijiquanRed Bluff, California.

VSCLC = Valley Spirit Taijiquan Library Collection

Wudang Qigong

Valley Spirit (Gu Shen) of the Tao Te Ching

Walking the I Ching: The Linear Ba Gua of Gao Yi Sheng. By Allen Pittman. Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2008. 224 pages. ISBN: 1583942149. Good information on relating the concepts of the Ba Gua and I Ching to Chinese internal martial arts. VSCLC.

"Wang Haijun on Eight Methods of Training Jin," by David Gaffney, T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 4, August, 2005, pp. 5-10. Translation by Davidine Diaw-Voon Sim.

Zen Buddhism

Eight Trigrams Chart

Notes, Comments, Chart References

Chinese Models of the Eight Trigrams Traditional Chinese Associations and Attributes for Eight Trigrams Traditional Taoist, Chinese Medicine, Qigong, Martial Arts Associations

CM1

CM2

CM3

CM4 Refer to my bibliography for the Green Wizard. I'm especially fond of: Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.
by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart; The Magician's Companion by Bill Witcomb; The Spiral Dance by Starhawk;
and Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and other books by Scott Cunningham.

CM5

CM6

CM7

Regarding the relationship between Tai Chi Chuan and the I Ching (Book of Changes),
please refer to the following books:

The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation.By Tsung Hwa Jou. Charles E. Tuttle, 1998.
3rd Edition. 233 pages. ISBN: 0804813574. An outstanding textbook on Tai Chi Chuan.
All styles are introduced and explained. A very informative introduction to the philosophy
and practices of Tai Chi Chuan.

T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes.
By Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions International Ltd., 2001.
224 pages. ISBN: 0892819448. An unique and thorough study of this correlation.
Excellent photographs. A 16 movement and 64 movement Yang style form, linked to
the Book of Changes, are explained and described.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan and the I Ching. By Da Liu. Harper Collins, 1972. ISBN: 0060616679.

CM11, CM12, CM13

Ct1 = The Taoist Classics. The collected translations of Thomas Cleary. Volume Four.
(The Taoist I Ching and I Ching Mandalas). Boston, MA, Shambhala, 1986, 1989.
Index, 436 pages. ISBN: 1570629080.

Lt2 = The I Ching. Translated by James Legge in 1899. Sacred Books of the East Series,
Volume 16.

CM21

The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi.
By Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.. Chicago, Contemporary Books, 2002. Index, notes, extensive
recommended reading list, 316 pages. ISBN: 0809295288.

CM22

Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path. By Bhante
Henepola Gunaratana. Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001. Index, bibliography,
268 pages. ISBN: 0861711769. A clear and insightful commentary on the
Eightfold Path of Buddhism. Refer also to the Eight Precepts.

CM23

The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training. By John Daido Loori. Edited by
Bonnie Myotai Treace and Konrad Ryushin Marchaj. Boston, Shambhala, 2002.
270 pages. ISBN: 1570629528. Eight Gates of Zen

CM26

The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. By Kenneth S. Cohen.
Foreword by Larry Dossey. New York Ballantine Books, 1997. Index, notes, appendices,
427 pages. ISBN: 0345421094. MGC. One of my favorite books: comprehensive,
informative, practical, and scientific.

The Essential Qigong Training Course. 100 Days to increase Energy, Physical Health, and
Spiritual Well-Being. By Ken Cohen. Boulder, Colorado, Sounds True, 2005. Includes a
59 page weekly workbook, a Qigong DVD, 5 audio CDs, and one Qi Healing DVD.
ISBN: 1591790905. MGC.

Michael P. Garofalo's Models of the Eight Trigrams

MG1

"The above Eight Trigrams Chart schema was created by me based upon 1) my reading
of qigong and Taoistliterature, 2) my reading of books and magazine articles, and listening
to media products about the Eight Section Brocade Qigong, 3) the "Before Heaven Arrangement"
of the Eight Diagrams attributed to the mythical sage-ruler Fu Hsi, 4) my reading of Western
esoteric and magical literature regarding practices of the Green Wizard, and 3) the notes I made
while getting group or personal instruction from a qigong or taijiquan teacher in the Eight
Section Brocade."
- The Eight Section Brocade Qigong, By Michael P. Garofalo, April 2005, 305Kb.

MG2

A reader cannot help but notice that these associations are common amongst people living
in the northern hemisphere, 35�North to 55�North latitudes. The annual cycle of the seasons
of a year, the annual cycle of agricultural activities that are the foundations of every civilization,
and the daily cycle of the daylight hours (i.e., warmth, work, seeing-thinking, activity, etc) and
the nighttime hours (i.e., cooler, sleep, sensory withdrawal, dreams, rest, etc.) are part of the
landscape of the Mind.

MG3

MG4

MG5

MG6

MG7

MG8

MG9

Eight Section Brocade Qigong By Michael P. Garofalo. 309Kb, April, 2005.
Provides information about the history and purpose of this popular Chi Kung practice. Detailed
descriptions are provided for each of the eight movements; including information on
movement variations, health benefits, qigong meaning, and cautions. The document includes
the most extensive bibliography, link guide, and comments on Ba Duan Jin Qigong resources
available anywhere. Some animated graphics are provided in linked files. This document
is updated as new information is discovered. This qigong set is the most popular set
practiced around the world, and is also known as: Baduanjin, Pa Tuan Jin, Eight Silken Treasures,
Ba Duan Jin, Pal Dan Gum, Ba Duan Gin, Pa Tin Kam, Otto Pezzi di Tesoro, Acht Delen Brokaat,
Les Huit Exercices del la Soie, Eight Silken Treasures, Brocade Qigong, Wudang Brocade
Qigong, Brocade soft qigong (Rou Gong), Eight Treasures inner qigong (Nei Gong), Silk Treasures
Qigong, and the first eight Buddha Lohan Hands. The document is about 80 pages long.

MG10

Quotations, Sayings, Notes Models Based on Eight Elements Eightfold Paths

"The Eight Elements West

1. Consistent Exercise
Energize through safe, results-oriented exercise.

2. Body Alignment
Promote proper posture, spinal strength with flexibility, and body awareness.

3. Natural Nutrition
Implement sound eating practices for life.

4. Sound Mind
Embrace life obstacles with self-awareness, reflection, imagination and creativity.

5. Relaxation and Centering
Cultivate and calm the bodymind connection everyday.

6. Community and Environment
Surround yourself with trusted friends and family. Be kind to the Earth.

7. Individual Action
Time is precious. Let change begin now, with you.

8. Heart of the Human Spirit
Transform life through your heart, where true strength resides."

- The Eight Elements West

"One of the best-known and most influential Neo-Confucian (Dao Xue, Study of the Dao) philosophers
was Zhou Dun-Yi (1017-73 CE), creator of the famous tai chi diagram (Taiji tu, the yin-yang symbol)
and its accompanying commentary, which was based on his study of the "appendices" of the Yi Jing."
- Andy James, The Spiritual Legacy of Shaolin Temple, p. 84

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Notes

I first posted the material found on this webpage in 2005. Since then, I have received many interesting comments via email from readers.

Objections include: 1. The yin-yang elements need to be reversed with the black on top and the white on the bottom. What I presented represents an "evil" positioning of yin and yang, and is wrong. 2. The Post-Heaven rather than Pre-Heaven arrangements should be used. 3. The trigram order needs to be changed for various reasons. 4. There are not enough references to literature in Chinese. 5. More attention needs to be given to Feng Shui commentary. 5. The names and meanings of some of the trigrams are not correct. 6. Connections with Western meanings and symbolism is purely coincidental and meaningless.

I have found a wide variety of interpretations of the trigrams in the English literature on the subject. There are differences in the diagrams, and differences in the order and meanings of the trigrams found in this literature. The same situation occurs with even more frequency in Tarot decks.

I cannot speak, read, or write Chinese. At my advanced age, it is unlikely that I will ever acquire such scholarly skills. Therefore, I try to do the best I can in English, with the limited time available.

I find circular patterns (i.e.,sacred circles,labyrinths, bagua, spirals, spheres, etc) to be very interesting. Circular arrangements have a key place in the spiritual practices in my life. I am fascinated by the symbolic, artistic, religious, and psychological aspects of circular arrangements. Some use a cross or sword as the symbol of their religion; which, to me, represent fear, oppression, violence, torture, death, and the end. Others, like me, find a wheel (Buddhist Dharma Wheel), Tai Chi Tun Yin-Yang Circle (Taoist), or a sacred circle of trees (Nemeton) or stones (Labyrinth) more appealing to their spiritual sensibilities. The circle, for me, represents the cycle of the seasons, life cycles, recurrent possibilities, complexity, the union of complementary forces (e.g., female and male, winter and summer, yin and yang, Unity and Complexity, etc.), the Ring of Commitment, Eternal Returning, and the patterning and ordering of the cosmos. My prejudices and preferences are, therefore, reflected in my interpretations.

FengShui

The Eight Trigrams are widely used in the practical applications of the Chinese art of geomancy, Feng Shui. The Bagua is a primary aspects of the theory of Feng Shui. A full discussion can be found in numerous books published in the last twenty years on the subject. A few of these books are listed in thebibliography provided above.

Various charts are widely available that outline the Bagua correspondences used in Feng Shui. The following chart is similar to the one presented Lillian Too in her book Feng Shui, 1996, p. 81. The yin-yang circle in the center of the diagram is reversed in Ms. Too's chart. She explains Feng Shui in terms of the Form School and the Compass School.

Interpretation of the I-Ching by Charm Virgo

Coming in June 2013 Sent to Mike Garofalo by Email on June 1, 2013.

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This webpage was last modified or updated on May 26, 2013. This webpage was first place online on June 10, 2004.

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