Eight Basic Trigrams

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Xuan Kong Feng Shui ( aka "Flying Stars Wind Water" )

This School of Xuan Kong Feng Shui system rests on the astronomical basis of the "flight patterns of dynamic stars" through the three yuans or eras of nine yuns or periods which holds seriously impactful consequences on the occupants who lived within a confined space walled by at least three sides and a roof over it. The most common interpretation of this criteria is the human residence or shop space that satisfies this prognosis.

Modern research are still being conducted into the extent of its potency and pervasiveness on the occupant's well-being at a chosen "confined space" in one location over a correspondingly similar conditions in another location can result in a wide rift in terms of favourable versus unfavourable outcome or degree of luckiness benefiting or affecting the individuals living therein.

Though this is a deep and very profound knowledge of Feng Shui studies which most experienced Feng Shui practitioners and scholars alike accepted its pervasiveness but still the debate is endless on the "quantification of its potency" which ranges widely and also depend on which Feng Shui practitioners and their level of experience and skill-sets, are conducting and administrating the "commissioning of the flight patterns of the dynamic stars configuration".

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Eight Basic Trigrams – Ba Gua

Eight Basic Trigrams – Ba Gua (八卦)

As has been mentioned, the eight trigrams that form the basis of the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) each have a list of various meanings and/or attributes attached to it. These meanings and/or attributes are then used in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) as metaphors to explain the character and meaning of the hexagrams they make.

For example, each trigram represents a family member. Heaven trigram represents the father. Thunder trigram represents the eldest son. If the hexagram is made up of the eldest son above the father ( thunder above, heaven below ), then part of the image will be of the son being more powerful than his father, having gained a level of power that is greater than his father through the lessons life has given him. Indeed, the name for that hexagram is Da Chuang/The Power of the Great.

Let us now look further at the symbolism contained within each trigram.

Qian /Heaven is the father. Qian is creative, active, firm, without limit. It represents the head and corresponds to strength and endurance. It also represents head, ice and the fruit from a tree.

Kun / Earth is the mother. Kun is receptive, passive, enfolding, gentle, fertile and modest. It represents the stomach and corresponds to dedication and fulfilment. It also represents the tree trunk and a larger cart or cloth which can be said to carry all things without distinction.

Dui / Marsh is the youngest daughter. Dui is joyous, inviting, and tender but having a hard cover. It represents the mouth and lips and corresponds to sensuality and pleasure. It also represents mist and sorceress.

Li / Fire is the middle daughter. Li is clinging, bright, hollow, dry and clear. It represents the eyes and corresponds to beauty and intelligence. It also represents lightning and the sun.

Xun / Wind is the eldest daughter. Xun is gentle, flexible yet tough. It represents the thighs and corresponds to progress, perseverance and justice. It also represents wood and its characteristic of flexibility yet toughness is particularly comparable to the willow tree which features so much in Chinese literature and art.

Gen / Mountain is the youngest son. Gen is keeping still, quiet and calm. It represents the hand and fingers whose tight grip can hold things still and corresponds to a door or opening and to withdrawal and meditation. It also corresponds to the hermit who has, in Chinese tradition, always been a mountain dweller.

Kan / Water is the middle son. Kan is abysmal and fearless, that which penetrates. It represents the ear and corresponds to erosion, desire and difficulty. It also corresponds to rain and the moon.

Zhen /Thunder is the eldest son. Zhen is arousing and violence. It represents the leg and corresponds to determination, energy and spontaneity. It also corresponds to earthquakes and volcanoes.

As you can see, the images are very strong and evocative. When two trigrams are combined, the images help to create a picture of what the hexagram is about. The full version of the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) begins with a judgement as to the core meaning of each hexagram, which is then followed by a description of the image to further amplify the meaning. People have in the past had difficulty understanding where the images have come from and this stems from a lack of understanding of the eight trigrams that make up the Ba Gua (八卦).

The correspondences given above are by no means an exhaustive list. The trigrams have many other correspondences and a whole book could be written just about the eight trigrams - Ba Gua (八卦).

Garrett Lee
Founder
Ancient Feng Shui