Bagua

For other uses, see Bagua (disambiguation).
Bagua diagram from Zhao Huiqian's (趙撝謙) Liushu benyi (六書本義, 1370s).

The Bagua (Chinese: 八卦; literally: "eight symbols"), or Pa Kua, are eight trigrams used in Daoist cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts. Each consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," respectively representing yin or yang. Due to their tripartite structure, they are often referred to as "trigrams" in English.

The trigrams are related to Taiji philosophy, Taijiquan and the Wu Xing, or "five elements".[1] The relationships between the trigrams are represented in two arrangements, the Primordial (先天八卦), "Earlier Heaven"[2] or "Fu Xi" bagua (伏羲八卦), and the Manifested (後天八卦), "Later Heaven,"[2] or "King Wen" bagua. The trigrams have correspondences in astronomy, astrology, geography, geomancy, anatomy, the family, and elsewhere.[3][4]

The ancient Chinese classic, I Ching (Pinyin: Yi Jing), consists of the 64 pairwise permutations of trigrams, referred to as "hexagrams", along with commentary on each one.

Trigrams

八卦 Bāguà—The eight trigrams
乾 Qián
兌 Duì
離 Lí
震 Zhèn
巽 Xùn
坎 Kǎn
艮 Gèn
坤 Kūn
Heaven/Sky Lake/Marsh Fire Thunder Wind Water Mountain Earth
天 Tiān 澤(泽) Zé 火 Huǒ 雷 Léi 風(风) Fēng 水 Shuǐ 山 Shān 地 Dì

Relation to other principles

Derivation of the bagua

There are two possible sources of bagua. The first is from traditional Yin and Yang philosophy. This is explained by Fuxi in the following way:

無極生有極、有極是太極、
太極生兩儀、即陰陽;
兩儀生四象: 即少陰、太陰、少陽、太陽、
四象演八卦、八八六十四卦

Wújí shēng yǒu jí, yǒu jí shì tàijí
Tàijí shēng liǎngyí jí yīnyáng
Liǎngyí shēng sìxiàng: jí shǎo yīn, tàiyīn, shǎo yáng, tàiyang
Sìxiàng yǎn bāguà bābāliù shísì guà

The Limitless (無極; wuji) produces the delimited (有極; youji), and this demarcation is equivalent to the Absolute (太極; taiji).
The Taiji (the two opposing forces in embryonic form) produces two forms, named yin-yang (陰陽) which are called Liangyi (the manifested opposing forces).
These two forms produce four phenomena: named lesser yin (少陰, shaoyin), greater yin (太陰; taiyin, which also refers to the Moon), lesser yang (少陽, shaoyang), and greater yang (太陽; taiyang, which also refers to the Sun).
The four phenomena (四象; Sìxiàng) act on the eight trigrams (八卦; Bagua).
Eight 'eights' results in sixty-four hexagrams.


Another possible source of bagua is the following, attributed to King Wen of Zhou Dynasty: "When the world began, there was heaven and earth. Heaven mated with the earth and gave birth to everything in the world. Heaven is Qian-gua, and the Earth is Kun-gua. The remaining six guas are their sons and daughters".

The trigrams are related to the five elements of Wu Xing, used by Feng Shui practitioners and in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Those five elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. The Water (Kan) and Fire (Li) trigrams correspond directly with the Water and Fire elements. The element of Earth corresponds with both the trigrams of Earth (Kun) and Mountain (Gen). The element of Wood corresponds with the trigrams of Wind (Xun) (as a gentle but inexorable force that can erode and penetrate stone) and Thunder (Zhen). The element of Metal corresponds with the trigrams of Heaven (Qian) and Lake (Dui).

There are eight possible combinations to render the various trigrams (八卦 bāguà):

Trigram Figure possible Binary Value Name Translation: Wilhelm[5] Image in Nature (pp.l-li) Direction (p. 269) Family Relationship (p. 274) Body Part (p. 274) Attribute (p. 273) Stage/ State (pp.l-li) Animal (p. 273)
1 111
qián
the Creative, Force heaven, sky
northwest father head strong creative
horse
2 110
duì
the Joyous, Open lake, marsh
west third daughter mouth pleasure tranquil (complete devotion)
sheep, goat
3 101
the Clinging, Radiance fire
south second daughter eye light-giving, dependence clinging, clarity, adaptable
pheasant
4 100
zhèn
the Arousing, Shake thunder
east first son foot inciting movement initiative
dragon
5 011
xùn
the Gentle, Ground wind
southeast first daughter thigh penetrating gentle entrance
fowl
6 010
kǎn
the Abysmal, Gorge water
north second son ear dangerous in-motion
pig
7 001
gèn
Keeping Still, Bound mountain
northeast third son hand resting, stand-still completion
wolf, dog
8 000
kūn
the Receptive, Field earth
southwest mother belly devoted, yielding receptive
cow

Hexagram lookup table

Upper →
Lower ↓
乾 Qián

Heaven
坤 Kūn

Earth
震 Zhèn

Thunder
坎 Kǎn

Water
艮 Gèn

Mountain
巽 Xùn

Wind
離 Lí

Flame
兌 Duì

Lake
乾 Qián

Heaven
01


Force
11


Pervading
34


Great Invigorating
05


Attending

26


Great
Accumulating

09


Small
Harvest

14


Great
Possessing
43


Displacement
坤 Kūn

Earth
12


Obstruction
02


Field
16


Providing-For
08


Grouping
23


Stripping
20


Viewing
35


Prospering
45


Clustering
震 Zhèn

Thunder
25


Innocence
24


Returning
51


Shake
03


Sprouting
27


Swallowing
42


Augmenting
21


Gnawing Bite
17


Following
坎 Kǎn

Water
06


Arguing
07


Leading
40


Deliverance
29


Gorge
04


Enveloping
59


Dispersing
64


Before Completion
47


Confining
艮 Gèn

Mountain
33


Retiring
15


Humbling
62


Small Exceeding
39


Limping
52


Bound
53


Infiltrating
56


Sojourning
31


Conjoining
巽 Xùn

Wind
44


Coupling
46


Ascending
32


Persevering
48


Welling
18


Correcting
57


Ground
50


Holding
28


Great Exceeding
離 Lí

Flame
13


Concording
People
36


Intelligence
Hidden
55


Abounding
63


Already
Fording
22


Adorning
37


Dwelling
People
30


Radiance
49


Skinning
兌 Duì

Lake
10


Treading
19


Nearing
54


Converting the Maiden
60


Articulating
41


Diminishing
61


Inner Truth
38


Polarising
58


Open

Fu Xi "Earlier Heaven"

Fuxi "Earlier Heaven" bagua arrangement
卦名
Name
自然
Nature
季节
Season
性情
Personality
家族
Family
方位
Direction
意義
Meaning
 Qián天 Sky (Heaven)Summer Creative 父 Father南 SouthExpansive energy, the sky. For further information, see tiān.
 Xùn風 WindSummer Gentle 長女 Eldest Daughter西南 SouthwestGentle penetration, flexibility.
 Kǎn水 WaterAutumn Abysmal 中男 Middle Son西 WestDanger, rapid rivers, the abyss, the moon.
 Gèn山 MountainAutumn Still 少男 Youngest Son西北 NorthwestStillness, immovability.
 Kūn地 EarthWinter Receptive 母 Mother北 NorthReceptive energy, that which yields. For further information, see .
 Zhèn雷 ThunderWinter Arousing 長男 Eldest Son東北 NortheastExcitation, revolution, division.
 Lí火 FireSpring Clinging 中女 Middle Daughter東 EastRapid movement, radiance, the sun.
 Duì澤 LakeSpring Joyous 少女 Youngest Daughter東南 SoutheastJoy, satisfaction, stagnation.

King Wen "Later Heaven"

King Wen "Later Heaven" bagua arrangement
卦名
Name
自然
Nature
季节
Season
性情
Personality
家族
Family
方位
Direction
意義
Meaning
 Li火 FireSummer Clinging 中女 Middle Daughter南 SouthRapid movement, radiance, the sun.
 Kun地 EarthSummer Receptive 母 Mother西南 SouthwestReceptive energy, that which yields.
 Dui澤 LakeAutumn Joyous 少女 Youngest Daughter西 WestJoy, satisfaction, stagnation.
 Qian天 HeavenAutumn Creative 父 Father西北 NorthwestExpansive energy, the sky.
 Kan水 WaterWinter Abysmal 中男 Middle Son北 NorthDanger, rapid rivers, the abyss, the moon.
 Gen山 MountainWinter Still 少男 Youngest Son東北 NortheastStillness, immovability.
 Zhen雷 ThunderSpring Arousing 長男 Eldest Son東 EastExcitation, revolution, division.
 Xun風 WindSpring Gentle 長女 Eldest Daughter東南 SoutheastGentle penetration, flexibility.

Lóng tú

卦名
Name
節氣
Solar Term
屬性
Elements
器官
Organs
方位
Direction
顏色
Color
味道
Taste
星相
Constellations
體液
Humorae
二進制
Binary
Winter Solstice 冬至 陽火(Fire)腎 Kidneys北 North丹 Red鹹 Salty虛(Aquarius)血 Blood011
Start of Winter 立冬 陰火(Fire) 腸 Intestines西北 North West洋紅 Magenta鹹 Salty斗(Sagittarius)血 Blood010
Autumn Equinox 秋分 陰水(Water) 肝 Liver西 West藍 Blue苦 Bitter房(Scorpio)津 Body Liquid110
Start of Autumn 立秋 陽水(Water) 膽 Gallbladder 西南 South West黑 Black苦 Bitter角(Virgo)津 Body Liquid111
Summer Solstice 夏至 陰木(Wood) 肺 Lungs南 South青 Cyan辛 Spicy星(Leo)氣 Air100
Start of Summer 立夏 陽木(Wood) 心 Heart東南 South East綠 Green辛 Spicy井(Gemini)氣 Air101
Spring Equinox 春分 陽金(Metal) 脾 Spleen東 East黃 Yellow酸 Sour昴(Taurus)精 Essence001
Start of Spring 立春 陰金(Metal) 胃 Stomach 東北 North East 白 White酸 Sour奎(Pisces)精 Essence000

生(Generative),剋(Destructive)

火生水,水生木,木生金,金生火

火剋金,金剋木,木剋水,水剋火

Guī shū

卦名
Name
節氣
Solar Term
屬性
Elements
家族
Family
方位
Direction
顏色
Color
脈搏
Pulse
二進制
Binary
四馬與治療法
Four horses &Therapy
Winter Solstice 冬至 太陽陽水(Water)父 Father北 North黑 Black沉 Deep11111太陽,寒者熱之
Start of Winter 立冬 太陽陰水(Water) 長女 Eldest Daughter西北 North West藍 Blue沉 Deep11011太陽,寒者熱之
Autumn Equinox 秋分 少陽陽木(Wood) 中男 Middle Son西 West綠 Green細 Small10110少陽,涼者溫之
Start of Autumn 立秋 少陽陰木(Wood) 少女 Youngest Daughter西南 South West青 Cyan細 Small10010少陽,涼者溫之
Summer Solstice 夏至 太陰陰金(Metal) 母 Mother南 South白 White浮 Float00000太陰,熱者寒之
Start of Summer 立夏 太陰陽金(Metal) 長男 Eldest Son東南 South East黃 Yellow浮 Float00100太陰,熱者寒之
Spring Equinox 春分 少陰陰火(Fire) 中女 Middle Daughter東 East洋紅 Magenta大 Big01001少陰,溫者涼之
Start of Spring 立春 少陰陽火(Fire) 少男 Youngest Son東北 North East 丹 Red大 Big01101少陰,溫者涼之

生(Generative),剋(Destructive)

水生木,木生金,金生火,火生水

水剋火,火剋金,金剋木,木剋水

Bagua used in Feng Shui

The Bagua is an essential tool in the majority of Feng Shui schools. The Bagua used in Feng shui can appear in two different versions: the Earlier Heaven Bagua, used for burial sites, and the Later Heaven Bagua, used for the residences.

Xiantian Bagua

In Xiantian Bagua, also known as Fu Xi Bagua or Earlier Heaven Bagua, the Heaven is in the higher part and the Earth is in the lower part. The trigram Qian (Heaven) is at the top, the trigram Kun (Earth) is at the bottom (in the past, the South was located at the top in Chinese maps). The trigram Li (Fire) is located on the left and opposite to it is the trigram Kan (Water). Zhen (Thunder) and Xun (Wind) form another pair, while being one opposite the other, the first on the bottom left next to Li while the second is next to Qian on the top right of the Bagua. Gen (Mountain) and Dui (Lake) form the last pair, one opposite the other, both in balance and harmony. The adjustment of the trigrams is symmetrical by forming exact contrary pairs. They symbolize the opposite forces of Yin and Yang and represent an ideal state, when everything is in balance.

Houtian Bagua

The sequence of the trigrams in Houtian Bagua, also known as the Bagua of King Wen or Later Heaven Bagua, describes the patterns of the environmental changes. Kan is placed downwards and Li at the top, Zhen in the East and Dui in the West. Contrary to the Earlier Heaven Bagua, this one is a dynamic Bagua where energies and the aspects of each trigram flow towards the following. It is the sequence used by the Luo Pan compass which is used in Feng Shui to analyze the movement of the Qi that affects us.

Bagua of the eight aspirations

Feng shui was made very popular in the Occident thanks to the Bagua of the eight aspirations. Each trigram corresponds to an aspect of life which, in its turn, corresponds to one of the cardinal directions. Applying feng shui using the Bagua of the eight aspirations made it possible to simplify feng shui and to bring it within the reach of everyone. The Masters of traditional feng shui call it Neo Feng Shui, for its simplicity, because it does not take into account the forms of the landscape or the temporal influence or the annual cycles. The Bagua of the eight aspirations is divided into two branches: the first, which uses the compass and cardinal directions, and the second, which uses the Bagua by using the main door. It is clear that, not taking into account the cardinal directions, the second is even more simplified.

Bagua map

A bagua map is a tool used in modern forms of feng shui to map a room or location and see how the different sections correspond to different aspects in one's life. These sections are believed to relate to every area or aspect of life and are divided into such categories as: fame, relationships/marriage, children/creativity, helpful people/travel, career, inner knowledge, family/ancestors/health, and wealth/blessings.

In this system, the map is intended to be used over the land, one's home, office or desk to find areas lacking good chi, and to show where there are negative or missing spaces that may need rectifying or enhancing in life or the environment.

For example, if the bagua grid is placed over the entire house plan and it shows the toilet, bathroom, laundry, or kitchen in the wealth/blessings area it would be considered that the money coming into that particular environment would disappear very fast, as if to be 'going down the drain.'

In popular culture

A Tibetan "Mystic Tablet" containing the Eight Trigrams on top of a large tortoise (presumably, alluding to the animal that presented them to Fu Xi), along with the 12 signs of Chinese zodiac, and a smaller tortoise carrying the Lo Shu Square on its shell
Film
Television
Cartoons, manga and anime
Games
Music
Other

See also

References

  1. CHEN, Xin (tr. Alex Golstein). The Illustrated Canon of Chen Family Taijiquan, INBI Matrix Pty Ltd, 2007. page 11. (accessed on Scribd.com, December 14, 2009.)
  2. 1 2 Wilhelm, Richard (1950). The I Ching or Book of Changes. translated by Cary F. Baynes, forward by C. G. Jung, preface to 3rd ed. by Hellmut Wilhelm (1967). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. 266, 269. ISBN 069109750X.
  3. TSUEI, Wei. Roots of Chinese culture and medicine Chinese Culture Books Co., 1989.
  4. ZONG, Xiao-Fan and Liscum, Gary. Chinese Medical Palmistry: Your Health in Your Hand, Blue Poppy Press, 1999.
  5. Wilhelm, R. & Baynes, C., (1967): "The I Ching or Book of Changes", With foreword by Carl Jung, Introduction, Bollingen Series XIX, Princeton University Press, (1st ed. 1950)
  6. http://unicode.org/charts/PDF/U2600.pdf

External links

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