The Trigrams

Identity

Name: Qian

Translation: Heaven

Chinese: 乾

Pinyin: Qián

Symbol: ☰

Gua Type: Pure

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Creative

Keywords: Heaven • Creation • Strength • Leadership • Authority • Initiative • Firmness • Yang

Additional Attributes: Action • Creativity • Sagacity • Wealth and Nobility • High Status • Courage • Bravery • Boldness • Daring • Happiness • Contentment • Charity • Leadership • Fullness • Forgiving • Roundness • Day • Heaven • Golden White

Wuxing: Metal

Polarity: Pure-Yang

Family and Gender

Family Role: Father

Family Member: Father

Family Generation: Parent

Gender Association: Masculine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: NW

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 180 Later Heaven: 315

Season: Approach of Winter

Approximate Calendar: 7 Nov – Winter Solstice

Weather: Clear • Crisp and Cold • High-Pressure Areas

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Xu–Hai (戌–亥), Approximately 19:00–23:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Skull • Head

Internal Representation: Mind • Pineal Gland

Illnesses: Broken Bones • Heart Attacks • Migraines • Lung Ailments • Swelling

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Study

Plants: Chrysanthemums • Fruit Trees • Herbs • Fruit-Tree Blossoms

Primary Food Products: Fresh Fruits • Soya • Natural Teas • Uncooked Vegetables Other than Green • Rye • Oats

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 1 Later Heaven: 6

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: South Later Heaven: Northwest

Binary: 111

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 天 • Heaven • 冰 • Ice • Quality: 圜 • Round; Circular • 剛 • Firm; Strong • 寒 • Cold • Social: 君 • Ruler; Lord • Family: 父 • Father • Body: 首 • Head • Object: 玉 • Jade • Material: 金 • Metal; Gold • Color: 大赤 • Deep Red • Animal: 馬 • Horse • Animal Descriptors: 良馬 • Excellent Horse • 老馬 • Old Horse • 瘠馬 • Lean Horse • 駁馬 • Dappled Horse • Plant: 木果 • Tree Fruit Modern: Transport: 車輛 • Vehicles; Transport • Possessions: 珠寶 • Jewelry; Valuable Possessions

Identity

Name: Kun

Translation: Earth

Chinese: 坤

Pinyin: Kūn

Symbol: ☷

Gua Type: Pure

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Receptive

Keywords: Earth • Receptivity • Nurturing • Support • Fertility • Yielding • Endurance • Yin

Additional Attributes: Receptivity • Earth • Masses • Reverence • Perseverance • Caution • Thrift • Modesty • Humility • Tranquillity • Obedience • Respect • Yellow • Sweet • Night • Stinginess

Wuxing: Earth

Polarity: Pure-Yin

Family and Gender

Family Role: Mother

Family Member: Mother

Family Generation: Parent

Gender Association: Feminine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: SW

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 0 Later Heaven: 225

Season: Approach of Autumn

Approximate Calendar: 7 Aug – Autumn Equinox

Weather: Cloudy • Low-Pressure Areas

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Wei–Shen (未–申), Approximately 13:00–17:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Abdomen

Internal Representation: Stomach • Spleen • Lower Region

Illnesses: Skin Diseases • Blood Diseases • Goitres • Tongue and Throat Ailments • Digestive Tract Ailments • Congestion

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Kitchen

Plants: Peanuts • Potatoes • Taro • Bulb Flowers

Primary Food Products: Yams • Taro • Sweet Potatoes • Natural Cereals • Wheat • Rice • Desserts • Sugar • Snacks • Powdered and Ground Foods • Hors D'oeuvres

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 8 Later Heaven: 2

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: North Later Heaven: Southwest

Binary: 000

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 地 • Earth; Ground • Family: 母 • Mother • Body: 腹 • Abdomen • Object: 布 • Cloth; Textile • 釜 • Cauldron • 大輿 • Large Carriage • 柄 • Handle • Quality: 吝嗇 • Frugality; Stinginess • 均 • Evenness; Equality • 文 • Pattern; Ornament • Social: 眾 • Multitude • Animal: 子母牛 • Cow with Calf • 牝馬 • Mare • Color: 黑 • Black • 黃 • Yellow Modern: Housing: 房屋 • Home; Housing • 房地產 • Property; Real Estate • Resources: 糧食 • Food Supplies

Identity

Name: Zhen

Translation: Thunder

Chinese: 震

Pinyin: Zhèn

Symbol: ☳

Gua Type: Single-Yang

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Arousing

Keywords: Thunder • Movement • Awakening • Shock • Initiative • Beginnings • Growth • Action

Additional Attributes: Freshness • Greenness • Newness • Uplifting Lectures • Determination • Renewal • Birth • Sunrise • Flight • Surprise • Business • Industry • Manufacturing • Engineering

Wuxing: Wood

Polarity: Yang-Dominant

Family and Gender

Family Role: Eldest-Son

Family Member: Eldest Son

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Masculine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: E

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 45 Later Heaven: 90

Season: Spring

Approximate Calendar: Vernal Equinox – 5 May

Weather: Clear and Mild • Thunderstorms • Hurricanes • Typhoons

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Yin–Mao (寅–卯), Approximately 03:00–07:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Vocal System

Internal Representation: Feet • Liver

Illnesses: Disorders of the Nervous System • Ulcers • Tumours • Hysteria • Phobias • Liver Diseases • Foot Ailments

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Living Room

Plants: Evergreens • Bamboos • Fresh-Sprouting Plants • Blossoming Trees and Plants

Primary Food Products: Green Vegetables • Citrus Fruits • Bamboo Shoots • Plums • Grapefruits • Prunes • Peaches

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 4 Later Heaven: 3

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: Northeast Later Heaven: East

Binary: 100

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 雷 • Thunder • Animal: 龍 • Dragon • Animal Descriptors: 善鳴 • Good at Neighing • 馵足 • White Left Hind Foot • 作足 • Lively Feet • 的顙 • Marked or White Forehead • Color: 玄黃 • Dark and Yellow • Process: 旉 • Spreading Out; Flourishing • Place: 大塗 • Great Road • Family: 長子 • Eldest Son • Body: 足 • Feet • Quality: 決躁 • Decisive and Impetuous • 健 • Vigorous • 蕃鮮 • Abundant and Fresh • Plant: 蒼筤竹 • Young Green Bamboo • 萑葦 • Reeds and Rushes • Agriculture: 反生 • Upward Sprouting Modern: Communication: 公告 • Public Announcement • Beginnings: 新開始 • New Beginning; Launch

Identity

Name: Xun

Translation: Wind

Chinese: 巽

Pinyin: Xùn

Symbol: ☴

Gua Type: Single-Yin

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Penetration

Keywords: Wind • Wood • Influence • Penetration • Adaptation • Communication • Networks • Trade

Additional Attributes: Credit • Late Spring • Early Summer • Intellectual Activities • Neatness • Statesmanship • Mid-Morning • Care • Faraway Places • Esoteric Subjects • Relaxation • Hypnotism • Aviation • Psychology • Psychiatry • Supermarkets

Wuxing: Wood

Polarity: Yin-Dominant

Family and Gender

Family Role: Eldest-Daughter

Family Member: Eldest Daughter

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Feminine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: SE

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 225 Later Heaven: 135

Season: Approach of Summer

Approximate Calendar: 5 May – Summer Solstice

Weather: Wind • Windstorms • Tornadoes

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Chen–Si (辰–巳), Approximately 07:00–11:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Leg

Internal Representation: Nervous System • Breathing System

Illnesses: Colds • Hyperactivity • Intestinal Upsets • Spine Trouble

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Hallway

Plants: Grass • Poppies • Lilies

Primary Food Products: Pasta • Onions • Leeks • Garlic • Cauliflowers

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 5 Later Heaven: 4

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: Southwest Later Heaven: Southeast

Binary: 011

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 木 • Wood • 風 • Wind • Family: 長女 • Eldest Daughter • Body: 股 • Thighs • Object: 繩直 • Straightness by a Cord or Line • 繩 • Rope; Cord • Profession: 工 • Artisan; Craftsperson • Color: 白 • White • Quality: 長 • Long; Extended • 高 • High; Tall • 不果 • Indecisive • 臭 • Odor; Fragrance • Process: 進退 • Advancing and Withdrawing • Human: 寡髮 • Sparse Hair • 廣顙 • Broad Forehead • 多白眼 • Much Visible White of the Eyes • Social: 近利市三倍 • Seeking Immediate Market Profit Interpretive: Quality: 躁卦 • Impetuous Trigram Modern: Infrastructure: 電纜 • Cable; Wire • Communication: 網路 • Network • 通訊 • Communication • Commerce: 貿易 • Trade; Commerce

Identity

Name: Kan

Translation: Water

Chinese: 坎

Pinyin: Kǎn

Symbol: ☵

Gua Type: Middle-Yang

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Danger / Hardship

Keywords: Water • Depth • Danger • Flow • Persistence • Adaptation • Emotion • Mystery

Additional Attributes: Dangers • Confined Activity • Narrow Limits • Hidden Crimes • Robberies • Close Interpersonal Activities • Worries • Perseverance • Cunning • Midnight • Canyons • Gorges • Dishwashers • Washing Machines • Azure

Wuxing: Water

Polarity: Balanced

Family and Gender

Family Role: Middle-Son

Family Member: Middle Son

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Masculine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: N

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 270 Later Heaven: 0

Season: Winter

Approximate Calendar: Winter Solstice – 4 Feb

Weather: Heavy Rains • Floods • Cold • Darkness

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Zi (子), Approximately 23:00–01:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Ear

Internal Representation: Sex Organs • Kidneys • Urinary System

Illnesses: Kidney Ailments • Earache • Venereal Diseases • Haemorrhoids • Abnormal Menses • Melancholia • Neurasthenia

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Bathroom

Plants: Reeds • Lotuses • Lilies • Swamp Plants • Algae

Primary Food Products: Liquors • Beers • Salt • Soya Sauce • Soft Drinks • Seaweed • Raw Fish • Dairy Products • Saltwater Fish

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 6 Later Heaven: 1

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: West Later Heaven: North

Binary: 010

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 水 • Water • 月 • Moon • Place: 溝瀆 • Ditches; Channels • 陷 • Pit; Abyss • Process: 隱伏 • Concealment • 矯輮 • Bending and Straightening • 通 • Passage; Flow • Object: 弓輪 • Bow and Wheel • 輿 • Carriage; Vehicle • Family: 中男 • Middle Son • Body: 耳 • Ear • 心 • Heart; Mind • 血 • Blood • Human: 加憂 • Increased Worry • 心病 • Heart or Mind Illness • Color: 赤 • Red • Animal: 豕 • Pig • Animal Descriptors: 美脊 • Fine-Backed Horse • 亟心 • Anxious Heart • 下首 • Lowered Head • 薄蹄 • Thin Hooves • 曳 • Dragging • Social: 盜 • Thief • Plant: 堅多心 • Hard Wood with a Dense Core Interpretive: Body: 耳痛 • Earache Modern: Infrastructure: 管道 • Pipes; Plumbing • Barriers: 鎖 • Locks; Barriers • Information: 機密 • Confidential Information

Identity

Name: Li

Translation: Fire

Chinese: 離

Pinyin: Lí

Symbol: ☲

Gua Type: Middle-Yin

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Clarity

Keywords: Fire • Light • Clarity • Illumination • Awareness • Vision • Technology • Creativity

Additional Attributes: Intelligence • Sound Judgment • Midday • Brightness • Impulses • Acridity • Electricity • Medical Practice • Newspapers • Magazines • Bookstores

Wuxing: Fire

Polarity: Balanced

Family and Gender

Family Role: Middle-Daughter

Family Member: Middle Daughter

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Feminine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: S

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 90 Later Heaven: 180

Season: Summer

Approximate Calendar: Summer Solstice – 7 Aug

Weather: Clear • Warm • Dry

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Wu (午), Approximately 11:00–13:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Eyes

Internal Representation: Blood System • Heart

Illnesses: Mental Illnesses • Brain Tumours • Heart Ailments • Blood Disorders • High Fevers • Eye Diseases

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Patio / Porch

Plants: Maples • Watermelons • Red Peppers • Tomatoes

Primary Food Products: Dried Foods • Shellfish • Colourfully Prepared Foods • Peanuts

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 3 Later Heaven: 9

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: East Later Heaven: South

Binary: 101

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 火 • Fire • 日 • Sun • 電 • Electricity; Lightning • Family: 中女 • Middle Daughter • Body: 目 • Eye • Armor: 甲冑 • Armor and Helmet • Weapon: 戈兵 • Spears and Weapons • Animal: 鱉 • Turtle • 蟹 • Crab • 蠃 • Snail • 蚌 • Clam • Quality: 乾卦 • Parched; Dried Out Trigram • Plant: 木槁 • Withered Tree Core Modern: Technology: 電子製品 • Electronics; Digital Devices • Media: 屏幕 • Screens; Displays

Identity

Name: Gen

Translation: Mountain

Chinese: 艮

Pinyin: Gèn

Symbol: ☶

Gua Type: Single-Yang

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Keeping Still

Keywords: Mountain • Stillness • Stability • Boundaries • Meditation • Stopping • Solitude

Additional Attributes: Mountains • Late Winter • Tardiness • Stubbornness • Candour • Savings • Frugality • Caution • Independence

Wuxing: Earth

Polarity: Yang-Dominant

Family and Gender

Family Role: Youngest-Son

Family Member: Youngest Son

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Masculine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: NE

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 315 Later Heaven: 45

Season: Approach of Spring

Approximate Calendar: 5 Feb – Vernal Equinox

Weather: Cloudiness That Is Clearing

Time Associations

Hourly Association: Chou (丑), Approximately 01:00–03:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Hand

Internal Representation: Back

Illnesses: Nasal Difficulties • Arthritis • Fatigue • Muscular Difficulties • Leg Disorders • Constipation

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Bedroom

Plants: Nut Trees • Mangoes • Avocados

Primary Food Products: Preserved Foods • Avocados • Mushrooms • Cooked Cereals

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 7 Later Heaven: 8

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: Northwest Later Heaven: Northeast

Binary: 001

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 山 • Mountain • Place: 徑路 • Footpaths; Narrow Trails • Object: 小石 • Small Stones • 門闕 • Gateways; Doors • Plant: 木堅多節 • Gnarled and Knotty Wood • Family: 少子 • Youngest Son • Body: 手 • Hands • Animal: 黿 • Giant Tortoise • 黔喙之屬 • Black-Mouthed Creatures; Birds of Prey • Animal Descriptors: 堅多肉 • Bony Structures Covered in Firm Flesh • Quality: 止 • Stopping; Resting Modern: Architecture: 建築物 • Buildings; Heavy Architecture • Barriers: 阻礙 • Obstacles; Literal Blockages

Identity

Name: Dui

Translation: Lake

Chinese: 兌

Pinyin: Duì

Symbol: ☱

Gua Type: Single-Yin

Core Meaning

Primary Attribute: Joyousness

Keywords: Lake • Joy • Pleasure • Communication • Expression • Openness • Gathering

Additional Attributes: Red • Sea-Going Activities • Musical Arts • Gentleness • Joy and Joyfulness • Lawsuits • Litigation • Expressed Sexual Desire • Laughter • Arguments • Setbacks or Failures • Damage • Hardware Stores

Wuxing: Metal

Polarity: Yin-Dominant

Family and Gender

Family Role: Youngest-Daughter

Family Member: Youngest Daughter

Family Generation: Child

Gender Association: Feminine

Direction, Season, and Weather

Later Heaven Direction: W

Direction Degrees: Earlier Heaven: 135 Later Heaven: 270

Season: Autumn

Approximate Calendar: Autumn Equinox – 7 Nov

Weather: Rain • Fog • Smog

Time Associations

Hourly Association: You (酉), Approximately 17:00–19:00

Body, Mind, and Health

Physiognomy: Mouth

Internal Representation: Speech Organs

Illnesses: Chest and Breast Difficulties • Pelvic Disorders • Hip-Joint Disorders • Skull Injuries

Environment and Sustenance

Room: Playroom

Plants: Magnolias • Gardenias • Lake Plants • Mangrove Trees • Ginger • Other Hot-Spice Plants

Primary Food Products: Coffee • Tea Other than Natural • Wine • Mutton • Fish • Honey

Classical Systems

Numbers: Earlier Heaven: 2 Later Heaven: 7

Numbering Systems: Earlier Heaven: Fuxi Later Heaven: King-Wen

Directions: Earlier Heaven: Southeast Later Heaven: West

Binary: 110

Binary Order: Bottom-to-Top

Lines

Classical Systems

Additional Information

Source Tradition: Shuogua Zhuan

Source Status: Classical-and-Interpretive

Signifiers: Classical: Natural: 澤 • Marsh; Lake • Family: 少女 • Youngest Daughter • Body: 口 • Mouth • 舌 • Tongue • Profession: 巫 • Shaman; Medium • Quality: 說 • Joy; Expression • 毀折 • Breaking Down; Falling Apart • Plant: 附決 • Dropping or Falling Fruits Modern: Entertainment: 娛樂 • Entertainment; Leisure • Communication: 演講 • Speaking; Verbal Discourse