Yin Yang & Eight Trigrams

The twin concepts of Yin and Yang are peculiar to ancient Chinese cosmology. Yin and Yang are symbolized by the sun and the moon. They are the two opposing forces active in the universe.

Yin is said to exist in Yang and Yang exists in Yin. This changing combination of negative and positive, dark and light, cold and hot which keeps the world spinning creates Qi or the life giving force of the universe.

The female principle of yin is associated with the earth, with the North and cold. Originally, Yin means `shady side' which is the side of a mountain which is not facing the sun. The word is also used to mean the dark, cold room in which ice was stored in summer. Yang is related to Heaven, South, the Emperor, the dragon and all uneven numbers are yang-numbers.

The lines forming these trigrams are either whole (male) or broken (female). Each Trigram consists of three male or female lines; and combined in various combinations; the Trigram symbolizes heaven, earth, water, fire dampness, wind thunder or mountains.

The trigrams can be superimposed upon each other, and in this way 8 x 8 = 64 hexagrams are obtained.

These 64 hexagrams provide the essential text of the Chinese oracle-book. The 64 hexagrams covers all human conditions and occasions - a kind of inspired formula for interpreting events in the world.

According to a legend, the system of trigrams and hexagrams was developed by Zhou-gong, the relative and political adviser of the first Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty (from c. 1050 BC). The trigrams are often to be found on the garments of Taoist priests and on the walls, ceiling and beams of Chinese temples.

From traditional Yin and Yang philosophy. The interrelationships of this philosophy were described 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"

"The Limitless (Wuji) produces the delimited, and this is the Absolute (Taiji)
The Taiji produces two forms, named yin and yang.
The two forms produce four phenomena, named lesser yang, great yang (Taiyang also means the Sun), lesser yin, great yin (Taiyin also means the Moon).
The four phenomena act on the eight trigrams (ba gua), eight eights are sixty-four hexagrams."

Originally, the Trigram was considered a symbolic representation of the Family nucleus e.g. made up of the Father, Mother, Elder Son, Middle Son, Younger Son, Elder Daughter, Middle Daughter and Younger daughter. This is still true. In fact, the Trigram is more than this. If you look at the table below, the Trigram also represents the time and seasons. For example: K'an represents Winter, Ken = Late Winter, Chen = Spring etc.

卦名 Name	自然 Nature	性情 Personality	家族 Family	方位 Direction	意義 Meaning
6 乾 Qian	天 Heaven	健	父 Father	西北 Northwest	Expansive energy, the sky.
7 兌 Dui	泽 Lake	悦	少女 Youngest Daughter	西 West	Joy, satisfaction, stagnation.
9 離 Li	火 Fire	麗	中女 Middle Daughter	南 South	Rapid movement, radiance, the sun.
3 震 Zhen	雷 Thunder	動	長男 Eldest Son	東 East	Excitation, revolution, division.
4 巽 Xun	風 Wind	入	長女 Eldest Daughter	東南 Southeast	Gentle penetration, flexibility.
1 坎 Kan	水 Water	陥	中男 Middle Son	北 North	Danger, rapid rivers, the abyss, the moon.
8 艮 Gen	山 Mountain	止	少男 Youngest Son	東北 Northeast	Stillness, immovability.
2 坤 Kun	地 Earth	順	母 Mother	西南 Southwest	Receptive energy, that which yields.