The Eight Trigrams (Bagua)

The eight trigrams form the alphabet of the I Ching. Each three-line figure embodies an elemental force of nature, family role, compass direction and inner character.

乾 ☰ Qián (Heaven)

Prior Heaven #1 · Heaven · Northwest

Nature & Element: Heaven · Metal
Quality: Strong, creative, persistent
Family role: Father
Compass direction: Northwest

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 乾，健也。乾為天，為圜，為君，為父。

Qián represents strength and persistent vigor. It is heaven, roundness, the ruler, and the father.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Heaven above)

1 乾 The Creative 6 訟 Conflict 10 履 Treading 12 否 Standstill 13 同人 Fellowship 25 无妄 Innocence 33 遯 Retreat 44 姤 Coming to Meet

As Lower Trigram (Heaven below)

1 乾 The Creative 5 需 Waiting 9 小畜 Small Taming 11 泰 Peace 14 大有 Great Possession 26 大畜 Great Taming 34 大壯 Great Power 43 夬 Breakthrough

兌 ☱ Duì (Lake)

Prior Heaven #2 · Lake · West

Nature & Element: Lake · Metal
Quality: Joyful, receptive, open
Family role: Youngest daughter
Compass direction: West

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 兌，說也。兌為澤，為少女，為口舌。

Duì represents joy and open expression. It is the lake, the youngest daughter, and speech.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Lake above)

17 隨 Following 28 大過 Great Exceeding 31 咸 Influence 43 夬 Breakthrough 45 萃 Gathering Together 47 困 Exhaustion 49 革 Molting 58 兌 The Joyous

As Lower Trigram (Lake below)

10 履 Treading 19 臨 Approach 38 睽 Opposition 41 損 Decrease 54 歸妹 The Marrying Maiden 58 兌 The Joyous 60 節 Limitation 61 中孚 Inner Truth

離 ☲ Lí (Fire)

Prior Heaven #3 · Fire · South

Nature & Element: Fire · Fire
Quality: Clinging, luminous, discerning
Family role: Middle daughter
Compass direction: South

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 離，麗也。離為火，為日，為電，為中女。

Lí represents clarity and clinging. It is fire, the sun, lightning, and the middle daughter.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Fire above)

14 大有 Great Possession 21 噬嗑 Biting Through 30 離 The Clinging 35 晉 Progress 38 睽 Opposition 50 鼎 The Cauldron 56 旅 The Wanderer 64 未濟 Before Completion

As Lower Trigram (Fire below)

13 同人 Fellowship 22 賁 Grace 30 離 The Clinging 36 明夷 Darkening of the Light 37 家人 The Family 49 革 Molting 55 豐 Abundance 63 既濟 After Completion

震 ☳ Zhèn (Thunder)

Prior Heaven #4 · Thunder · East

Nature & Element: Thunder · Wood
Quality: Arousing, stirring, initiating
Family role: Eldest son
Compass direction: East

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 震，動也。震為雷，為龍，為玄黃，為長子。

Zhèn represents movement and arousal. It is thunder, the stirring dragon, and the eldest son.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Thunder above)

16 豫 Enthusiasm 32 恆 Duration 34 大壯 Great Power 40 解 Deliverance 51 震 Thunder 54 歸妹 The Marrying Maiden 55 豐 Abundance 62 小過 Small Exceeding

As Lower Trigram (Thunder below)

3 屯 Difficult Beginnings 17 隨 Following 21 噬嗑 Biting Through 24 復 Return 25 无妄 Innocence 27 頤 Nourishment 42 益 Increase 51 震 Thunder

巽 ☴ Xùn (Wind)

Prior Heaven #5 · Wind · Southeast

Nature & Element: Wind · Wood
Quality: Gentle, penetrating, flexible
Family role: Eldest daughter
Compass direction: Southeast

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 巽，入也。巽為木，為風，為長女，為繩直。

Xùn represents gentle penetration. It is wood, the wind, the eldest daughter, and steady alignment.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Wind above)

9 小畜 Small Taming 20 觀 Contemplation 37 家人 The Family 42 益 Increase 53 漸 Gradual Progress 57 巽 The Gentle 59 渙 Dispersion 61 中孚 Inner Truth

As Lower Trigram (Wind below)

18 蠱 Repairing the Spoiled 28 大過 Great Exceeding 32 恆 Duration 44 姤 Coming to Meet 46 升 Pushing Upward 48 井 The Well 50 鼎 The Cauldron 57 巽 The Gentle

坎 ☵ Kǎn (Water)

Prior Heaven #6 · Water · North

Nature & Element: Water · Water
Quality: Dangerous depths, adaptable, flowing
Family role: Middle son
Compass direction: North

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 坎，陷也。坎為水，為溝瀆，為隱伏，為中男。

Kǎn represents depths and perilous terrain. It is water, the hidden ravine, and the middle son.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Water above)

3 屯 Difficult Beginnings 5 需 Waiting 8 比 Holding Together 29 坎 The Abyss 39 蹇 Obstruction 48 井 The Well 60 節 Limitation 63 既濟 After Completion

As Lower Trigram (Water below)

4 蒙 Youthful Folly 6 訟 Conflict 7 師 The Army 29 坎 The Abyss 40 解 Deliverance 47 困 Exhaustion 59 渙 Dispersion 64 未濟 Before Completion

艮 ☶ Gèn (Mountain)

Prior Heaven #7 · Mountain · Northeast

Nature & Element: Mountain · Earth
Quality: Still, steadfast, boundary
Family role: Youngest son
Compass direction: Northeast

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 艮，止也。艮為山，為徑路，為小石，為少男。

Gèn represents keeping still and holding boundaries. It is the mountain, the mountain path, and the youngest son.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Mountain above)

4 蒙 Youthful Folly 18 蠱 Repairing the Spoiled 22 賁 Grace 23 剝 Splitting Apart 26 大畜 Great Taming 27 頤 Nourishment 41 損 Decrease 52 艮 Keeping Still

As Lower Trigram (Mountain below)

15 謙 Modesty 31 咸 Influence 33 遯 Retreat 39 蹇 Obstruction 52 艮 Keeping Still 53 漸 Gradual Progress 56 旅 The Wanderer 62 小過 Small Exceeding

坤 ☷ Kūn (Earth)

Prior Heaven #8 · Earth · Southwest

Nature & Element: Earth · Earth
Quality: Receptive, yielding, sustaining
Family role: Mother
Compass direction: Southwest

From the Shuogua (Ten Wings) 坤，順也。坤為地，為母，為布，為釜，為大輿。

Kūn represents yielding and bearing all things. It is the earth, the mother, cloth, and the wagon.

Shuogua Commentary, chapter 7.

As Upper Trigram (Earth above)

2 坤 The Receptive 7 師 The Army 11 泰 Peace 15 謙 Modesty 19 臨 Approach 24 復 Return 36 明夷 Darkening of the Light 46 升 Pushing Upward

As Lower Trigram (Earth below)

2 坤 The Receptive 8 比 Holding Together 12 否 Standstill 16 豫 Enthusiasm 20 觀 Contemplation 23 剝 Splitting Apart 35 晉 Progress 45 萃 Gathering Together

Two Trigram Arrangements: Prior & Later Heaven

Prior Heaven (Fu Xi Sequence)

The Prior Heaven arrangement pairs direct opposites against each other across the center: Heaven (Qián) opposes Earth (Kūn), Fire (Lí) opposes Water (Kǎn), Thunder (Zhèn) opposes Wind (Xùn), and Mountain (Gèn) opposes Lake (Duì). The numbers 1 through 8 follow the circular flow of complementary pairs.

Later Heaven (King Wen Sequence)

The Later Heaven arrangement models the cycle of seasons and terrestrial space: Thunder (Zhèn) begins in the East with spring, Fire (Lí) stands at the South with summer, Lake (Duì) marks the West with autumn, and Water (Kǎn) holds the North with winter. This order forms the spatial coordinate framework of East Asian traditional calendars.