Page 240 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

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bagua

eight trigrams

The eight trigrams of the *Yijing are different combinations of three lines (yao
.3t). The lines have two forms: unbroken (- ) representingYang, and broken
(--) representing Yin. When the trigrams are joined in pairs, one above the
other, they form the sixty-four hexagrams.
Tradition attributes the origin of the trigrams to Fu Xi 1* ~ or other
mythical figures. Used in divination, the trigrams originally served as images
of elements in nature and human society, as described in the Zuozhuan tr.1~
(Commentary of Zuo), the Guoyu ~ ~ (Discourses of the States), and espe-
cially the Shuogua ~!~ (Explanation of the Trigrams) appendix to the Yijing.
Moreover, since ancient times the trigrams had been invested with significance
as markers of the combinations and permutations of the forces that generate
the world and all beings in it. While the trigrams together symbolize the whole
of the cosmos, as stated in the Xici ~ lk\¥ (Appended Statements) appendix to
the Yijing, each represents one of eight categories of beings and objects (for
some examples, see table 2).
Arrangements. The graphic arrangements of the eight trigrams express therefore
a specific cosmological system and social order. The Yijing and its early com-
mentaries describe various arrangements. Among them, two are especially
important in Taoism, one representing the precelestial state and the other
representing the postcelestial state (*xiantian and houtian; see fig. 20).

Table 2
- - - - -- -- -- --
lj!Z; ~ ~ ~ ~ :IX I¥! !Ijl
Rf:
qian dui li zhen sun kan gen kun
heaven lake fire thunder wind water mountain earth
father youngest second eldest eldest second youngest mother
daughter daughter son daughter son son
south southeast east northeast southwest west northwest north
northwest west south east southeast north northeast southwest
The eight trigrams and their main associations: elements in nature, family relations, and
directions in the cosmological configurations "prior to Heaven" and "posterior to Heaven"
(*xiantian and houtian).

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