Page 241 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

2.02 THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM A-L

"Prior to Heaven" "Posterior to Heaven"

s s

E W E w

N N
Fig. 20. Arrangement of the eight trigrams in the cosmological configurations
"prior to Heaven" and "posterior to Heaven" (*xiantian and houtian).

The precelestial arrangement, associated with Fu Xi, is only alluded to in
the Yijing but was developed by later scholars and finally formulated by *Shao
Yong (IOI2-77). This arrangement is characterized by a spatially balanced dis-
position with four opposed antagonistic pairs. Qian $L (Heaven, Yang) and
kun JI¥ == (Earth, Yin) form the vertical south-north axis, li ~ -- (Fire, Yang)
and kan:l;A: == (Water, Yin) set the horizontal east-west axis. This arrangement
represents the primordial structure of the universe, the eternal and original
nature of the world, and the state before things begin to turn and time starts
to unfold.
The postcelestial arrangement, traditionally associated with King Wen of
the Zhou (WenwangSC~, r. I099-I050 BCE), originated from statements in
the Shuogua and was adopted as early as Han times. Zhen it-'Jc ==, having a Yang
line under two Yin lines and standing for Thunder and spring, is located in
the east; li l~jE --, having a Yin line between two Yang lines and standing for
Fire and summer, is to the south; dui ft --, having two Yang lines under a Yin
line and standing for Lake and autumn, is to the west; and kan :l;A: ==, having a
Yang line between two Yin lines and standing for Water and winter, is to the
north. This arrangement represents the phenomenal world, the state after
change has begun, and the universe in operation.

Uses in Taoism. The trigrams and their arrangements are used in Taoism to
indicate natural forces and cosmological values on the spatiotemporal plane,
and to establish or restore cosmological order. The Shuogua had already related
the trigrams to eight parts of the human body. In early Taoist texts such as
the *Lingbao wufu xu (Prolegomena to the Five Talismans of the Numinous
Treasure), they are related to the inner spirits (the bagua shen AiH$, or "gods