Trigram
A trigram is a figure made of three horizontal lines stacked, broken (yin) or solid (yang). The 8 possible trigrams form the Bagua — basis of the I Ching and Chinese cosmology. Two trigrams combined form a hexagram (6 lines): the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching are 8 × 8 = 64 possible combinations of trigram pairs.
Origin in Chinese tradition
The 8 trigrams (bagua) are attributed by tradition to the legendary mythical Chinese emperor Fu Xi, who would have observed the basic patterns of nature (3rd-2nd millennium BC) and formed the trigrams from the dichotomy yin-yang. Each line of three is broken (yin, ⚋) or solid (yang, ⚊), giving 2³ = 8 possible combinations.
The 8 trigrams were systematised in the foundational text I Ching (Book of Changes), one of the oldest books that has survived to today (texts of the 9th-7th centuries BC). The combinations of two trigrams generated the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, system of cosmic and divinatory wisdom that has influenced the Chinese culture for almost 3,000 years and that continues alive today as oracle and as philosophy of universal change.
The 8 trigrams
Qián ☰ (three solid lines): Heaven. Pure yang. Father. Creator, strong, authoritative. Kūn ☷ (three broken lines): Earth. Pure yin. Mother. Receptive, cooperative, nourishing. Zhèn ☳ (solid below, two broken above): Thunder. Eldest son. Initiating, energetic, awakening. Xùn ☴ (broken below, two solid above): Wind. Eldest daughter. Penetrating, gentle, gradual.
Kǎn ☵ (solid in centre, two broken outside): Water. Second son. Abysmal, mysterious, deep. Lí ☲ (broken in centre, two solid outside): Fire. Second daughter. Adherent, illuminating, clarifying. Gèn ☶ (solid above, two broken below): Mountain. Younger son. Still, contemplative, immovable. Duì ☱ (broken above, two solid below): Lake. Younger daughter. Joyful, communicative, satisfied. Each trigram has rich symbolism that connects natural element + family role + personal quality.
Practical applications
The trigrams are used in: 1) I Ching: they combine in 64 hexagrams that are consulted as oracle of wisdom for life questions. 2) Feng Shui: each trigram corresponds to a sector of the Bagua superimposed on a house — and is used to analyse and harmonise the energy of physical spaces. 3) Personal study: meditate on each trigram, reflect on its symbolism, integrate its energy in your life. 4) Chinese astrology and fate calculation: more advanced systems combine trigrams with personal date for life readings and lucky directions. The trigrams are condensed wisdom of millennia of Chinese observation of nature and human life.
Also known as
- Bagua trigram
- Three lines figure
- Symbol of three