Introduction
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng", also known as the Classic of Changes, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts. The book contains a divination system comparable to Western geomancy or the West African Ifá system. It also explains a number of Universal laws and relationships. Divination is the process is about asking a higher intelect questions about life.
Trigrams
The solid line represents yang, the creative principle. The open line represents yin, the receptive principle. These principles are also represented in a common circular symbol (☯), known as taijitu (太極圖), but more commonly known in the west as the yin-yang (陰陽), expressing the idea of complementarity of changes: when Yang is at top, Yin is increasing, and vice versa.
These illustrations are visual representations of each of the eight total trigrams. Each set has its own 'properties'. These are as follows:
☰ 111 乾 Qián: The Creative, Force. Heaven/ Sky 天, Northwest, Father, Head, Strong, Creative, 馬 Horse.
☱ 110 兌 Duì: The Joyous, Open lake 澤, West, Third daughter, Mouth, Pleasure, Tranquil, 羊 Sheep, Goat.
☲ 101 離 Lí: the Clinging, Radiance fire 火. South, Second daughter, eye, dependence, clarity, 雉 Pheasant.
☳ 100 震 Zhèn: the Arousing, Shake thunder 雷 East, First son, foot, inciting movement, initiative 龍 Dragon.
☴ 011 巽 Xùn: the Gentle, Ground, Wind 風 Southeast, first daughter, thigh, penetrating, Gentle 雞 Fowl.
☵ 010 坎 Kǎn: the Abysmal, Gorge, Water 水, North, Second son, ear, dangerous in-motion 豕 Pig
☶ 001 艮 Gèn: Keeping Still, Bound mountain 山, Northeast, Third son, hand, resting, completion 狗 Wolf, Dog.
☷ 000 坤 Kūn: the Receptive, Field, Earth 地, Southwest, Mother belly devoted, yielding receptive 牛 Cow.
I still know relatively little about Eastern philosophy, religion and culture. I thoughroulghy enjoy learning about them, gaining new perspectives helps me to understand the world differently. I hope this project has intrigued you to learn more about Taoism, Confucism and Eastern philosophies in general. Learn more about I Ching.
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