Brief Introduction on The Ba Gua (Trigram) & Five Elements (五行八卦簡介)

 

Here's the quick introduction on the Ba Gua aka Trigram and the Five Elements that are associated with the World.

 

Ba Gua consists of Eight Signs or Symbols that represent the Physical Items that one self can see, feel and find in this Mortal World.

 

Here the Eight Signs or Symbols:

 

Qian 乾 – to represent Heaven（天）

Kun 坤 – to represent Earth（地）

Kan 坎 – to represent Water（水）

Li 離 – to represent Fire（火）

Zhen 震 – to represent Thunder（雷）

Xun 巽 – to represent Wind or Air（風）

Gen 艮 – to represent Mountain（山）

Dui 兌 – to represent Valley（澤）

 

The above Eight Signs or Symbols was being recorded by Fu Xi aka Master Ba Gua (八卦祖師伏羲).

 

Which later, Zhou Wen Wang Ji Chang (周文王姬昌) expanded and promoted the Eight Signs or Symbols into 64 Signs or Symbols for Prediction purposes known as Yi (易) aka Zhou Yi (周易).

 

And so, what is Wu Xing?

 

Wu Xing is the Five Nature Elements that form the Planet Earth. And also, the Elements that keep the Planet Earth move-on & function properly.

 

Heres the main Wu Xing:

 

Jin (金) – to represent Gold or Metal

Mu (木) – to represent Wood

Shui (水) – to represent Water

Huo (火) – to represent Fire

Tu (土) – to represent Earth or Soil

 

For Wu Xing, each Element is being attached with a Direction (方向), a Physical Internal Organ of Human Body (五臟) and a Color (行色).

 

Heres the intro on the attachments:

 

Jin (金) –

West, White Color, control the function of Lungs (肺)

 

Mu (木) –

East, Green Color, control the function of Liver (肝)

 

Shui (水) –

North, Black or Dark Blue Color, control the function of Kidneys (腎)

 

Huo (火) –

South, Red Color, control the function of Heart (心)

 

Tu (土) –

Central, Yellow or Brown Color, control the function of Spleen (脾)

 

Besides that, each Element will also have the connection with the Four Seasons (四季):

 

Jin (金) – Autumn (秋)

Mu (木) – Spring (春)

Shui (水) – Winter (冬)

Huo (火) – Summer (夏)

Tu (土) – Four Seasons (四季)

 

In Taoism, we believed that a physical body of a Mortal is made up by the Five Elements and with the existence of the Five Elements, our internal organs are able to function with a balance and our Five Senses are able to work properly.

 

So what are the connections of the Five Elements with the Five Senses (五感觸)?

 

Here they are:

 

Jin (金) – Nose (鼻) - sniffing

Mu (木) – Eyes (眼) – seeing or sighting

Shui (水) – Ears (耳) - hearing

Huo (火) – Tongue (舌) - tasting

Tu (土) – Lips (唇) – feeling

 

Once the Internal Organs and the External Senses exist, the Spiritual Will or so-called Minds will need to be present. And so, by knowing where a Mortal’s Spiritual Will or Mind gets the Energies from the Five Elements, we will know how to apply the necessary Cultivation Skills to the different kinds of Spiritual Will or Minds (精氣神):

 

Jin (金) – Spirit (魄)

Mu (木) – Soul (魂)

Shui (水) – Energy (精)

Huo (火) – Thoughts (神)

Tu (土) – Conscience (意)

 

By knowing the Spiritual Will and Minds, a Cultivate Person will be able to apply certain Skills to maintain the balancing in ones emotions to achieve a higher level of Cultivation, here is the intro on the Emotions (情緒) that cling to each Element:

 

Jin (金) – Sorrow (哀)

Mu (木) – Anger (怒)

Shui (水) – Fear (懼)

Huo (火) – Joy (喜)

Tu (土) – Worry (憂)

 

Summary: In Taoist Cultivation, in-order to attain Enlightenment or to achieve a higher level of Cultivation, the Cultivating Person will need to know the in-depth meaning of each Sign in the Trigram and by understand it and with the collating of Trigram with All the different attachments associated with the Five Elements, one self will be able to maintain the necessary Balance in the Physical Body, Mind & Souls.

 

Once a Cultivating Person is able to main the necessary Balancing and with the other external assistances, one self will be able to attain the so-called Immortal-Hood (跳出五行 - 不與五行八卦控制之中).

 

And this is the Ultimate Aim of Taoism.

 

PS: Will touch on this Topic more in the Future.