8 trigrams
The eight trigrams have three lines each and cover every possible combination of yang and yin. They make up the 64 hexagrams, and they also underlie feng shui.
Table of the eight trigrams
| Trigram | Lines, bottom to top | Element | Direction | Family role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qian | yang-yang-yang | Heaven, metal | Northwest | Father |
| Dui | yang-yang-yin | Lake, metal | West | Youngest daughter |
| Li | yang-yin-yang | Fire | South | Middle daughter |
| Zhen | yang-yin-yin | Thunder, wood | East | Eldest son |
| Xun | yin-yang-yang | Wind, wood | Southeast | Eldest daughter |
| Kan | yin-yang-yin | Water | North | Middle son |
| Gen | yin-yin-yang | Mountain, earth | Northeast | Youngest son |
| Kun | yin-yin-yin | Earth | Southwest | Mother |
Directions follow the Later Heaven arrangement, the one used in feng shui and in calculating the Kua number.
How trigrams combine into a hexagram
The lower trigram stands for the inner side: your state, what is yours, your inner circle. The upper one stands for the outer side: circumstances, other people, your surroundings.
That is why “water over fire” and “fire over water” are different hexagrams with almost opposite meanings: in the first (63) the elements interact properly, in the second (64) they pull apart.
Where else trigrams are used
In feng shui, a person’s trigram is determined by their Kua number and sets their favorable directions. Trigrams are also placed in the sectors of the Bagua map and linked to the five elements.