Eight

Trigrams
I Ching (Book of Changes)
Eight Gates to the Greater World
Research by Michael P. Garofalo
Bibliography
Notes
Quotations
Notes
I
General Attributions II Feng Shui
Martial Arts
I Ching Meanings
Elements
Other

General Attributions

Qigong/Yoga

Last Updated on February 20, 2011

Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2011

By Michael P. Garofalo, All Rights Reserved.

Eight Trigrams

Medical

Five

I. General Attributions

Trigram Trigram
Meaning
Symbol Name

Direction

Season

Yin-Yang

Chien
Qin

Heaven, Sky,
South
Air

Summer

Supreme Yang

Sun
Xn

Wind

Southwest

MidSummer

Young Yin

K'an

Water

West

Autumn

Middle Yin

CM1

Ken
Gn

Mountain

Northwest

MidAutumn

Mature Yin

K'un
Kn

Earth

North

Winter

Supreme Yin

Chen
Zhn

Thunder

Northeast

MidWinter

Young Yang

Li

Fire

East

Spring

Middle Yang

Tui
Du

Lake
Valley

Southeast

Mid-Spring Mature Yang

CM2

CM3

MG1

MG2

MG3

II. General Attributions

Trigram Eastern
Symbol Cosmos

Five
Elements

Wxng

Western
Cosmos

Daily Cycle Annual Cycle

Will, Spirit
Intutition
Metal, Sky
Wood
Chien
West
Fire
Noon
Heaven
White Tiger South
12 pm South
Lung, Taste Youth
3pm
Summer
Father
Midday
Summer
Full Moon

Sun
Wind

K'an
Water
West
Autumn

Wood
East
Blue Dragon
Liver, Sight
Oldest Sister

Water
North
Black
Tortoise
Kidney,
Touch
Second
Daughter

Afternoon
3pm - 6 pm

Emotions
Feelings
Water,
Cups
Late
Middle Age Afternoon
Evening
Sunset
Waning
6 pm - 9pm
Moon
West
Autumn

Earth
Center
Yellow
Ken
Dragon
Mountain
Spleen. Smell
First
Daughter
K'un

Earth

June 21st September21st

Summer Solstice
Lithia

Body

September 22nd December20th

Autumnal
Equinox

Evening
9pm - 12
pm

October 31st December 20th

Midnight

December 21st -

CM4

Earth
North
Winter

Sensations
Earth,
Center
Coins
Yellow
Old Age
12 am - 3
Dragon
Night
am
Spleen, Smell
New Moon
Mother
North
Winter

Wood
East
Chen
Blue Dragon
Thunder Liver, Sight
Oldest
Brother

Early
Morning
Sunrise
3am - 6am

March 19th

February 2nd March19th

Chinese New Year
Imbolic

Li
Fire
Spring
East

Mind
Thinking
Air
Fire
Metal,
South
Swords
Red Phoenix Infancy
Heart, Sound Dawn
Second Son Crescent
Moon
Spring
East

March 20th - June

Morning 20th
6am - 9am Spring Equinox,
Ostara

Tui
Lake
Valley
Irrigated
Field

Metal, Lake
West
White Tiger
Lung, Taste
First Son

MidMorning
9am 12pm

May 1st - June

20th
Beltane

CM5

CM6

MG5

MG6

MG4

III. Martial Arts Attributions

Trigram Eastern
Symbol Cosmos

T'ai Chi
Ch'uan

BaGua
Zhang

Coming

Coming

Chien
Heaven
South
Summer

Peng
Wardoff
Step
Forward

Coming

Coming

Coming

Sun
Wind

Cai
Pulling
Coming
Move Back

Coming

Coming

K'an
Water
West
Autumn

Ji
Press
Face Left

Coming

Coming

Coming

Ken
Kao
Mountain Shoulder

Coming

Coming

Coming

K'un
Earth
North
Winter

CM1

Lu
Roll Back Coming
Centered

Coming

Coming

Lie
Chen
Splitting
Coming
Thunder
Move Back

Coming

Coming

Li
Fire
Sprint
East

An
Push
Coming
Look Right

Coming

Coming

Tui
Lake
Valley
Marsh
Irrigated
Field

Shou
Elbow
Strike
Step
Forward

Coming

Coming

Coming

CM5

CM7

CM8

CM9

CM10

IV. Eight Core Hexagrams I Ching

Attributions
Hexagram Number General
Symbol
Name
Meaning

#1
Chien
Khien
Heaven

"Heaven creates, develops, brings about fruition and

consummation. " [Ct1]
"What is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous,
correct and firm." [Lt2]
Meanings: strength, creativity, ruling, originating, Yang,
fathering.

# 57
Sun
Wind

"Wind is small but developmental. It is beneficial to have

somewhere to go.
It is beneficial to see a great person." [Ct1]
"There will be some little attainment and progress. There
will be advantage in
movement." [Lt2]
Meanings: penetrating, gentleness. equaling, scattering.

#29
K'an
Khan
Pitfalls
Water

"Mastering Pitfalls (Double Pitfall): In mastering pitfalls

there is truthfulness;
thus the mind develops. There is excellence in practice."
[Ct1]
"The possession of sincerity, through which the mind is
penetrating. Action,
in accordance with this, will be of high value." [Lt2]
Meanings: withdrawal, abysmal, perilous, injuring,
danger, adapt to diffiuclt
circumstances, flow like water around obstacles.

"Stopping at the back, one does not have a body; walking

in the garden, one
# 52
does not see a person. No fault." [Ct1]
Ken
Meanings: stillness, calmness, resting, completing,
Mountain
undisturbed, inner
stillness.

#2
K'un
Khwan
Earth

"With earth, creativity and development are achieved in

the faithfulness of the female horse. The superior person
has somewhere to go. Taking the lead, one goes astray;
following, one finds the master. Stability in rectitude is
good." [Ct1]
"What is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous,
correct and having
the firmness of a mare. When the superior man has to
make any movement, if
he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will
find his proper lord." [Lt2]
Meanings: receptivity, acceptance, nurturing, yielding,
storing, devoting,
mothering, Yin, endless productive potential.

"Thunder is developmental. When thunder comes, there is

alarm, then laughter. Thunder startles for a hundred
miles, but one does not loose spoon and wine." [Ct1]
"Kan gives the intimation of ease and development. When
the time of movement comes, the person will be found
looking out with some apprehension, and yet smiling and
#51
talking cheerfully. When the movement (like a crash of
Chen
thunder) terrifies all within a hundred li, he will be like the
Kn
Thunder sincere worshipper who is not startled into letting go of his
ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits." [Lt2]
Meanings: alertness, active, arousing, moving, inciting,
producing, explosive and
vibrational energy.

# 30
Li
Fire

"Fire is beneficial for correctness and development.

Raising a cow brings good fortune." [Ct1]
"It will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and thus
there will be a free course and success. Let its subject also
nourish a docility of the cow, and there will be good
fortune." [Lt2]
Meanings: clinging, dependable, spreading, transforming
the host, light.

# 58
Tui
Joy

CM11

CM12

"Joy is developmental, beneficial if correct." [Ct1]

"Shows the pleasure of inward harmony and sincerity, and
in good fortune. " [Lt2]
Meanings: joyful, thankful, playful, pleasuring, courting,
rejoicing, pleasure,
hidden in deep currents. Associated with freshwater in
low areas: rivers through a valley, marshes, lakes,
irrigation ditches and canals - a sight that will bring joy to
any farmer's heart.

CM13

V. Taijiquan and Yoga Exercise

Workout Cycle
Exercise Energy
Cycle
Levels

Eight
Brocades
Qigong

Eight Rivers
Qigong

1
Chen

2
Li

3
Tui

4
Chien

5
Sun

6
K'an

Warm-up
Thunder over
Earth

Turning the
Bouncing on
Thunderous
Toes
Prayer Wheel

Heat Building
Springtime
Punching
Grasping the
Gusto
with
Fire Dragon's Tail
Starting the
Angry Eyes
Fire
Energetic and
Joyful
Rivers Run
Down to
the Warm
Valley
Increase
Circulation

Bending
Down
The Wild Geese Joyfully Return to
and Bending
the Lake in the Valley
Back

Vigorous
Summertime
Fire in the
Heavens
Pure Yang

Bear

Lively
Moving
Following the
Wind

Drawing the The Wind Moves

Bow
the Clouds

Salutation to
the Stars

Cooling Down Holding Up

Coming
Slowing Down the Void
Feel the
Autumn Rain
Calming
Cooling

Separate
Heaven

Coming

Ken

8
K'un

MG7

Pausing
Rest on the
Mountain
Resting
Relaxing
Pure Yin
Winter
Snow on the
Earth
MG8

and Earth

Wise Owl

MG9

Coming

MG10

VI. Medical Attributions

Trigram

Coming

Bodily
Coming
Associations

Coming

Coming

Coming Head
Lungs
Taste

Coming

Coming

Coming

Thighs
Coming Liver
Sight

Coming

Coming

Coming

Ears
Coming Kidney
Touch

Coming

Coming

Coming

Hands
Coming Spleen
Ken
Smell
Mountain

Coming

Coming

Coming

Belly
Coming Spleen
Smell

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Chien
Heaven
South

Sun
Wind

K'an
Water
West

K'un
Earth
North

Foot
Coming Liver
Chen
Sight
Thunder

Li

Coming Eyes
Heart
Sound

Fire
East

Tui
Valley

Mouth
Coming Lung
Taste

Coming

Coming

Coming

CM14

CM15

CM17

CM18

CM19

CM16

VII. Other Attributions

Trigram

Qigong

Mountains
Buddhism
Rivers Zen Coming
Eightfold Path
Order

Coming

Chien
Heaven
South

Sun
Wind

K'an
Water
West

Direct Qi
Transmit
Qi

Skillful
Action

Right
Action

Coming

Coming

Conserve
Qi

Skillful
Livelihood

Work
Practice

Coming

Coming

Dissolve Qi

Skillful
Effort

Body
Practice

Coming

Coming

Zazen

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Coming

Transform Skillful
Ken
Qi
Mindfulness
Mountain

K'un
Earth
North

Store Qi

Skillful
Liturgy
Concentration

Discover
Skillful
Qi
Zen Study
Chen
Understanding
Gather
Qi
Thunder

Circulate
Qi
Li

Skillful
Thinking

Academic
Study

Fire
East

Tui
Valley

Purify Qi

Skillful
Speech

Art
Practice

Coming

Coming

CM20

CM21

CM22

CM23

CM24

CM25

VIII. Five Elements, Five Movements

Trigram

Chien
Heaven
Sky
Air
East

Li
Fire
South

Element Bodily
Attributes
Associations

Wood

Fire

Coming

Coming

Liver
Gall Bladder
Eyes
Tendons
Muscles
Nails, Nerves

Green
Spring
East
Windy
Sour

Coming

Coming

Heart
Small
Intenstine
Tongue
Blood Vessles

Red
Summer
South
Hot
Bitter

Coming

Coming

Spleen
Stomach
Mouth
Flesh,
Muscles

Yellow
Late Summer
Center
Coming
Damp
Sweet

Coming

Lungs
Large
Intenstine
Bladder
Nose
Skin, Hair

White
Autumn
West
Dry
Pungent

Coming

Coming

Water

Kidney
Bladder
Ears
Bones, Teeth
Hair

Dark Blue
Winter
North
Cold
Salty

Coming

Coming

CM26

CM26

CM26

CM26

CM26

K'un
Earth
Earth
Southwest

Ken
Metal
Mountain
West

K'an
Water
North

Sacred Circle at the Valley Spirit C

Chart of Associations, Attributions, Elementals, Spirits, and Sy

Eastern and Western Magicks

Valley
Spirit
Sacred
Circle
Symbolism

North
Green
Earth
Winter
Body
Oaks

Northeast
Lime Green
Cypresses

Eastern
Cosmos
Trigrams

K'un
Earth
North
Winter

Chen
Thunder

Five Elements

Wxng

Western
Cosmos
Magick

Earth
Center
Yellow Dragon
Spleen, Smell
Mother
Valley Spirit

Body, Flesh, Beings

Sensations
Touch
Earth, Soil, Stone
Birth and Death
Night
New Moon
Pentacle, Coins
North
Winter
Trees and Shrubs
Salt
Oak Trees

Wood
East
Blue Dragon
Liver, Sight

and

Oldest Brother

East
Yellow
Air
Spring
Mind
Spirit
Olives

Southeast
Orange
Bottlebrush

South
Red
Fire
Summer
Will
Action
Bay Laurel

Southwest
Purple
Redwoods

Li
Fire
Spring
East

Tui
Lake
Valley
Irrigated
Field

Chien
Heaven
South
Summer

Sun
Wind

Fire
South
Red Phoenix
Heart, Sound
Second Son

Mind
Thinking
Air
Smell
Metal, Swords
Childhood and Youth
Dawn
Crescent Moon
Spring
East
Incense, Bells
Olives, Aspens

Metal, Lake
West
White Tiger
Lung, Taste
First Son

Metal, Sky
West
White Tiger
Lung, Taste
Father

Wood
East
Blue Dragon
Liver, Sight
Oldest Sister

Will, Spirit
Intuition
Wood
Fire
Sight
South
Adult and Middle Age
Midday
Summer
Full Moon
Staff, Stave
Red Candle
Almonds
Walnuts

West
Blue
Water
Autumn
Emotions

K'an
Water
West
Autumn

Water
North
Black Tortoise
Kidney, Touch
Second Daughter

Emotions, Blood
Feelings
Water, Cups
Taste
Middle and Old Age
Evening
Waning Moon
West
Autumn
Cauldron, Chalice
Willows, Laurels

Inner Entrance
Northwest
Turquoise
Liquid Ambers

Center
White

Ken
Mountain

Tai Chi
Grant Ultimate

Earth
Center
Yellow Dragon
Spleen. Smell
First Daughter

70

Wholeness
Harmony
Interdependence
Individual Self
Circle
Web
White - All Colors

Sacred Circle at the Valley Spirit C

Chart of Associations, Attributions, Elementals, Spirits, and Sy

Western Emphasis

Valley
Spirit
Sacred
Circle
Symbolism

Western
Cosmos
Magick

North
Green
Earth
Winter
Body
Oaks

Body, Flesh, Beings

Sensations
Touch
Earth, Soil, Stone
Birth and Death
Night
New Moon
Pentacle, Coins
North
Winter
Trees and Shrubs
Salt
Oak Trees

Daily Cycle
Human Age

Midnight
12 am - 3 am
Conception to Birth
to 10 Years Old:
Babies,
Childhood,
and 90-100+ Years Old

10 to 20 Years Old

East
Yellow
Air
Spring
Mind
Spirit
Olives

Southeast
Orange
Bottlebrush

Mind
Thinking
Air
Smell
Metal, Swords
Childhood and Youth
Dawn
Crescent Moon
Spring
East
Incense, Bells
Olives, Aspens

December 21st March 19th

Yule
New Year
Christmas

Birth and Death

Early Morning
Sunrise
3am - 6am

Northeast
Lime Green
Cypresses

Annual Cycle
Neo-Pagan and Secular H
Liturgical Rites

Morning
6am - 9am
20 to 30 Years Old
Young Adults

February 2nd - March

Imbolic
Chinese New Year

March 20th - June 20

Spring Equinox, Osta
Memorial Day

May 1st - June 20th

Beltane
Mid-Morning
9am - 12pm

30 to 40 Years Old

South
Red
Fire
Summer
Will
Action
Bay Laurel

Will, Spirit
Intuition
Wood
Fire
Sight
South
Adult and Middle Age
Midday
Summer
Full Moon
Staff, Stave
Red Candle
Almonds
Walnuts

Noon
12 pm - 3pm
40 to 50 Years Old

June 21st - September

Summer Solstice
Lithia
Labor Day

Afternoon
3pm - 6 pm

Southwest
Purple
Redwoods

50 to 60 Years Old

West
Blue
Water
Autumn
Emotions
Evergreen
Shrubs

Emotions, Blood
Feelings
Water, Cups
Taste
Middle and Old Age
Evening
Waning Moon
West
Autumn
Cauldron, Chalice
Willows, Laurels

60 to 70 Years Old
Wise Elders

Evening
9pm - 12 pm

Northwest
Turquoise
Liquid Ambers

Center

Late Afternoon
Sunset
6 pm - 9pm

70 to 80+ Years Old

Wise Elders

Wholeness
Harmony

August 1st - September

First Harvest Festiva
Mid-Summer Harvest Fe
Lughnasadh, Lamm
Lithia
Labor Day

September 22nd December 20th

Autumnal Equinox
Mabon

October 31st December 20th

Halloween
Samhain
Thanksgiving

Year
Annual Cycle
A Human Life

White

Interdependence
Individual Self
Circle
Web
White - All Colors

Eight Trigrams and Hexagrams Charts

Links, Bibliography and

Resources
Bagua Daoyin: A Unique Branch of Daoist Learning - A Secret Skill of the Palace. By
He Jinghan and David Alexander (Translator). Singing Dragon, 2008. 148 pages.
ISBN: 1848190093. VSCLC.
Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. By John Bracy and Liu
Xing-Han. Consulting editors: Li Zhong-Quan and Liu Men-Gen, Beijing, China.
Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1998. Index, bibliography, notes, 139
pages. ISBN: 1556432763. VSCLC.
Ba Gua Zhang ( Pa Kua Chang): Bibliography, links, resources, quotes, and notes. The
Eight Palms and circle walking internal martial arts.
Baguazhang

Druid's Journey
The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training. By John Daido Loori. Edited by
Bonnie Myotai Treace and Konrad Ryushin Marchaj. Boston, Shambhala, 2002. 270
pages. ISBN: 1570629528. VSCLC.
The Eight Ox Herding Pictures - A Chan/Zen Allegory
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path. By Bhante Henepola
Gunaratana. Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001. Index, bibliography, 268 pages.
ISBN: 0861711769. A clear and insightful commentary on the Eightfold Path of
Buddhism. Refer also to the Eight Precepts. VSCLC.
Eight Trigrams Chart

Feng Shui and Eight Trigrams

Feng Shui: How to Apply the Secrets of Chinese Wisdom for Health, Wealth and
Happiness. By Lillian Too. Barnes and Noble, 1996. ISBN: 0760703906.
Five Elements 33Kb.
Five Elements Attributions of Trigrams (VIII)
Five Elements Information 23Kb.
General Attributions of Trigrams (!) Trigram symbol, Chinese name, cardinal
direction, season of the year, Yin and Yan designation in chart form.
General Attributions of Trigrams (II) Trigram symbol, Chinese name and Eastern
cosmos meaning, Five Elements attribution, Western magikal cosmos, time of the day,
months and days of the year.
Glossary of Hatha Yoga Postures

Hexagram Attributions of Eight Trigrams Combined (IV) Hexagram symbol, name,

Eastern cosmos meaning.
Qigong (Dao-yin) and Yoga Exercise Cycle and the Eight I Ching Trigrams (V)
Exercise cycle definitions and sequences for the Eight Section Brocade Qigong
and Eight Rivers Qigong.
Internal Martial Arts and the Eight I Ching Trigrams (III) Trigram symbol, Eastern
cosmos meaning, T'ai Chi Ch'uan actions, BaGua Zhang, Other.
Pa Kua Chang (Ba Gua Zhang)
Parkha 20Kb.
Qigong (Chi Kung), Chinese Yoga
Qigong Attributions of Trigrams (IV)
Sacred Circles
The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom. By Angeles
Arrien. Sounds True, 2005. 208 pages. ISBN: 1591792525.
The Spirit of Gardening
T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes.

By Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions International Ltd.,

2001. 224 pages. ISBN: 0892819448. VSCLC.
Tai Chi Chuan Lun
T'ai Chi Ch'uan
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and the I Ching. By Liu, Da. Harper Collins, 1972. ISBN:
0060616679.
The Tao of Meditation: Way to Enlightenment. By Jou, Tsung Hwa. Scottsdale,
Arizona, Tai Chi Foundation, 1983, 2000. 176 pages. ISBN: 0804814651.
The Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan: Way to Rejuvenation. By Jou, Tsung Hwa. Edited by
Shoshana Shapiro. Warwick, New York, Tai Chi Foundation, 1980. 263 pages. First
Edition. ISBN: 0804813574. An excellent comprehensive textbook. A Third Edition
is now available. VSCLC.
Taoism: Bibliography, links, resources. All the books used to research this short study
on hexagrams and Trigrams are also cited in Taoism.
Trigrams - Feng Shui Institute
Valley Spirit Taijiquan Red Bluff, California.
VSCLC = Valley Spirit Taijiquan Library Collection
Wudang Qigong
Valley Spirit (Gu Shen) of the Tao Te Ching
Walking the I Ching: The Linear Ba Gua of Gao Yi Sheng. By Allen Pittman.
Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2008. 224 pages. ISBN: 1583942149. Good
information on relating the concepts of the Ba Gua and I Ching to Chinese internal
martial arts. VSCLC.
"Wang Haijun on Eight Methods of Training Jin," by David Gaffney, T'ai Chi: The

International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 4, August, 2005, pp. 5-10.
Translation by Davidine Diaw-Voon Sim.
Zen Buddhism

Esoterica

(Research by Mike Garofalo)

Ba Gua

Chaos Magick

Circles

Druid's Journey

Eight Celebrations

Eight of Wands

Flowers in the Sky

Four Elements

Green Man

Green Wizard

Index

Labyrinths

Nature Mysticism

Olives

Pantheism

Qigong

Religion

Sacred Circles

Spirituality

Tree Lore

Trigrams I Ching

Vegetable Nirvana

Yielding

Zen

Zhan Zhuang

Eight Trigrams Chart

Notes, Comments, Chart References

Chinese Models of the Eight Trigrams

Traditional Chinese Associations and Attributes for Eight Trigrams
Traditional Taoist, Chinese Medicine, Qigong, Martial Arts Associations

CM1

CM2

CM3

CM4 Refer to my bibliography for the Green Wizard. I'm especially fond of:
Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.
by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart; The Magician's Companion by Bill Witcomb; The Spiral
Dance by Starhawk;
and Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and other books by Scott
Cunningham.

CM5

CM6

CM7
Regarding the relationship between Tai Chi Chuan and the I Ching (Book of Changes),
please refer to the following books:
The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation. By Tsung Hwa Jou. Charles E. Tuttle,
1998.
3rd Edition. 233 pages. ISBN: 0804813574. An outstanding textbook on Tai Chi
Chuan.
All styles are introduced and explained. A very informative introduction to the

philosophy
and practices of Tai Chi Chuan.
T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes.
By Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions International Ltd., 2001.
224 pages. ISBN: 0892819448. An unique and thorough study of this correlation.
Excellent photographs. A 16 movement and 64 movement Yang style form, linked to
the Book of Changes, are explained and described.
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and the I Ching. By Da Liu. Harper Collins, 1972. ISBN:
0060616679.

CM11, CM12, CM13

Ct1 = The Taoist Classics. The collected translations of Thomas Cleary. Volume Four.
(The Taoist I Ching and I Ching Mandalas). Boston, MA, Shambhala, 1986, 1989.
Index, 436 pages. ISBN: 1570629080.
Lt2 = The I Ching. Translated by James Legge in 1899. Sacred Books of the East
Series,
Volume 16.

CM21
The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai
Chi.
By Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.. Chicago, Contemporary Books, 2002. Index, notes,
extensive
recommended reading list, 316 pages. ISBN: 0809295288.

CM22
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path. By Bhante
Henepola Gunaratana. Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001. Index, bibliography,
268 pages. ISBN: 0861711769. A clear and insightful commentary on the
Eightfold Path of Buddhism. Refer also to the Eight Precepts.

CM23

The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training. By John Daido Loori. Edited by
Bonnie Myotai Treace and Konrad Ryushin Marchaj. Boston, Shambhala, 2002.
270 pages. ISBN: 1570629528. Eight Gates of Zen

CM26
The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. By Kenneth S.
Cohen.
Foreword by Larry Dossey. New York Ballantine Books, 1997. Index, notes,
appendices,
427 pages. ISBN: 0345421094. MGC. One of my favorite books: comprehensive,
informative, practical, and scientific.
The Essential Qigong Training Course. 100 Days to increase Energy, Physical Health,
and
Spiritual Well-Being. By Ken Cohen. Boulder, Colorado, Sounds True, 2005.
Includes a
59 page weekly workbook, a Qigong DVD, 5 audio CDs, and one Qi Healing DVD.
ISBN: 1591790905. MGC.

Michael P. Garofalo's

Models of the Eight Trigrams

MG1
"The above Eight Trigrams Chart schema was created by me based upon 1) my reading
of qigong and Taoist literature, 2) my reading of books and magazine articles, and
listening
to media products about the Eight Section Brocade Qigong, 3) the "Before Heaven
Arrangement"
of the Eight Diagrams attributed to the mythical sage-ruler Fu Hsi, 4) my reading of
Western
esoteric and magical literature regarding practices of the Green Wizard, and 3) the notes
I made
while getting group or personal instruction from a qigong or taijiquan teacher in the
Eight
Section Brocade."
- The Eight Section Brocade Qigong, By Michael P. Garofalo, April 2005, 305Kb.

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A reader cannot help but notice that these associations are common amongst people
living
in the northern hemisphere, 35North to 55North latitudes. The annual cycle of the
seasons
of a year, the annual cycle of agricultural activities that are the foundations of every
civilization,
and the daily cycle of the daylight hours (i.e., warmth, work, seeing-thinking, activity,
etc) and
the nighttime hours (i.e., cooler, sleep, sensory withdrawal, dreams, rest, etc.) are part of
the
landscape of the Mind.

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Eight Section Brocade Qigong By Michael P. Garofalo. 309Kb, April, 2005.

Provides information about the history and purpose of this popular Chi Kung practice.
Detailed
descriptions are provided for each of the eight movements; including information on
movement variations, health benefits, qigong meaning, and cautions. The document
includes
the most extensive bibliography, link guide, and comments on Ba Duan Jin Qigong
resources
available anywhere. Some animated graphics are provided in linked files. This
document
is updated as new information is discovered. This qigong set is the most popular set
practiced around the world, and is also known as: Baduanjin, Pa Tuan Jin, Eight Silken
Treasures,
Ba Duan Jin, Pal Dan Gum, Ba Duan Gin, Pa Tin Kam, Otto Pezzi di Tesoro, Acht
Delen Brokaat,
Les Huit Exercices del la Soie, Eight Silken Treasures, Brocade Qigong, Wudang
Brocade
Qigong, Brocade soft qigong (Rou Gong), Eight Treasures inner qigong (Nei Gong),
Silk Treasures
Qigong, and the first eight Buddha Lohan Hands. The document is about 80 pages
long.

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Quotations, Sayings, Notes

Models Based on Eight Elements
Eightfold Paths

"The Eight Elements West

1. Consistent Exercise
Energize through safe, results-oriented exercise.
2. Body Alignment
Promote proper posture, spinal strength with flexibility, and body awareness.
3. Natural Nutrition
Implement sound eating practices for life.
4. Sound Mind
Embrace life obstacles with self-awareness, reflection, imagination and creativity.
5. Relaxation and Centering
Cultivate and calm the bodymind connection everyday.
6. Community and Environment
Surround yourself with trusted friends and family. Be kind to the Earth.
7. Individual Action
Time is precious. Let change begin now, with you.
8. Heart of the Human Spirit
Transform life through your heart, where true strength resides."
- The Eight Elements West

"One of the best-known and most influential Neo-Confucian (Dao Xue, Study of the
Dao) philosophers
was Zhou Dun-Yi (1017-73 CE), creator of the famous tai chi diagram (Taiji tu, the yin-

yang symbol)
and its accompanying commentary, which was based on his study of the "appendices"
of the Yi Jing."
- Andy James, The Spiritual Legacy of Shaolin Temple, p. 84

Notes
I first posted the material found on this webpage in 2005. Since then, I have received
many interesting comments via email from readers.
Objections include: 1. The yin-yang elements need to be reversed with the black on top
and the white on the bottom. What I presented represents an "evil" positioning of yin
and yang, and is wrong. 2. The Post-Heaven rather than Pre-Heaven arrangements
should be used. 3. The trigram order needs to be changed for various reasons. 4.
There are not enough references to literature in Chinese. 5. More attention needs to be
given to Feng Shui commentary. 5. The names and meanings of some of the trigrams
are not correct. 6. Connections with Western meanings and symbolism is purely
coincidental and meaningless.
I have found a wide variety of interpretations of the trigrams in the English literature on
the subject. There are differences in the diagrams, and differences in the order and
meanings of the trigrams found in this literature. The same situation occurs with even
more frequency in Tarot decks.
I cannot speak, read, or write Chinese. At my advanced age, it is unlikely that I will
ever acquire such scholarly skills. Therefore, I try to do the best I can in English, with
the limited time available.
I find circular patterns (i.e., sacred circles, labyrinths, bagua, spirals, spheres, etc) to be
very interesting. Circular arrangements have a key place in the spiritual practices in my
life. I am fascinated by the symbolic, artistic, religious, and psychological aspects of
circular arrangements. Some use a cross or sword as the symbol of their religion;
which, to me, represent fear, oppression, violence, torture, death, and the end. Others,
like me, find a wheel (Buddhist Dharma Wheel), Tai Chi Tun Yin-Yang Circle (Taoist),
or a sacred circle of trees (Nemeton) or stones (Labyrinth) more appealing to their
spiritual sensibilities. The circle, for me, represents the cycle of the seasons, life
cycles, recurrent possibilities, complexity, the union of complementary forces (e.g.,

female and male, winter and summer, yin and yang, Unity and Complexity, etc.), the
Ring of Commitment, Eternal Returning, and the patterning and ordering of the
cosmos. My prejudices and preferences are, therefore, reflected in my interpretations.

Feng Shui
The Eight Trigrams are widely used in the practical applications of the
Chinese art of geomancy, Feng Shui. The Bagua is a primary aspects of the
theory of Feng Shui. A full discussion can be found in numerous books
published in the last twenty years on the subject. A few of these books are
listed in the bibliography provided above.
Various charts are widely available that outline the Bagua correspondences
used in Feng Shui. The following chart is similar to the one presented Lillian
Too in her book Feng Shui, 1996, p. 81. The yin-yang circle in the center of
the diagram is reversed in Ms. Too's chart. She explains Feng Shui in terms
of the Form School and the Compass School.