The Symbolism of the Celestial Empire – The Power of Trigrams in Chinese Astrology

The trigrams and their characteristics

Italian version

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To effectively utilise the predictive systems based on the Early and Later Heaven formulas, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of the correspondences and analogies associated with each trigram. While this may appear challenging, it’s important to remember that any symbol-based divination method requires a period of apprenticeship before we can use it with confidence.

The symbolism of Western astrology, similar to that of Tarot cards, offers a rich array of associations that can initially make it easier for the questioner. Our understanding is further enhanced by the myths of Greco-Roman classicism that we have learned about. However, the intricate structure of these symbols—rooted in numbers and geometry—may not be immediately apparent. Instead, they tend to become obscured by the overwhelming abundance of images and suggestions that draw our attention.

Trigrams and hexagrams, on the other hand, originate in what is now called binary code: zeros and ones, solid and broken lines, produced by subdivision up to the sixth order, as shown in this figure from the previous article. This disarming simplicity, however, hides a pitfall: their interpretation requires a highly creative consciousness, which compensates for the lack of a developed symbolic and descriptive support.

Approaching this divinatory tool is akin to constructing a palace with a clear plan, while in Western astrology, the approach often involves deducing the underlying design from the finished product. That mirrors the distinction between two logical processes: deduction, which involves drawing specific conclusions from established rules or premises, and induction, which seeks to form general conclusions from particular instances. Despite these differences, the essential task remains the same in both cases: to create a synthesis that encompasses the concept and its expressions, as well as the variety and complexity of the world, and the meanings that underlie them.

Here is a list of trigrams along with their corresponding qualities. These associations will help interpret the specific meanings of the prophetic trigrams and hexagrams. While some attributions may appear contradictory, they actually represent different aspects that, despite their differences, share the same underlying principle.

Ch’ien

Meaning	The pure yang principle symbolises the initial act of creation by the universal being.
Name	The Creative
Natural phenomenon	Heaven
Element	Metal
Family member	Father
Person	Ruler, older man, famous man, high state official
Qualities and defects	Strong, clear, bold, contemptuous of danger, active, solid, decisive, moving, vital, powerful
Material things	Gold, bronze, jade, pearls, semiprecious stones, unbreakable materials, ice, and mirror
Shape	Round, short
Colour	White, dark red, dark colours
Number	6
Sound	One beat, one chime, one note, one sound
Animal	Dragon, horse, goose, lion, elephant
Astrological animal	Boar (pig), Dog
Body part	Head, bones, lungs
Place	The capital of a nation, a large state, mountainous regions, meadows, plains, scenic areas
Building	Public building, skyscraper, hotel
Hour	7 pm-11 pm
Month	The second half of September, October
Season	Late autumn, early winter; sometimes, April-May
Direction	Northwest
Weather	Clear, bright, cold sky; ice formation, hail
Food	Horse meat, delicacies, meat on the bone, dry food, liver, lung, fruit
Taste	Spicy, aromatic, strong
Plant	Fruit trees

Tui

Meaning	Nourishment comes from invisible sources that provide abundance; the lake is a source of joy and openness.
Name	The Joyous
Natural phenomenon	Lake, clouds
Element	Metal, Water
Family member	Youngest daughter
Person	Young girl, lover; maid, witch
Qualities and defects	Happy, chatty, cheerful, smiling, accommodating; slanderous, quarrelsome, critical
Material things	Gold and ornamental metals, malleable materials; metal musical instruments; broken objects, containers, useless objects
Shape	Oval
Colour	White, purple
Number	2, 7
Sound	Harsh
Animal	Sheep, lake animals, horned animals
Astrological animal	Rooster
Body part	Mouth, tongue, saliva, lungs, small intestine
Place	Swamp, ditch, riverbanks, pond, puddle, dry well, mountain gorges, salt mines, valley
Building	Unsafe and ruined buildings
Hour	4 pm-7 pm
Month	August, the first half of September
Season	Autumn
Direction	West
Weather	Cloudy, rain, drizzle, new moon
Food	Lamb, freshwater fish, duck, rich and spicy foods, leftovers
Taste	Hot, spicy
Plant	Weeds, herbs

Li

Meaning	The emergence of consciousness through the blend of physical and spiritual elements, the purifying fire.
Name	The Clinging
Natural phenomenon	Fire, sun
Element	Fire
Family member	Middle daughter
Person	Middle-aged woman, intellectual, student, soldier, wise person, ruler
Qualities and defects	Light-giving, ardent, enlightened, very beautiful, dedicated, agitated
Material things	Book, document, mail, accounting ledger; weapons, electricity; fireplace, stove; kitchenware
Shape	Round and empty; closed on all sides
Colour	Bright red
Number	3, 9
Sound	Cheerful sound
Animal	Pheasant, tortoise, turtle, crab, shellfish
Astrological animal	Horse
Body part	Eye, heart, chest, solar plexus
Place	Dry mountainous region, rocky place; kitchen
Building	Empty building, building with windows, shelter
Hour	11 am-1 pm
Month	The second half of May, the first half of June
Season	Summer
Direction	South
Weather	Rainbow, lightning, red sunset, clear sky, sunny, muggy
Food	Dried meat, fried meat, grilled meat and roast meat, pheasant
Taste	Bitter
Plant	Tropical plants, lotus, cactus

Chen

Meaning	The energy that fosters life, the creative force that emerges on Earth.
Name	The Arousing
Natural phenomenon	Thunder
Element	Wood
Family member	Eldest son, elder brother
Person	Middle-aged man (30-40 years old)
Qualities and defects	Active, excited, diligent, esteemed, brilliant, music-loving; irritable, nervous, threatening, anxious, deceitful
Material things	Wood, weeds, reeds and rushes, flowers, grass; musical instruments made of wood, drum, telephone
Shape	Round or square; hollow inside and uncovered
Colour	Green, light yellow, dark yellow
Number	4, 3
Sound	Loud
Animal	Snake, horse, pony, fish, dragon
Astrological animal	Rabbit (hare)
Body part	Feet, hair, speech organs, liver
Place	Hardwood forests, dense woodlands, shrublands, parks, grassy areas, marketplaces, highways, roads
Building	Tall building
Hour	5 am-9 pm
Month	March, first half of April
Season	Spring
Direction	East
Weather	Thunder, storm, downpour, atmospheric turbulence
Food	Fresh meat, pig’s trotter, venison, poultry meat; sour fruits; vegetables in general
Taste	Savoury
Plant	Podded plants, young plants, fast-growing plants, green bamboo

Sun

Meaning	The vital essence flowing through heaven, earth, body, and mind.
Name	The Gentle
Natural phenomenon	Wind
Element	Wood
Family member	Eldest daughter
Person	Middle-aged woman, widow, person living alone
Qualities and defects	Yielding, gentle, neat, perfumed, well-groomed, obedient; hesitant, weak, excitable, restless
Material things	Wood, rope, string, straight things, things that stretch, needle, thread, table, painting, telephone
Forma	Long and straight
Colore	blu, bianco
Numero	4, 5
Animale	Rooster, bird, worm, mosquito, fly
Astrological animal	Dragon, Snake
Body part	Thigh, upper arm, respiratory system
Place	Summer residence, resort, market, garden, softwood forest (conifers)
Building	Temples, churches, 3 to 5-storey buildings
Hour	9 am -11 am
Month	The second half of April, May
Season	Late spring, early summer
Direction	Southeast
Weather	Windy
Food	Poultry, wild fowl, fish, vegetables, fruit
Taste	Savory
Plant	Flowering, fruit trees, fast-growing plants

Kan

Meaning	The unconscious mind: what lies hidden; the spirit struggles with the challenges and dangers of the surrounding world.
Name	The Abysmal
Natural phenomenon	Water, clouds, rain
Element	Water
Family member	Middle son
Person	Young man (20-30 years old), sailor, pilot; thief, robber, burglar
Qualities and defects	Clever, wise, busy; dangerous, cunning, false; aimless, sad, harmless, depressed, restless
Material things	Hardwood; flexible materials; poison; medicine; liquid container, bow, wheel, boat, ship
Shape	Round
Colour	Black, red
Number	6
Sound	Cries and moans
Animal	Pig, fish, aquatic creatures
Astrological animal	Rat
Body part	Ears, blood, kidney, lower abdomen
Place	River, lake, stream, spring, fountain, low and humid places, swamp, pond, puddle
Building	Bars, restaurants, self-service
Hour	11 pm-1 am
Month	November, December, January
Season	Winter
Direction	North
Weather	Clouds, pouring rain, moonlight, snow, ice, dew, hail, frost
Food	Pork, seafood, soup, wine, cold drinks, canned food, nuts
Taste	Salty, sour
Plant	Trees with dried trunks

Ken

Meaning	The quest for peace through meditation and connecting with the divine. The boundary marking the end of life.
Name	Keeping Still
Natural phenomena	Mountains
Element	Earth
Family member	Youngest son, youngest brother
Person	Young man (20-29 years), teenager, single, unemployed, mountaineer
Qualities and defects	Quiet, slow, indecisive, secretive, independent; inconsistent, stubborn, inert
Material things	Earth, stone, clay
Shape	Round or square; empty inside but covered
Colour	Dark yellow
Number	7, 8
Sound	Gong
Animal	Dog, tiger, rat, animals with long snouts, animals that live in the mountains
Astrological animal	Ox
Body part	Hands, fingers, bones, arms, legs, back, thigh
Place	Small roads, narrow passages, plateau, mountainous region, ditch, forests growing on mountainous reliefs
Building	Temples, churches, haunted buildings, offices, warehouses, shelters
Hour	1 am-5 am
Month	Second half of January, first half of February
Season	Beginning of summer
Direction	Northeast, left
Weather	Cloudy, foggy; volcanic eruptions
Food	Wild animal meat, mountain fowl, bamboo shoots, potatoes, melons, fruit in general, roots
Taste	Sweet
Plant	Fruits, seeds, roots

Kun

Meaning	The pure yin principle embodies the creative act that understands itself through reflection
Name	The Receptive
Natural phenomenon	Earth
Element	Earth
Family member	Mother
Person	A woman of noble origins, a peasant, a farmer, a domestic worker, a wife, the masses
Qualities and defects	Devoted, adaptable, quiet, maternal, patient, moderate, calm; weak, passive, cowardly, sickly, cadaverous
Material things	Cloth, cotton, silk, wheat, clay; floor, axe
Shape	Square, pot-bellied, thick
Colour	Yellow, black
Number	8, 2
Sound	The silence
Animal	Cow, mare
Astrological animal	Sheep
Body part	Belly, stomach, spleen, complexion
Place	Fields, open spaces, rural places, countryside, villages, towns, shady places, warehouses, basements, houses in general
Building	Cottage, farmhouse, low house, entrance steps, shelter house
Hour	1 pm-4 pm
Month	November, the second half of June, the first half of July
Season	Late summer, early autumn
Direzione	Southwest
Weather	Cloudy, dark, foggy, drizzle
Food	Beef, venison, pheasant, offal; roots, potatoes, bread, cereals, edible mushrooms, bamboo shoots, sweets
Taste	Sweet
Plant	Tree trunk

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