8 Trigrams – from the “I Ching” to Qigong
Do the 8 Trigrams with Joe Here.
What are the 8 Trigrams of Qi Gong?
The Eight Trigrams (Bagua) are central to Chinese cosmology, philosophy, and practices like Qigong and Tai Chi. Each trigram represents natural forces, states of being, and philosophical ideas. Here’s what each trigram symbolizes:
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1. Throwing Away the Trash (☰ Heaven – Qian)
- Relation to Heaven: Emphasizes releasing, expanding, and clearing stuck energy, embodying the creative and purifying force of Heaven.
- Focus: Connecting to infinite energy by clearing what no longer serves.
2. The Wave (☷ Earth – Kun)
- Relation to Earth: Reflects the nurturing and grounding energy of Earth, allowing internal energy to flow and massage the spine and organs.
- Focus: Cultivating receptivity and a solid foundation.
3. Dragon Whips Its Tail (☳ Thunder – Zhen)
- Relation to Thunder: Mimics the sudden, dynamic force of thunder through rotational and explosive movements.
- Focus: Awakens energy and enhances agility and responsiveness.
4. Filling the Three Dan Tians (☴ Wind/Wood – Xun)
- Relation to Wind/Wood: Represents the gentle yet persistent energy of wind, filling the body with life force energy and cultivating growth.
- Focus: Balancing and harmonizing the three energy centers.
5. Serving Teacups (☱ Lake – Dui)
- Relation to Lake: Reflects joy, fluidity, and ease through flowing, circular movements.
- Focus: Promoting relaxation, receptivity, and flow states.
6. Rabbit Springs (☵ Water – Kan)
- Relation to Water: Embodies the adaptability and nurturing quality of water, aiding digestion and elimination.
- Focus: Encouraging fluidity and internal cleansing.
7. Separating Heaven and Earth (☲ Fire – Li)
- Relation to Fire: Combines stretching and energy expansion to “burn away” worry and anxiety, boosting vitality.
- Focus: Illuminating the body’s energy pathways and purging negativity.
8. Spiral Palm (☶ Mountain – Gen)
- Relation to Mountain: Involves spiraling movements that echo the grounded yet dynamic energy of a mountain.
- Focus: Developing stability, coordination, and internal massage.
8 Trigram Qigong – Qigong Exercises
- Throwing Away The Trash – uses the 6 Healing Sounds to release stuck emotions from the organs
- The Wave – massages the internal organs and loosens the spine to allow kundalini to pass through
- Dragon Whips Its Tail and filling the 3 Dan Tians
- Serving Teacups – puts us in a flow states, loosens shoulders, neck and back
- Rabbit Springs – massages the intestines for improve digestion and elimination
- Separating Heaven and Earth – wrings out the spleen and liver, purges worry and anxiety, boosts digestion, loosens spinal, shouldes, wrists
- Spiral Palm – bestows a sense of coordination, massages the internal organs while wringing out the meridians
- Dragon Ball – another flowing form for wrists and back that gently massages the internal organs
Together, the trigrams depict the dynamic interplay of Yin and Yang in nature and the universe, creating a map of balance and transformation. When practiced in Qigong, they symbolize the harmony between internal and external forces, offering physical, emotional, and spiritual alignment.
The Trigams of the I Ching
The Trigrams are symbols of the cycle of yin and yang energy present in all things. Each of the Eight Trigrams consists of three horizontal lines that represent either yin or yang energy. Yang energy is depicted as a continuous line and yin energy by a broken line. Each trigram is read from bottom to top.
The lowest line represents the earth; the center, humanity. The top line, 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.
The circular chart illustrates the relationship of the Eight Trigrams, each of which has its own name (li, kun, dui, etc.), with the cardinal directions, seasons, times of day, and elements (water, fire, heaven, earth, etc.).
Each Trigram also corresponds to phenomena not listed on the diagram, such as members of the family, numbers, colors, parts of the body, and illnesses.