Trigrams, Hexigrams, etc.

More, but first a word…this is just a compilation of data collected from various sources with no one source considered the absolute authority for that would negate the purpose of these studies and especially the meaning and intent of the book of changes. So, take it for what it is and learn, decide, and then move forward for, "All bottles are good, they all server a purpose!"

The "Hexagram" is also referred to as a "Kua." The hexagram has the distinct feature of lines that are always in motion and in general the new line always enters from below or the bottom line and moves upward through the cycles or stages, i.e. "come into being is line one, beginning is line two, expanding is line three, approaching maximum potential is line four, peaking is line five and line six is passing the peak; turning to the opposite condition.

If you utilize the yarrow stalk method you may have wondered why pull out the first stalk and set it aside. The first stalk is considered the "Observer stalk."

For those of us who especially note the conduct and intent of "Heaven and Earth" in general earth tends to sink and heaven tenets to rise. Therefore when the trigram's heaven and earth are coupled they come together and the time is considered "Heaven on Earth" where we experience the best of "peace, prosperity, and harmony." [Earth trigram over the Heaven trigram where heaven rises and earth sinks bringing them both together, etc.]

As is known there are "eight trigrams" but what is not normally told in the I Ching books is that four of those trigrams are in motion upward, i.e. Ch'ien, Chen, Li, and Tui. The other four are in motion downward, i.e. K'un, Sun, K'an, and Ken.

Example: When in hexagram 29 that talks of danger we come to understand that when ever the upper trigram is that of "K'an (moon)" danger comes from outside or external but if the trigram "K'an" is the lower trigram then the danger comes from within.

It can be difficult determining how one uses or interprets the lines of a trigram/hexagram. Fundamentally, or generally, a particular line in the kua will have meaning to you if the line is moving, if the line is either 2, 3, 4, or 5 where its influenced is subtly by the nuclear trigram/hexagram of which that line is a part of.

Solid Lines are "strong, virtuous, light-giving, and aggressive" while the broken lines are "weak, evil, dark, and gentle."

CORRECTNESS:

Lines are considered in the correct positions:

1, 3. 5 = strong, these positions require strong lines to be considered correct.

2. 4. 6 = weak, these positions require weak lines to be considered correct.

When weak lines are in strong positions they are considered unequal to the task at hand. When a strong line is in a weak line position it is considered to aggressive for the task at hand.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Line 1 corresponds to line 4.
Line 2 corresponds to line 5.
Line 3 corresponds to line 6.

When the lines are the same in the corresponding positions, i.e. strong to strong or weak to weak, they oppose/replace each other. When they are different, i.e. sting to weak or weak to strong, they lines are helpful to each other.

CONDITION:

Bottom Line: The condition has barely manifested itself.
Line 2: The condition is beginning to grow stronger; being the middle line of the lower trigram, the condition is still under control, usually.
Line 3: Top of lower trigram so the condition grows stronger and is usually unstable due to line 3 about to leave the lower trigram for the upper which is a somewhat dangerous time.
Line 4: Condition approaching maximum potential. If bode good or evil, be cautious. Additional caution is needed due to line 4's position to Line 5 which is generally the ruler. Being close to the ruler can be very good but also dangerous.
Line 5: The condition has reached its maximum potential. Any movement beyond this point will cause the condition to exceed its maximum potential and turn it toward its opposite: fullness to emptiness, increase to decrease, abundance to want.
Top Line: The condition depicted in the kua has exceed its maximum potential and consequently turning toward its opposite condition.

POSITION:

Bottom Line: A newcomer about to join the group, or a subordinate in the lowest position. It lacks any title or influence.
Line 2: Center of the lower trigram; position of leadership but subordinate to line 5; some authority; may have a title; will have some influence with peers or associates.
Line 3: Top of lower trigram; person rising in ranks; person attained some stature; about to advance to upper trigram, i.e. could be dangerous move; time between jumping and landing is dangerous.
Line 4: Next to ruler; fortunate or dangerous position or both depending on circumstances; considered to be rulers minister, able general, partner, or strong vice president; position of trust;
Line 5: Center of upper trigram; ruler position; controls the hexagram/kua; almost always beneficial if opposite of lines 2 and 4 so that conflict is avoided.
Top Line: Great sage who leaves affairs behind; still available for council to ruler; retired person.

TIME:

Bottom Line: represents earliest time; the time just before the active time;.
Top Line: represents the latest time; the time just after the active time.
Middle Four Lines: represent that time that is active within the situation.
Moving Lines: first moving line usually depicts the immediate action to take or avoid, even if it is in line 2 or higher. Higher moving lines depict later times in the situation. The first moving line refers to NOW or to soon after NOW, and the other line or lines refer to later.]

HOLDING TOGETHER:

Lines next to each other hold together if they are different and do not hold together if they are the same. The most important of these are lines 4 and 5. The ruler and the subordinate. The best condition of these two lines is when the ruler, 5, is strong and the subordinate, 4, is weak. The line on top is said to "rest" on the line below and the line below is said to "receive" from the line above.

The broken line resting on a solid line is well supported. The solid line resting on the broken line is not well supported but weak.

If the broken line receives from a solid line above the broken line us benefited because of the strength of that solid line. If a solid line receives from a broken line that solid line is not usually benefited because of the weakness of that broken line.

HEAVEN, EARTH, AND MAN:

The fist two lines represent Earth.
The second two lines represent Man.
The third two lines represent Heaven.

Man in the middle is the entity through which Heaven and Earth interact.

DOUBLED TRIGRAMS:

When a hexagram/kua is made up of the same trigram, doubled, the hexagram's name is that of the trigram doubled. If a double trigram then the meaning is "intensified." One must pay extra heed to the guidance given or the situation depicted.

In the sixty-four hexagrams of the book of changes it is not chance that there are ONLY eight hexagrams that are comprised of doubles trigrams, i.e. eight trigrams. It should also be noted that in the book of changes the trigrams are also looked upon thus, i.e. Heaven and Earth trigrams are watched as separate entities while the remaining six trigrams are viewed similar to the six lines of a hexagram.

The hexagram numbers of doubled trigrams are, 1, 2, 29, 30, 51, 52, 57, and 58.

As to whether the six lines and the six trigrams that are doubled, while observing and paying attention to the two trigrams Heaven and Earth, have any relationship/meaning is unknown at this time. I suspect that there is and hope to find that answer in the future.

Bibliography:
Wei, Wu. The I Ching Workbook. Malibu California: power-press. 2005