TL;DR: The Bát Quái are eight three-line trigrams (Càn, Khảm, Cấn, Chấn, Tốn, Ly, Khôn, Đoài), each representing a natural phenomenon, an element, and a family member, forming the foundation of the I Ching, feng shui, and many East Asian divination systems.
What are the Eight Trigrams?
The Bát Quái (八卦), or Eight Trigrams, are a system of eight three-line figures, each line being either unbroken (yang ⚊) or broken (yin ⚋). The eight possible combinations of three lines form eight single trigrams, regarded as archetypal images describing all phenomena, states, and relationships in the universe. The Eight Trigrams are the building blocks of the 64 hexagrams in the I Ching, and they are also core tools in Eight Mansions (Bát Trạch) feng shui, Qi Men Dun Jia, and many other East Asian divination systems.
Each trigram carries four interlinked layers of meaning: a natural image, an element within the Five Elements, a family role, and a direction. Below are the most widely used associations, following the Later Heaven (Hậu Thiên) arrangement, which is the one most commonly applied in practical feng shui (see the companion article comparing the Early Heaven and Later Heaven arrangements).
Summary table of the eight Bagua trigrams according to imagery, element, family role, and Later Heaven direction.
| Trigram | Imagery | Element | Family | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qian | Heaven | Metal | Father | Northwest |
| Kun | Earth | Earth | Mother | Southwest |
| Zhen | Thunder | Wood | Eldest son | East |
| Xun | Wind and Trees | Wood | Eldest daughter | Southeast |
| Kan | Water | Water | Middle son | North |
| Li | Fire | Fire | Middle daughter | South |
| Gen | Mountain | Earth | Youngest son | Northeast |
| Dui | Marsh, lake | Metal | Youngest daughter | West |
What does the Càn (乾) trigram mean?
Càn consists of three unbroken yang lines (☰), symbolizing Heaven, creativity, strength, and supreme authority. Element: Metal. Family member: Father. Direction (Later Heaven): Northwest. Càn represents leadership, an authority figure, decisiveness, and strong will.
What does the Khôn (坤) trigram mean?
Khôn consists of three broken yin lines (☷), the complete opposite of Càn, symbolizing Earth, receptivity, and nurturing. Element: Earth. Family member: Mother. Direction: Southwest. Khôn stands for acceptance, care, patience, and the capacity to nurture all things.
What does the Chấn (震) trigram mean?
Chấn has one yang line at the bottom with two yin lines above (☳), symbolizing Thunder, sudden movement, and new beginnings. Element: Wood. Family member: Eldest son. Direction: East. Chấn carries the energy of initiation, action, awakening, and abrupt but generative change.
What does the Tốn (巽) trigram mean?
Tốn has one yin line at the bottom with two yang lines above (☴), symbolizing Wind and trees, gentle yet persistent penetration. Element: Wood. Family member: Eldest daughter. Direction: Southeast. Tốn represents flexibility, adaptability, communication, and quiet, gradual influence.
What does the Khảm (坎) trigram mean?
Khảm has one yang line sandwiched between two yin lines (☵), symbolizing flowing Water, danger, and wisdom. Element: Water. Family member: Middle son. Direction: North. Khảm is associated with challenge, depth of thought, secrecy, and the ability to overcome hardship.
What does the Ly (離) trigram mean?
Ly has one yin line sandwiched between two yang lines (☲), symbolizing Fire, light, and clarity that clings and illuminates. Element: Fire. Family member: Middle daughter. Direction: South. Ly represents intellect, reputation, brilliance, and clear discernment.
What does the Cấn (艮) trigram mean?
Cấn has one yang line at the top with two yin lines below (☶), symbolizing a Mountain, stillness, and restraint. Element: Earth. Family member: Youngest son. Direction: Northeast. Cấn represents steadfastness, accumulation, knowing when to stop, and stability.
What does the Đoài (兌) trigram mean?
Đoài has one yin line at the top with two yang lines below (☱), symbolizing a Lake or marsh and joy. Element: Metal. Family member: Youngest daughter. Direction: West. Đoài is linked to happiness, communication, charm, and negotiation.
How are the Eight Trigrams used in daily life?
These eight trigrams are more than philosophical symbols, they have concrete applications. In the I Ching, they pair up to form the 64 hexagrams used for divination. In Eight Mansions feng shui, they are mapped onto the eight directions of a home to identify favorable and unfavorable sectors. In symbolic character study, they serve as a reference framework for types of energy and family relationships. Understanding the original meaning of each trigram is the essential first step before exploring the I Ching or home feng shui in greater depth.
