TL;DR: The Tốn trigram (☴) is one of the eight single trigrams of Bát Quái, symbolizing Wind, the Wood element, and the Southeast direction in the Hậu Thiên arrangement. The Thuyết Quái says: "Tốn, nhập dã," "Tốn vi mộc, vi phong, vi trưởng nữ." In Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, Tốn represents penetration, flexibility, and adaptability. Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: one may consider a gentle approach and perseverance in work and relationships, though this is not a guarantee of any particular outcome.
What is the single trigram Tốn in the Bát Quái?
The Tốn trigram (☴) is one of the eight single trigrams of the Bát Quái (the Eight Trigrams). It represents Wind, its element is Wood, and its Later Heaven direction is the Southeast. The trigram consists of one yin line at the bottom and two yang lines above, expressing a soft penetration from below.
Structure and basic symbolism
The image of Wind (Phong): Tốn is assigned the natural symbol of Wind. Wind slips into every nook and cranny, formless and shapeless, yet it can shake trees, symbolising the power of penetration and diffusion. The energy of Tốn is slow, enduring, deeply soaking in.
Family: the eldest daughter: In the family system of the Bát Quái, Tốn is the eldest daughter. The first yin line (at the bottom) shows that this daughter receives yin energy from her mother, Khôn, while the two yang lines above show the influence of her father, Càn.
Direction: In the Later Heaven Bát Quái, Tốn sits in the Southeast[1].
What does the Thuyết Quái say about the Tốn trigram?
The Thuyết Quái is one of the chapters of the Thập Dực, traditionally attributed to Khổng Tử; modern scholarship does not regard this as proven. Below are the statements about the Tốn trigram in the Thuyết Quái:
- Chapter 4: 「風以散之」 (Phong dĩ tán chi) - Wind, to disperse things.
- Chapter 5: 「齊乎巽，巽，東南也，齊也者，言萬物之潔齊也。」 (Tề hồ Tốn, Tốn, Đông Nam dã, tề dã giả, ngôn vạn vật chi khiết tề dã.) - Equal and complete at Tốn; Tốn is the Southeast; equal and complete means that all things are made clean and equal[1].
- Chapter 6: 「橈萬物者，莫疾乎風。」 (Nạo vạn vật giả, mạc tật hồ phong.) - Of things that bend all beings, none is faster than wind[1].
- Chapter 7: 「巽，入也。」 (Tốn, nhập dã.) - Tốn means entering.
- Chapter 8: 「巽為雞」 (Tốn vi kê) - Tốn is the chicken.
- Chapter 9: 「巽為股」 (Tốn vi cổ) - Tốn is the thigh.
- Chapter 10: 「巽一索而得女，故謂之長女」 (Tốn nhất sách nhi đắc nữ, cố vị chi trưởng nữ) - Tốn obtains a daughter on the first seeking, and so is called the eldest daughter[1].
- Chapter 11: 「巽為木、為風、為長女、為繩直、為工、為白、為長、為高、為進退、為不果、為臭。其於人也，為寡髮、為廣顙、為多白眼、為近利市三倍。其究為躁卦。」 (Tốn vi mộc, vi phong, vi trưởng nữ, vi thằng trực, vi công, vi bạch, vi trường, vi cao, vi tiến thoái, vi bất quả, vi xú. Kỳ ư nhân dã, vi quả phát, vi quảng tảng, vi đa bạch nhãn, vi cận lợi thị tam bội. Kỳ cứu vi táo quái.) - Tốn is wood, is wind, is the eldest daughter, is the carpenter's line, is the craftsman, is white, is long, is high, is advancing and retreating, is indecisive, is smell. As for people, it is sparse hair, a broad forehead, many whites of the eyes, and nearness to triple profit in the market. Its extreme is the restless trigram.
How does Chu Hy comment on the image of the Tốn trigram?
Chu Hy, in the Chu Dịch bản nghĩa, first volume, Bát quái thủ tượng ca, writes: 「巽下斷」 (Tốn hạ đoạn) - Tốn is broken below. This mnemonic describes the shape of the Tốn trigram with the yin line at the bottom.
In Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, what does the Tốn trigram mean?
In Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, the Tốn trigram, with the image of Wind and the element Wood, expresses penetration, flexibility and adaptability. The quality of "entering" shows an influence that is gradual but deep, one that does not confront head-on but seeks to slip through the gaps. The Wood element of Tốn is tied to growth and development, like plants bending themselves to the wind. In the family, Tốn is the eldest daughter, symbolising yielding that nonetheless holds inner strength.
Extended attributes in Dịch lý
| Attribute | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Quality | "Entering" (penetration). Tốn carries flexibility and adaptability. Wind does not confront head-on but always seeks a gap to slip through: that is the wisdom of softness. |
| Body part | Tốn corresponds to the thigh (according to Thuyết Quái chapter 9: 「巽為股」). |
| Colour | Tốn corresponds to the colour white (according to Thuyết Quái chapter 11: 「為白」). |
| Five elements | Tốn belongs to the Wood element. Wind is born from trees, and trees grow thanks to wind carrying pollen: the mutually generating relationship between Wood and Wind expresses mutual reliance and support. The Wood element of Tốn differs from the Wood element of Chấn: Chấn is thunder, a great tree reaching straight up to the sky; Tốn is wind, grass and plants bending themselves in the direction of the wind. |
The role of the Tốn trigram in the 64 doubled hexagrams
When Tốn is stacked over other trigrams or is stacked over by other trigrams, it creates many important situations:
The Phong Thiên Tiểu Súc hexagram: Tốn below, Càn above. Wind blows above the sky but is not yet strong enough to make rain: this symbolises temporary stagnation, a need to accumulate more energy.
The Phong Lôi Ích hexagram: Tốn below, Chấn above. Wind blows, thunder resounds: powerful movement that brings benefit. When softness (Tốn) is placed beneath decisiveness (Chấn), the result is advancement and active support for the community.
The Thủy Phong Tỉnh hexagram: Khảm above, Tốn below. Water above, wind below: the image of a well. Well water never runs dry because it has an underground spring, never overflows because it has limits, and the more it is drawn, the clearer it becomes.
Today's suggestion
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: When you meet a situation that calls for change, try a gentle, persistent approach rather than confrontation. At work, gradual penetration can be more effective than imposition. In love, listen and understand before you act. For health, pay attention to the circulation of khí and blood, and to gentle movement. In home phong thủy, the Southeast area may be given attention so as to welcome a good flow of energy.
Conclusion
The Tốn trigram, with the image of Wind, the element Wood, the Southeast direction and the quality of "entering", expresses the power of softness, adaptability and diffusion. Understanding Tốn helps us recognise that sometimes bending and persistently penetrating is more effective than confronting head-on.
