Study frame

I Ching

The eight Later Heaven trigrams, joined to each channel's element. The Shuogua body image and the meridian path are different maps: they meet at the element.

Yang

Solid line.

Yin

Broken line.

A trigram is read from the bottom upward. Two trigrams, one above the other, make one of the 64 hexagrams.

How to use it with a meridian

  1. Open the meridian in the index and note its element.
  2. Here are that element's two trigrams: Later Heaven direction and classical image.
  3. Go back to the channel. The trigram image does not locate the point; it frames the element.

Eight trigrams

In generating-cycle order: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

Zhèn · Thunder

Wood · East · 震

Classical image The foot

Arousing. Wood in the east. The classical image is the foot, not the channel path itself.

Channels of the element Gallbladder · Liver

Open the element

Xùn · Wind

Wood · Southeast · 巽

Classical image The thigh

Gentle penetration. Wood in the southeast. The classical image is the thigh.

Channels of the element Gallbladder · Liver

Open the element

Kūn · Earth

Earth · Southwest · 坤

Classical image The abdomen

Receptive. Earth in the southwest. The classical image is the abdomen.

Channels of the element Stomach · Spleen

Open the element

Gèn · Mountain

Earth · Northeast · 艮

Classical image The hand

Stillness, a limit. Earth in the northeast. The classical image is the hand — Spleen and Stomach are foot channels of the same element.

Channels of the element Stomach · Spleen

Open the element

Duì · Lake

Metal · West · 兌

Classical image The mouth

Exchange. Metal in the west. The classical image is the mouth.

Channels of the element Lung · Large Intestine

Open the element

Qián · Heaven

Metal · Northwest · 乾

Classical image The head

Yang impetus. Metal in the northwest. The classical image is the head.

Channels of the element Lung · Large Intestine

Open the element

Kǎn · Water

Water · North · 坎

Classical image The ear

Depth. Water in the north. The classical image is the ear.

Channels of the element Bladder · Kidney

Open the element

Name a hexagram

A number from 1 to 64, or the lower and upper trigrams. You get the classical title, not a reading.