Qianqián
Heaven
all three lines yang
initiating, sustained, creative
Tools · Trigrams
Trigram builder
Flip the three lines and see which trigram forms. Eight combinations exhaust the possibilities — because 2³ ＝ 8.
Kun
kūn
Earth
supporting, receiving, accommodating
all three lines yin
Click any line to switch it between yin and yang. Try all eight combinations before reading on.
The eight trigrams
Kunkūn
Earth
all three lines yin
supporting, receiving, accommodating
Zhenzhèn
Thunder
the single yang line is at the bottom
setting off, startling, sudden onset
Xunxùn
Wind
the single yin line is at the bottom
permeating, spreading, entering gradually
Kankǎn
Water
the single yang line is at the middle
sinking, hazard, continuous flow
Lilí
Fire
the single yin line is at the middle
showing, attaching, illuminating
Gengèn
Mountain
the single yang line is at the top
halting, blocking, setting bounds
Duiduì
Lake
the single yin line is at the top
delight, exchange, speaking out
How to recognize them quickly
Six of the eight contain exactly one “minority” line. Two steps fix any trigram: is the minority line yin or yang, and does it sit at the bottom, middle or top?
Zhen
the single yang line is at the bottom
Kan
the single yang line is at the middle
Gen
the single yang line is at the top
Xun
the single yin line is at the bottom
Li
the single yin line is at the middle
Dui
the single yin line is at the top
Qian
all three lines yang
Kun
all three lines yin
The first six each hold one minority line, no two alike in position and polarity. The last two are the extremes: three yang lines is Qian, three yin lines is Kun.
To see where these structures come from, read Module 3: From one line to three.