Feng Shui Consultant
Los Angeles - Southern California

Shuo Gua Zhuan

Ancient Chinese Text

In ancient times, when sages made the Yi, they deeply revealed the mystery and the revelation, and produced the Yarrow. Three of Heaven and two of earth, from these came the other numbers. They observed the changes of Yin and Yang, and formed Trigrams. They made full use of (the concept of) the strong and weak, and produced Yao.
 
Xi Ci Zhuan: Not aware of Yin and Yang is called mystery.
Xi Ci Zhuan: The sun goes and the moon comes; the moon goes and the sun comes; the sun and moon take the place each of the other, and the revelation are produced.
Yarrow method.
Xi Ci Zhuan: Heavenly 1, Earthly 2, Heavenly 3, Earthly 4, Heavenly 5.
6, 7, 8, and 9.
In yarrow method, these numbers are associated with either changing or unchanging yin and either changing or unchanging yang.
Xi Ci Zhuan: (The transformation of) Movement and rest are regular, hence the strong and the weak are determined. The strong and the weak displace each other, and produces the changes.
Yao means separate lines, broken and unbroken lines.
 
(Earth) harmoniously conforms with virtue of the Way, and arranges all things in accordance with justice. It manages things fully according to the order and regularity of Heaven, and thoroughly help the development of every thing's nature even life.
 
Xi Ci Zhuan: One Yin plus one Yang is called the Way (Tao, Dao).
One Yin plus one Yang constitutes the regularity of Heaven. Yang starts to grow at Zi and extends to its limit at Wu. Yin starts to grow at Wu and extends to its limit at Zi. Applied to the day, Zi means midnight (when the Sun crosses the meridian below the horizon) and Wu means noon (when the sun crosses the meridian above the horizon). Applied to the year, Zi means winter solstice and Wu means summer solstice.
Earth keep things in order and nourish all created things without partiality.
Xi Ci Zhuan: What is the link is goodness, what is the thing completed is inherent nature.
 
My view on this paragraph is different from traditional view. I believe that this paragraph explains the "Benevolence and Appropriateness" mentioned in the following paragraph. Here is one of traditional interpretations.
They compiled Yi in conformity with the way of Heaven and with virtue of Earth, and in accordance with what is right and proper. They investigated to the bottom the laws of things, fully explored every thing's nature and also life span.
 
In ancient times, when sages made the Yi, they designed it in conformity with the principles underlying the nature of things and the will of Heaven. Thus, they propounded (the principle of) the way of Heaven and called it Yin and Yang, propounded (the principle of) the way of Earth and called it Strong and Weak, propounded (the principle of) the way of Man and called it Benevolence and Appropriateness. Include these three qualities and double them, therefore, in the Yi six lines constitute a hexagram. Seperated (six places) into distinctions of Yin and Yang, and the weak and strong occupy these by turns, therfore, in the Yi six places make up the compendium.
 
Yin and Yang are two natures. Strong and weak are two functions. Nature cannot cause "changes", but functions can. Benevolence and Appropriateness are the influence of functions. "Man" means the space between Heaven and Earth.

The first two lines of the hexagram represent the earth, the middle two represent man, and the top two represent heaven. The bottom place, the third and the fifth are Yang. The second place, the fourth and the top are Yin. The weak means Yin Yao (broken line, six) and the strong means Yang Yao (unbroken line, nine).
 
Heaven and Earth settle on their positions, mountain and an area of water (marsh) interchange their vitality; thunder and wind approach each other; and water and fire do not repel each other. Eight trigrams mutually interlock with each other. Enumerating the past is compliance. Knowing the future is anticipation. Therefore Yi is anticipatory enumeration.
 
Arrangement of Xian Tian Ba Gua (Fu Xi/Early Heaven/Pre-heaven eight trigrams).
In the diagram of Xiantian Bagua, each pairs of trigrams that mentioned in this paragraph are arranged at the opposite sides. These sentences indicate that trigrams are not only opposite each other but also interact with each other.
Yi consists of 64 combinations of eight trigrams.
 
Thunder (Zhen) denotes to active. Wind (Xun) denotes to scatter. Rain (Kan) denotes to moisten. Sun (Li) denotes to shine on. Gen denotes to desist. Dui denotes to delight. Qian denotes to rule. Kun denotes to store.

Meanings of trigrams.

God comes forth in Zhen. All things are well-arranged in Xun. Meet each others in Li. Receive aid in Kun. Rejoice in Dui.  Begin to be prominent in Qian. Toil in Kan. The achievement we say means Gen.
 
Association between Houtian Bagua (King Wen/Later Heaven eight trigrams) and seasonal order.
 
All things come out in Zhen, Zhen corresponds to East. It is orderly in Xun, Xun corresponds to Southeast, orderliness denotes all things are clean at the same time . The Li denotes brightness, all things meet one another, it is the trigram of south. The sages face to the south to administer affairs of the world, and govern towards the brightness, because the idea was taken from this. The Kun denotes earth, all things receive nourishment from it, therefore it is said "Receive aid in Kun." Dui corresponds to exact autumn, all things are rejoiced, therefore it is said "Rejoice in Dui". Begin to be prominent in Qian, Qian is the trigram of northwest, it denotes Yin and Yang approach each other. Kan denotes water, it is the trigram of exact north and denotes toil, all things return, therefore it is said "Toil in Kan." Gen is the trigram of northeast, all things achieve the completion then achieve the commencement, therefore it is said "Bring achievement in Gen."
 
New plants remove their seed coat. Plants always sprout in the spring, grow in the summer, are harvested in the autumn and are stored in the winter.
Association between Houtian Bagua (King Wen/Later Heaven eight trigrams) and directions.
 
What we called Mystery, we means marvellous work to all things. For putting all things in motion there is nothing more rapid than thunder. For bending them there is nothing more rapid than wind. For drying them up there is nothing more parching than fire. For rejoicing them there is nothing more grateful than a an area of water (marsh). For moistening them there is nothing more mostening than water. For bringing them to an end and commencement there is nothing more extensive than Gen. Thus water and fire approach each other. Thunder and Wind do not act contrary to each other. Mountains and an area of water (marsh) interchange their vitality. And then, they are able to change, and to accomplish to all things.
 
Qian denotes strength. Kun denotes in conformity with. Zhen denotes movement. Xun denotes penetration. Kan denotes sinking into. Li denotes attachment. Gen denotes cease. Dui denotes rejoicing, also, moving without cease.
 
Qian denotes horse. Kun denotes ox. Zhen denotes dragon. Xun denotes cock. Kan denotes pig. Li denotes pheasant. Gen denotes dog. Dui denotes sheep.
 
Qian denotes head. Kun denotes abdomen. Zhen denotes feet. Xun denotes thighs. Kan denotes ear. Li denotes eyes. Gen denotes hands. Dui denotes mouth.
 
Qian denotes the heaven, therefore it is called father. Kun denotes the earth, therefore it is called mother. Zhen, in the first taking obtains male, therefore is called the eldest son. Xun, in the first takting obtains female, therefore is called the eldest daughter. Kan, in the second taking obtains male, therefore is called the middle son. Li, in the second taking obtains female, therefore is called the middle daughter. Gen, in the third taking obtains male, therefore is called the young son. Dui, in the third taking obtains female, therefore is called the young daughter.
 
taking Yang from Qian.
taking Yin from Kun.
 
Qian denotes heaven, circle, monarch, father, jade, metal, ice, deep red, good horse, old horse, thin horse, piebald horse, fruit of woody plants.
 
Kun denotes earth, mother, cloth, caldron, parsimony, impartiality, young heifer, large waggon, variegation, multitude, handle (and the base). Referred to earth, it denotes black.
 
Zhen denotes thunder, dragon, the union of black and yellow, spreading all over, the main road, the eldest son, taking action swiftly, green young bamboos, reed (plants). Referred to horses, it denotes loud neigh, white legs, prancer, white (spot in) forehead. Referred to crops, it denotes counter growing. Its extreme is the strongest, and the most luxuriant and vivid.
 
The plumule of germinal seed bends over beneath the seed coat and soil surface, and straightens out when carried out of the soil.

Xun denotes wood, wind, eldest daughter, string straightened, craftsman, white, growth, being lofty, advancing and receding, hesitate in making a decision, scents. Referred to men, it denotes deficiency of hair, wide forehead, large development of the white of the eye, the gain approximately three hundred percent. Its extreme is the trigram of swiftness.
 
Kan denotes water, ditches, being hidden and lying cocealed, straightening and bending, bow and wheel. As to refer to men, it denotes an increase of anxiety, sickness caused by anxiety, pain in the ears, the trigram of the blood, red. As referred to horses, it denotes an elegant back, nimble intelligence, drooping head, thin hoof, shuffle steps. As to referred to carriages, it denotes many frustrations. It denotes going right through, moon, thief. Referred to woody plants, it denotes those which are hard core with soft cortex.
 
idleness
low spirits
freely flowing
 
Li denotes fire, sun, lightening, second daughter, armor, weapons. Referred to men, it denotes the large abdomen. It is the trigram of dryness. It denotes fresh-water turtle with a soft shell, crab, spiral shells, mussel, tortoise. Referred to woody plants, it denotes one which is hollow and withered above.
 
spear and sword
 
Gen denotes mountain, by-road (path), small rock, watchtower on either side of a gate, fruits of trees and creeping plants, janitor, finger, dog, rat, birds with black bills. Referred to woody plants, it denotes those which are hard with many joints.
 
Dui denotes an area of water, young daughter, sorcerer and sorceress, the mouth and tongue, the damage and break, attaching first and remove finally. Referred to earth, it denotes hard and barren land, female slave, sheep.
 
reaping crop from harvest
the removal of fruits hanging from plants