The Trigrams
A diagram of I Ching hexagrams sent to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz from Joachim Bouvet.
Chris Gabriel October 18, 2025
The Trigrams are the eight base elements which make up all of the hexagrams of the I Ching, they are made of three solid or broken lines, which form simple pictures of their elements. Their ideogrammic names can also help us understand the character of each element. Together they form a sort of visual poem from which we can feel the state of nature they signify.
A solid grasp of these eight elements and their names will allow you to intuitively grasp their combinations.
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Heaven
Heaven is the purest expression of Yang: positive, light, creative - it is natural harmony. Within a hexagram this can be “treasure”, divine manifestation, or clear sky.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the three solid lines as a clear, bright sky.
乾
When we look at the ideogram for Heaven, we can see the motion of the Sun through the sky, a little man, and a growing plant. Together, this is akin to Heaven as “Natural Order”.
Qabalistically, Heaven is given to Daath, the veil over the Supernal Triad of Kether, Chokmah, and Binah. But to simplify things, it is essentially Kether, the highest expression of the Divine among the trigrams.
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Earth
Earth is the purest expression of Yin: negative, dark, receptive - it is material reality. Within a hexagram this can be dirt or darkness.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the three broken lines as dark fertile soil, a tilled field.
坤
In the ideogram for Earth, we see soil and God. The good Earth.
Qabalistically, Earth is Malkuth, “the Kingdom”, the lowest part of the Tree and relates to Saturn and Earth.
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Fire
Fire is the second expression of Yang. It is called Clinging, for the way that fire clings to what it consumes. In a hexagram this can be either the Sun or fire itself.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the broken line as a piece of wood and the two solid lines as flames.
離
Looking at the ideogram for Fire, we see “Legendary” - a little creature with a tail, an X face, a crown, and a Bird. Together, these become “Legendary Bird” and I relate this to the Phoenix. In modern usage, the character means ‘to depart’, to fly away.
Qabalistically, Fire is Tiphereth, the sixth Sephiroth “Beauty”, and the Sun.
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Water
Water is the second expression of Yin. It is the Abysmal, in the way water falls. In a hexagram it can be a puddle, a body of water, or rain.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the solid line as a piece of wood floating and the two broken lines as the water upon which it floats.
埳
As we look at the ideogram for Water we see earth, and a man falling into an abyss.
Qabalistically, Water is Yesod, the ninth Sephiroth “Foundation”, and the Moon.
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Thunder
Thunder is the third expression of Yang. It is the Arousing or exciting. In a hexagram this can be thunder directly, or simply an excited movement.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the two broken lines as a dark sky, and the solid line below as the explosion of a lightning strike.
震
When we look at the ideogram for Thunder, we see rain, which is made up of sky 天, a big man, and the little drops of rain in his chest. Below is the character for shake, which is a cutting tool. Thunder is the shaking that accompanies rain.
Qabalistically, Thunder is Gevurah, the fifth Sephiroth “Severity”, and Mars.
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Mountain
Mountain is the third expression of Yin. It is stillness, focus, and heaviness. In a hexagram, this can be a mountain directly or simply something heavy.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the two broken lines as the dark mountain and the solid line as the point where the peaks reach the sky.
艮
The ideogram depicts an eye with legs, literally focusing.
Qabalistically, Mountain is Netzach, the seventh Sephiroth “Beauty”, and Venus.
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Wind/Wood
Wind is the fourth expression of Yang. It is subtle, gentle, and penetrating. In a hexagram this can be wind directly, a tree, or wood in general.
When we see this trigram we can visualize a growing tree reaching for the sky, the broken line below is the tree, the two solid lines are the sky.
巽
Fittingly, the ideogram for Wind depicts two serpents or two people kneeling at a table.
Qabalistically, Wind is Hod, the eighth Sephiroth “Intelligence”, and Mercury (the two serpents perfectly fit with his Caduceus)
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Lake
Lake is the fourth expression of Yin. It is joyous, pleasant, and easy. Unlike Water, the lake is contained, just as a cup contains. In a hexagram this can mean a literal lake, or pleasant easy movement.
When we see this trigram we can visualize the two solid lines as the depths of the lake and the broken line as the surface. Consider how the surface of water ripples and makes waves, but the depths remain calm.
兌
The ideogram for lake is a dancing man, a smiling face with arms and legs.
Qabalistically, Lake is Chesed, the fourth Sephiroth “Mercy”, and Jupiter (the Bringer of Joy).
Elements
In these eight trigrams we are given a doubling of the traditional four Western elements. Unlike Tarot, which draws from planets, signs, and elements, here we are dealing with a much more streamlined system. If you can grasp these eight elements, their interactions across the hexagrams will be much easier to understand. They form images of natural phenomena, rather than human characters.
By utilizing Qabalah and Astrology, we can make fascinating connections between the Tarot and I Ching. Consider the opposition of Thunder and Mountain, one excited and one still, their corresponding planets, Mars and Venus, function in exactly the same way. If you are familiar with Qabalah or Astrology, this will make the hexagrams far more accessible.
