I have made commitment to study The Book of Changes, or Yi Ching in depth, and so Chinese medicine. I had first introduction class. Teacher requires to make notes and I have decided  to try to have them (notes) as small blog posts. I have dyslexia and I cannot write or make notes, it just confuses me. But I can type.

…and if I can keep up with blog notes, I will have them as great reference pages I can always turn to. Its just a matter of finding time to type, which is tripled work for me due to my dyslexia.

So below are notes from my introductory class.

Part I

Bagua are eight symbols used in Taoist Cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts. Each of eight symbols consist of three lines, each line either “broken” of “unbroken.” “Broken” line represents yin, unbroken represent yang.

In Chinese Philosophy yin and yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary may actually be complimenting, interconnecting and filling blank spot for each and other in the natural word. Many tangible dualities (such as light and dark, fire and water, expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang. What looks to be contrary, appears to be the same. Eight Bagua symbols put together in 8 different sequences crate 64 Hexagrams – The Yi Ching, also known as Classic Book of Changes

乾 – Qián – Heaven

Sky (Heaven), Summer, Father, South.
Meaning – Expansive energy, the sky. For further information, see tiān.

坤 – Kūn – Earth

Earth, Winter, Receptive, Mother, North.
Meaning  – Receptive energy, that which yields. For further information, see dì.

震 – Zhèn – Thunder

Thunder, Winter, Arousing, Eldest Son, Northeast.
Meaning –  Excitation, revolution, division.

坎 – Kǎn – Water

Water, Autumn, Abysmal, Middle Son, West. Meaning – Danger, rapid rivers, the abyss, the moon.

艮 – Gèn – Mountain

Mountain, Autumn, Still, Youngest Son, Northwest.
Meaning – Stillness, immovability.

巽 – Xùn – Wind

Wind, Summer, Gentle, Eldest Daughter, Southwest.
Meaning – Gentle penetration, flexibility.

離 – Lí – Flame

Fire, Spring, Clinging, Middle Daughter, East.
Meaning –  Rapid movement, radiance, the sun

兌 – Duì – Lake

Lake, Spring, Joyous, Youngest Daughter, Southeast.
Meaning – Joy, satisfaction, stagnation.