Trigrams

Trigrams (spar kha)

• The eight trigrams (Tib. spar kha brgyad, Ch. ba gua), along with the animal signs, numeric squares, planets and constellations, are one of the basic devices through which the elemental relationships may be calculated in elemental divination. They comprise Li which representing fire and is in the south, Khon which represents earth and is in the south-west, Dva which represents iron and is in the west, Khen which represents heaven or space and is in the north-west, Kham which represents water and is in the north, Gin which represents mountain and is in the north-east, Zin which represents wood and is in the east, and Zon which represents air and is in the south-east. The trigrams symbolic of heaven/ space, mountain and air are sometimes subsumed within the earth element, for which reason these four are all depicted as yellow.
• Each of the trigrams is surrounded by four auspicious and four inauspicious sectors which indicate by their layout and direction the corresponding auspicious and inauspicious relationships a given trigram forms with the other trigrams. Pairs of trigrams form diverse types of relationship. Altogether there are four auspicious, one neutral, and four inauspicious sorts of relationship, and these have been categorised as follows: The best class of the best relationships, known as "heavenly medicine" (gnam sman), is formed by Li and Kham, Khen and Khon, Dva and Gin, Zin and Zon. The mediocre class of the best relationships, known as "sustaining vitality" (srog 'tsho), is formed by Li and Zin, Kham and Zon, Dva and Khen, Gin and Khon. The worst class of the best relationships, known as "growth through glory" (dpal bskyed), is formed by Zon and Li, Khon and Dva, Gin and Khen, or Kham and Zin. The best class of mediocre relationships, known as "intimation of luck" (phyva lon), is formed by Dva and Li, or Khen and Gin.
• The neutral or mediocre class of mediocre relationships, known as "average luck" (phyva gYang), is formed by Khon and Kham, or Zin and Zon. The worst class of mediocre relationships, known as "harm" (gnod pa), is formed by Li and Gin, Zon and Khen, Dva and Kham, or Zin and Khon.
• As for the inauspicious relationships, the best class of worst relationships, known as the "five demons" ('dre lnga), is formed by Dva and Li, Khon and Zon, Khen and Zin, or Gin and Kham. The mediocre class of worst relationships, known as "cutting influence of demons" (bdud gcod), is formed by Li and Khen, Dva and Zin, Khon and Kham, Gin and Zon; and the worst class of worst relationships, known as "corporal punishment" (lus chad pa), is formed by Khen and Kham, Li and Khon, Zon and Dva, or Zin and Gin. Each of these relationships has its own distinctive prognosis. For the calculation of the current trigram (babs spar) and the natal trigram (skyes spar) which are important form natal horoscope, see their separate entries.
• On the importance of the natal trigram in natal horoscope, along with the impact of the father's current trigram and coincidental actions on childbirth, the auspicious coincidences of destiny elements and natal trigrams, the impact of the mother's natal trigram, and the triple conjunctions (sum 'dom) of the destiny element, year sign, and trigram, see Part IV, pp. 000-000. Then in marriage divinations, there are important calculations to determine compatibility by examining inauspicious year-signs and trigrams of the bride and groom, while the calculation of the wedding day depends to some extent on the nuptial trigrams (spar kha'i lam rtsis), and the bride's natal trigram. On these see Part V, pp. 000-000. When divinations of obstacle years are applied, there are reckoned to be twenty-seven general obstacles associated with the trigrams, and the conjunction of multiples of nine with the trigrams (spar kha'i dgu mig) is also significant ([[se Part VI, pp. 000-000). Diseases and demonic influences may also be divined on the basis of the subject's trigram (spar kha'i nad ngos bzung), as indicated in Part VIII, pp. 000-000, while divinations concerning death examine potential retributions in association with the trigrams. Finally, according to another tradition, the calendar days of the lunar month and the hours of the day may also be calculated in terms of the eight trigrams. See Part II, pp. 000. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)