The classification of the trigrams is extremely important. Just a small mistake will lead to serious problems for the whole system. In this article, I only give examples of 3 trigrams: Càn-Qian ☰, Khôn-Kun ☷ and Ly-Li ☲ for readers to evaluate the differences between I Ching and Circle-Square Dao.
Contents
Càn-Qian, Khôn-Kun
In the I Ching, there is no distinction between form and force. Trigram Càn – Spirit, Heaven is classified by I Ching as just Dương and Trigram Khôn – Body, Earth as Âm in both form and force. This leads to a contradiction.
As a Dương form, Càn is a defined state – a becoming, visible, formed – and thus more limited than Khôn – Âm, formless, unseen, and yet deeply potent.
The classification of Càn and Khôn also contradicts universally recognized principles, such as the nature of Spirit – which is understood across traditions to be Âm in form (invisible, intangible) but Dương in force (active, creative, powerful). This understanding is echoed in the Bible, Gita, and even modern science, which recognizes that unseen forces (fields, waves, energy) drive visible phenomena.
Fire Element/Interaction: Càn-Qian or Ly-Li
Similarly, among 5 Elements or Interactions – Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth (the Center), I Ching’s assignment of “Fire Element” to the trigram Ly-Li ☲ (5 energy level) misses that Càn (7, highest energy) as a true Fire Element/Interaction. Fire, in elemental theory, represents peak energy, transformative power, and dynamic expansion, akin to a star’s fusion process releasing immense energy (for example, 3.8×10²⁶ watts for the Sun).
Among 8 Trigrams, one of the Li’s literal meanings includes “Fire.” However, when considering Fire as most active, aggressive, lightest, brightest, hottest among 4 elements – Ly-Li falls short. Càn-Qian, embodies these qualities far more fittingly. Càn-Qian signifies creativity, strength, initiative, and dominance – attributes mirroring Fire’s fiery, active nature. I Ching’s assignment of Fire to Ly-Li, based on a literal interpretation, overlooks these metaphysical qualitative discrepancies.
The Correct Classification
Therefore, the correct classification of the 3 trigrams should be as follow:
- Càn-Qian ☰ is Âm/Yin in Shape, Dương/Yang in Force, with the energy level of 7, the highest among 8 trigrams.
- Khôn-Kun ☷ is Dương/Yang in Shape, Âm/Yin in Force, with the energy of 0, the lowest among 8 trigrams.
- Càn-Qian ☰ with the energy of 7 is the Element/Interaction Fire, not Ly-Li ☲, whose Energy is only 5, lower than Càn-Qian.
The above errors will of course lead to incorrect classifications of the other trigrams.