On the Eight Trigrams and Eight Winds

论八卦八风

八卦者.周易云.古者庖羲氏之王天下也.仰則觀象於天.俯則觀法於地.觀鳥獸之文.與地之宜.近取諸身.遠取諸物.於是始作八卦.以通神明之德.以類萬物之情.兼三才而兩之.故六畫而成卦.因八方之通八風.成八節之氣.故卦有八.其配五行者.乾兌爲金.坎爲水.震巽爲木.離爲火.坤艮爲土.各以方位言之.易通卦驗云.艮.東北.主立春.震.東方.主春分.巽.東南.主立夏.離.南方.主夏至.坤.西南.主立秋.兌.西方.主秋分.乾.西北.主立冬.坎.北方.主冬至.坎居北方者.冬至之日.陽氣動於黃泉之下.子雖大陰之位.以陽氣動其下.故其卦外陰內陽.象水內明.中懷陽也.故居子位以配水.艮在西北者.其卦一陽在上.象立春之時.陽氣已發.在於地上.下有重陰.象陰氣猶厚.陽氣尚微.艮既爲山.以其重陰在下.積土深.故卦復在丑.丑爲未衝.故以配土.震居東方者.震爲長男.能主幹任.故居顯明之地.東方.春也.萬物咸得生出.明淨顯著.震爲雷.雷動則萬物出.春分之時.天氣下降.地氣上腾.天地和同.萬物萌動.故震居卯.卯.木.少陽之位.故以配木.巽居東南者.其卦重陽在上.象立夏之時.陽氣已盛在上.陰氣微弱在於下.木之爲物.入地最少.出土最多.巽卦二陽在上.象木出地之多.一陰居下.象木入地之少.木體是陽.亦宜明顯.故在東南.以配於木.離居南方者.夏至之時.陰動於黃泉之下.午是盛陽之位.而陰氣動.故其卦外陽內陰.象火外明內暗.懷陰氣也.故在南方以配火.坤居西南者.坤卦純陰之象.能養萬物.莫過於地也.陰體卑順.不敢當首.陰動於午.至未始著.故坤後午之位.地體積陰.坤既純陰.象地.禮以中央土在未.地.卽土也.故在西南.以配土也.兌在西方者.兌卦一陰在上.象秋分之時.陽氣已深.金爲少陰.故一陰居上.酉是金位.故在西方以配金.乾居西北者.乾卦純陽之象.生萬物者.莫過乎天.乾爲生物之首.陽氣起子.乾是陽氣之本.故先子之位.以純陽堅剛.故在西北以配金.易傳曰.震主春分穀雨.穀雨得天兌.則萬物畢生.兌者.西方之卦.是時.日在昴.昴.西方之宿.以日在西.故曰天兌.貌順木得.則天兌爲和.貌失木逆.則天兌爲害.而常雨爲罰.兌主秋分霜降.霜降得天震之動氣.則天下霜.萬物死.震者.東方之卦.是時.日在房.房.東方之宿.以日在東.故曰天震.言順金得.則天震爲和.言失金逆.則天震爲害.而旱罰.所以貌雨言旱者.震陽兌陰.陽旱陰雨也.木之所以雨.金之所以旱者.其人事貌失.則下怨.陰盛故雨.言失則失衆.孤陽獨立.群陰不附.故旱.春秋二時.震兌相臨.天地氣和.所以不極寒熱也.坎主冬至大寒.大寒得天坎之氣.則天下大寒.是時.日在虛.虛.北方之宿.故曰天坎.聽順水得.則天坎爲和.聽失水逆.則天坎爲罰.故常寒.離主夏至大熱.大熱發長.復得天離之氣.則天下大熱.萬事畢出.是時.日在七星.七星.南方七宿.故曰天離.視順火得.則天離爲和.視失火逆.則天離爲罰.故常燠.冬夏二時.天地氣併.坎離各當其方.所以極寒熱也.今分八卦以配方位者.坎離震兌.各在當方之辰.四維四卦.則丑寅屬艮.辰巳屬巽.未申屬坤.戌亥屬乾.八卦既通八風.八方.以調八節之氣.故坎生廣莫風.四十五日.至艮.生條風.四十五日.至震.生明庶風.四十五日.至巽.生清明風.四十五日.至離.生景風.四十五日.至坤.生涼風.四十五日.至兌.生閶闔風.四十五日.至乾.生不周風.四十五日.又至坎.陽氣生五極九.五九四十五.故左行四十五日而一變也.廣莫風者.廣.大也.莫.沙漠也.寒氣廣遠.自沙漠而來也.亦云.此時陽氣在下.陰莫之廣大也.條風者.條.達也.此時達生萬物也.明庶風者.庶.衆也.此時陽以施惠之德.衆物皆明出也.清明風者.天氣明淨清涼也.此時清風吹萬物.使盛大明淨可觀也.景風者.景.高也.萬物至此太高也.亦言景.竟也.陽道至此終竟也.涼風者.秋風涼也.此時陰氣淒涼.收成萬物也.閶闔風者.昌盛也.此時萬物盛而收藏之也.不周風者.周.遍也.萬物備成.不周者.閉不通也.言此時純陰無陽.閉塞不通也.淮南子曰.東北方曰蒼門.生條風.東方曰開明門.生明庶風.東南方曰陽門.生清明風.南方曰暑門.生景風.西南方曰白門.生涼風.西方曰閶闔門.生阊闔風.西北方曰幽都門.生不周風.北方曰寒門.生廣莫風.蒼門者.東北木將用事.春之始.故曰蒼門.開明門者.明.陽也.日之所出.故曰開明門.陽門者.月建在巳.純陽用事.故曰陽門.暑門者.盛衰之時.故曰暑門.白門者.月建在申.金氣之始.故曰白門.閶闔門者.八月建在酉.萬物將收.閶.大.闔.閉.收閉之時.故曰閶闔門.幽都門者.幽.暗也.玄冥將始用事.陰聚故幽也.故曰幽都門.寒門者.積寒所在.故曰寒門.此八極之方.是八風之所起也.呂氏春秋云.東方滔風.東南動風.南方巨風.西南淒風.西方飄風.西北厲風.北方寒風.東北炎風.此意亦同於前.太公兵書云.坎名大剛風.乾名折風.兌名小剛風.艮名凶風.坤名謀風.巽名小弱風.震名嬰兒風.離名大弱風.大剛風者.大陰之氣.好殺故剛.折風者.金強.能摧折物也.小剛風者.亦金殺故也.凶風者.艮在鬼門.凶害之所也.謀風者.坤爲地.大陰之本.多陰謀也.小弱風者.巽爲長女.故稱弱也.嬰兒風者.震爲長男.愛之.故曰兒.大弱風者.離爲中女.又弱於長女也.大剛.小剛.客勝.大弱.小弱.主人勝.凶.有凶害之事.謀.有謀逆之人.折.爲將死.嬰兒風.主人強.此竝兵家顴客主盛衰.候風所從来也.楊泉云.春氣臑.其風溫以和.喜風也.夏氣盛.其風陽以貞.樂風也.秋氣勁.其風熛以清.怒風也.冬氣冷.其風凝以厲.哀風也.又.四維之風.隨生成之氣.方土異宜.各隨所感而風者.天之號令.治政之象.若君有德令.則風不搖條.清和調暢.若政令失.則氣怒凶暴.飛沙折木.此天地報應之理也.此皆五行之氣.故竝釋焉.

On the Eight Trigrams and Eight Winds

Overall Interpretation
The Book of Changes records: When the ancient Emperor Fuxi governed the world, he observed astronomical phenomena 🌌, geographical formations ⛰, patterns of birds and beasts 🦅, and the ecology of the earth 🌱. Drawing inspiration from the human body's structure at a close range and the laws of all things from a distance, he established the Eight Trigrams system. The Eight Trigrams connect the virtues of heaven, earth, and divine beings, analogize the conditions of all things, and integrate the three talents (heaven, earth, and humanity) while overlapping in pairs to form hexagrams composed of six lines. The Eight Trigrams correspond to the eight directions, connect with the eight winds, and form the eight seasonal climates, hence the name Eight Trigrams.

The correspondence between the Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements is:

• Qian (Heaven) and Dui (Lake) belong to Metal ⚔️,
• Kan (Water) belongs to Water 🌊,
• Zhen (Thunder) and Xun (Wind) belong to Wood 🌳,
• Li (Fire) belongs to Fire 🔥,
• Kun (Earth) and Gen (Mountain) belong to Earth 🏺.

According to directional division:
As recorded in Yitong Guayan, Gen occupies the northeast, governing the Beginning of Spring; Zhen occupies the east, governing the Spring Equinox; Xun occupies the southeast, governing the Beginning of Summer; Li occupies the south, governing the Summer Solstice; Kun occupies the southwest, governing the Beginning of Autumn; Dui occupies the west, governing the Autumn Equinox; Qian occupies the northwest, governing the Beginning of Winter; Kan occupies the north, governing the Winter Solstice.

In-Depth Analysis of Directions:

• Kan (North · Water): At the Winter Solstice, yang energy begins to stir beneath the Yellow Springs. It is externally yin and internally yang, like water, which appears dark on the surface but is clear within 💧.
• Gen (Northeast · Earth): At the Beginning of Spring, yang energy emerges while yin energy remains strong, akin to a mountain with deep, accumulated earth ⛰.
• Zhen (East · Wood): At the Spring Equinox, the energies of heaven and earth interact, and all things sprout. Thunder signifies growth, like the expansion of wood 🌱.
• Xun (Southeast · Wood): At the Beginning of Summer, yang energy peaks while yin is subtle, resembling trees with more growth above ground and less below 🌳.
• Li (South · Fire): At the Summer Solstice, yin energy begins to stir beneath abundant yang. It is externally bright and internally dark, like fire containing yin 🔥.
• Kun (Southwest · Earth): Pure yin symbolizes the earth nurturing all things. Yin energy moves at noon but remains hidden, hence its position after noon 🌏.
• Dui (West · Metal): At the Autumn Equinox, yang energy is deeply stored, with a layer of yin above, reflecting the stern nature of metal 🍂.
• Qian (Northwest · Metal): Pure yang symbolizes heaven as the source of life, with firmness and strength matching metal ⚔️.

Eight Winds System:
Each trigram governs 45 days, forming a cycle of eight winds:

1. Kan → Guangmo Wind (North · cold from the desert)
2. Gen → Tiao Wind (Northeast · smooth and generative)
3. Zhen → Mingshu Wind (East · clarity and emergence of all things)
4. Xun → Qingming Wind (Southeast · clear heaven and earth)
5. Li → Jing Wind (South · peak prosperity of all things)
6. Kun → Liang Wind (Southwest · autumn coolness and harvest)
7. Dui → Changhe Wind (West · culmination and gathering)
8. Qian → Buzhou Wind (Northwest · blockage and obstruction)

Textual Evidence:

• Huainanzi records the eight gates:
  • Northeast Cang Gate → Tiao Wind
  • East Kaiming Gate → Mingshu Wind
  • Southeast Yang Gate → Qingming Wind
  • South Shu Gate → Jing Wind
  • Southwest Bai Gate → Liang Wind
  • West Changhe Gate → Changhe Wind
  • Northwest Youdu Gate → Buzhou Wind
  • North Han Gate → Guangmo Wind
• Tai Gong’s Military Texts explain wind symbolism:
  • Kan: Dagang Wind (killing)
  • Qian: Zhe Wind (destruction)
  • Dui: Xiaogang Wind (sternness)
  • Gen: Xiong Wind (ghost gate)
  • Kun: Mou Wind (conspiracy)
  • Xun: Xiaoruo Wind (eldest daughter)
  • Zhen: Ying’er Wind (eldest son)
  • Li: Daruo Wind (middle daughter)
• Yang Quan’s Theory of Seasonal Winds:
  • Spring: Warm (joy)
  • Summer: Yang (happiness)
  • Autumn: Biao (anger)
  • Winter: Ning (sorrow)

---

🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

The Eight Trigrams are a cosmic model constructed by ancient people through observing natural laws. They integrate space (eight directions), time (eight seasons), matter (Five Elements), and meteorology (eight winds) into a unified system, reflecting the holistic philosophical view of "correspondence between heaven and humanity."

Modern Interpretation 🌟

• Meteorological Science Prototype: The theory of the eight winds is essentially an ancient observational system of climatic cycles. The 45-day cycle approximates the modern meteorological concepts of the pentad (5 days) and solar term (15 days).
• Environmental Psychology: The psychological effects of winds from different directions (e.g., the generative feeling of east winds, the stern feeling of west winds) have a basis in environmental psychology.
• Systems Thinking: The Eight Trigrams and Eight Winds system demonstrates ancient Chinese systems thinking, emphasizing interconnectedness and dynamic balance.

Practical Value ⚡

• Human Settlements Design: The Eight Trigrams directions can inform architectural ventilation planning (e.g., southern Li positions are suitable for landscape ventilation openings).
• Agricultural Practices: Traditional wind and climate patterns remain relevant for organic farming (e.g., the Qingming Wind period is suitable for spring sowing).
• Health and Wellness: Adjust daily routines according to seasonal wind characteristics (e.g., focus on cold prevention during the Guangmo Wind period).

Philosophical Reflection 🤔

The theory of the eight winds reveals the fluid nature of "Qi" in Chinese philosophy—natural phenomena are not merely physical changes but expressions of cosmic energy. The "strength and softness" of winds reflect the interplay of yin and yang energies. The notion that "disorder in governance leads to violent winds" connects natural phenomena with human societal governance, embodying the deep cosmic view of "harmony between heaven and humanity."

---

📚 Related Knowledge

Related Concepts:

• Correspondence between the 24 Solar Terms and the Eight Trigrams
• The Theory of Eight Palaces and Qi
• The Xiang-Shu Numerology System of the Han Dynasty

Further Reading:

• Huainanzi · Astronomical Training: The Eight Winds System
• Yiwei · Tong Guayan: Theory of Trigram Qi
• Huangdi Neijing: Connection Between the Eight Winds and Diseases

Modern Research:

• Joseph Needham’s Science and Civilisation in China: Meteorology Section
• Feng Shi’s Chinese Astronomical Archaeology: Research on Directional Systems
• Modern Applications of the Eight Winds Theory in Contemporary Feng Shui

Please translate the above content into English, maintaining the original format and structure.