The eight trigrams

Every hexagram is two trigrams, one above the other. A trigram is three lines, so there are eight of them. Wilhelm gives each a name, a quality, an image in nature and a place in the family.

Qián 乾

The Creative
Quality: strong
Image: heaven
Family: father

Kūn 坤

The Receptive
Quality: devoted
Image: earth
Family: mother

Zhèn 震

The Arousing
Quality: moving
Image: thunder
Family: eldest son

Kǎn 坎

The Abysmal
Quality: dangerous
Image: water
Family: middle son

Gèn 艮

Keeping Still
Quality: resting
Image: mountain
Family: youngest son

Xùn 巽

The Gentle
Quality: penetrating
Image: wind, wood
Family: eldest daughter

Lí 離

The Clinging
Quality: luminous
Image: fire
Family: middle daughter

Duì 兌

The Joyous
Quality: joyful
Image: lake
Family: youngest daughter