Wen Wang Gua [文王卦] Lesson 1

Wen Wang Gua [文王卦] (King Wen Oracle)

Lesson 1: Five Elements [五行], Trigrams [八卦], Yin Yang [陰陽] &
Hexagrams [六十四卦]

To make divination using Wen Wang Gua (WWG) [文王卦] {Mandarin: "Wén Wáng
Guà", Cantonese: "Man4 Wong4 Gwaa3"}, the steps involves shaking 3 coins in the
clasp of the hands or tortoise shell. Based on the front or back of the coins, and
then deduce the prediction on the matter. But before we proceed to the divination,
let us start to understand with the guiding principles of WWG. These principles
look simple but are extremely important. This might be a little challenging for
beginner to grasp the concept at first.

Let us start by understanding the Five Elements [五行] {M: "Wǔ Xíng", C: "Ng5
Hang4"}.

Five Elements [五行]

In the Chinese metaphysics, it is often that all matters in the world are
represented using five different types of energies. These are called the Five
Elements. It consists of Wood [木] {M: "Mù", C: "Muk6"}, Fire [火] {M: "Huǒ", C:
"Fo2"}, Earth [土] {M: "Tǔ", C: "Tou2"}, Metal [金] {M: "Jīn", C: "Gam1"}, and Water
[水] {M: "Shuǐ", C: "Seoi2"}. Each of this energy has a distinct reaction to one
another and this is represented by the Produce [生] {M: "Shēng", C: "Saang1"} and
the Control [剋] {M: "Kē", C: "Hak1"} reaction. Refer to the Diagram 1.

Wood
木

Water Fire Produce

水 火 Control

Metal Earth
金 土

Diagram 1: Producing and Controlling Cycle of Five Elements [五行生剋]

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From the Diagram 1, we can see that Wood produce Fire, Fire produce Earth, Earth
produce Metal, Metal produce Water, and Water produce Wood. This is a cycle that
continues to enhance the following element. At the same time, there exist another
cycle that restrict the elements that we called the Control cycle. Wood control
Earth, Earth control Water, Water control Fire, Fire control Metal, and Metal
control Wood. These two cycles continues to exist to keep all the elements in a
balance relationship. Seems simple but cannot be ignored in the study of Chinese
metaphysics.

After knowing the existence of the Five Elements and Produce-Control Cycle, how
do we utilise them? As a starter, we can apply them on the date system. In Chinese
metaphysics, dates are formed by combining Heavenly Stems [天干] {M: "Tiān Gān",
C: “Tin1 Gon1"} and Earthly Branches [地支] {M: "Dì Zhī", C: "Dei6 Zi1"}. Let’s focus
on the Heavenly Stems first.

Heavenly Stems [天干]

Heavenly Stems are made up of Jia [甲] {M: "Jiǎ", C: "Gaap3"}, Yi [乙] {M: "Yǐ", C:
"Yut6"}, Bing [丙] {M: "Bǐng", C: "Bing2"}, Ding [丁] {M: "Dīng", C: "Ding1"}, Wu [戊]
{M: "Wù", C: "Mou6"}, Ji [己] {M: "Jǐ", C: "Gei2"}, Geng [庚] {M: "Gēng", C: "Gang1"},
Xin [辛] {M: "Xīn", C: "San1"}, Ren [壬] {M: "Rén", C: "Yam4"}, and Gui [癸] {M: "Guǐ",
C: "Gwai3"}. These are also called Ten Stems [十天干] {M: "Shí Tiān Gān", C: "Sap6
Tin1 Gon1"}. The Five Elements are included inside the Ten Stems.

Jia [甲] and Yi [乙]  Wood element

Bing [丙] and Ding [丁]  Fire element
Wu [戊] and Ji [己]  Earth element
Geng [庚] and Xin [辛]  Metal element
Ren [壬]and Gui [癸]  Water element
Table 1: Elements of Heavenly Stems [天干五行]

Earthly Branches [地支]

After introducing the Heavenly Stems, let’s get to know the Earthly Branches.
Earthly Branches consist of Zi [子] {M: "Zi", C: "Zi2"}, Chou [丑] {M: "Chǒu", C:
"Cau2"}, Yin [寅] {M: "Yín", C: "Yan4"}, Mao [卯] {M: "Mǎo", C: "Maau5"}, Chen [辰]
{M: "Chén", C: "San4"}, Si [巳] {M: "Sì", C: "Zi6"}, Wu [午] {M: "Wǔ", C: "Ng5"}, Wei
[未] {M: "Wèi", C: "Mei6"}, Shen [申] {M: "Shēn", C: "San1"}, You [酉] {M: "Yǒu", C:
"Yau5"}, Xu [戌] {M: "Xū", C: "Seot1"}, and Hai [亥] {M: "Hài", C: "Hoi6"}.

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Yin Si Shen Hai

 Wood  Fire  Metal  Water
寅 巳 申 亥
Mao Wu You Zi
 Wood  Fire  Metal  Water
卯 午 酉 子
Chen Wei Xu Chou
 Earth  Earth  Earth  Earth
辰 未 戌 丑
Table 2: Elements of Earthly Branches [地支五行]

There are multiple uses for Earthly Branches. One such example is the seasons in a
year (Yin, Mao, and Chen represent Spring; Si, Wu and Wei represent Summer;
Shen, You, and Xu represent Autumn; Hai, Zi, and Chou represent Winter). It can
also be used to represent time. Refer to the table below.

Zi [子] 11.00 pm – 12.59 am Wu [午] 11.00 am – 12.59 pm

Chou [丑] 1.00 am – 2.59 am Wei [未] 1.00 pm – 2.59 pm
Yin [寅] 3.00 am – 4.59 am Shen [申] 3.00 pm – 4.59 pm
Mao [卯] 5.00 am – 6.59 am You [酉] 5.00 pm – 6.59 pm
Chen [辰] 7.00 am – 8.59 am Xu [戌] 7.00 pm – 8.59 pm
Si [巳] 9.00 am – 10.59 am Hai [亥] 9.00 pm – 10.59 pm
Table 3: Time using Earthly Branches [地支时辰]

Twelve Earthly Branches [十二地支] {M: "Shí Èr Dì Zhī", C: "Sap6 Yi6 Dei6 Zi1"} can
also represent the twelve Zodiacs [十二生肖] {M: "Shí Èr Shēng Xiào", C: "Sap6 Yi6
Saang1 Ciu3"}.

Zi [子] Rat Wu [午] Horse

Chou [丑] Ox Wei [未] Goat
Yin [寅] Tiger Shen [申] Monkey
Mao [卯] Rabbit You [酉] Rooster
Chen [辰] Dragon Xu [戌] Dog
Si [巳] Snake Hai [亥] Pig
Table 4: Zodiac using Earthly Branches [十二生肖]

Sexagenary (Base-60) Cycle [六十甲子]

What do we do after having the Ten Stems and Twelve Branches? Usually we will
be pairing one stem with one branch as a combination. The following table shows
the available pairing of each Stem-Branch [干支] {M: "Gān Zhī", C: "Gon1 Zi1"}.

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Jia Zi Jia Xu Jia Shen Jia Wu Jia Chen Jia Yin

甲子 甲戌 甲申 甲午 甲辰 甲寅
Yi Chou Yi Hai Yi You Yi Wei Yi Si Yi Mao
乙丑 乙亥 乙酉 乙未 乙巳 乙卯
Bing Yin Bing Zi Bing Xu Bing Shen Bing Wu Bing Chen
丙寅 丙子 丙戌 丙申 丙午 丙辰
Ding Mao Ding Chou Ding Hai Ding You Ding Wei Ding Si
丁卯 丁丑 丁亥 丁酉 丁未 丁巳
Wu Chen Wu Yin Wu Zi Wu Xu Wu Shen Wu Wu
戊辰 戊寅 戊子 戊戌 戊申 戊午
Ji Si Ji Mao Ji Chou Ji Hai Ji You Ji Wei
己巳 己卯 己丑 己亥 己酉 己未
Geng Wu Geng Chen Geng Yin Geng Zi Geng Xu Geng Shen
庚午 庚辰 庚寅 庚子 庚戌 庚申
Xin Wei Xin Si Xin Mao Xin Chou Xin Hai Xin You
辛未 辛巳 辛卯 辛丑 辛亥 辛酉
Ren Shen Ren Wu Ren Chen Ren Yin Ren Zi Ren Xu
壬申 壬午 壬辰 壬寅 壬子 壬戌
Gui You Gui Wei Gui Si Gui Mao Gui Chou Gui Hai
癸酉 癸未 癸巳 癸卯 癸丑 癸亥

Table 5: Sexagenary Cycle Combination [六十甲子]

In the Stem-Branch [干支] pairing, both Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches will
go in sequence. For example, in Heavenly Stems, Jia [甲] will always be followed
by Yi [乙], and in Earthly Branches, Zi [子] will follow by Chou [丑]. Therefore, the
cycle starts with Jia Zi [甲子] {M: "Jiǎ Zǐ", C: "Gaap3 Zi2"}, and then Yi Chou [乙丑]
{M: "Yǐ Chǒu", C: "Yut6 Cau2"} and so on until we reach Gui Hai [癸亥] {M: "Guǐ Hài",
C: "Gwai3 Hoi6"}, then it return back to Jia Zi [甲子].

Then how do we use it to represent the full date? It is used to represent the Year,
Month, Day, and Hour. It will follow a specific rule that was set in the ancient
times and cannot be changed as we like. For example, the date 11 th August 2020,
2.00 pm in the Gregorian calendar can be converted to Geng Zi year [庚子年] {M:
"Gēng Zi Nián", C: "Gang1 Zi2 Nin4"}, Jia Shen month [甲申月] {M: "Jiǎ Shēn Yuè", C:
"Gaap3 San1 Yut6"}, Bing Xu day [丙戌日] {M: "Bǐng Xū Rì", C: "Bing2 Seot1 Yat6"},
and Yi Wei hour [乙未时] {M: "Yǐ Wèi Shí", C: "Yut6 Mei6 Si4"}. There are a few
ways to check the correct date in this format by either, a) check the Chinese
Almanac [通胜/通书] {M: "Tōng Shèng/Tōng Shū", C: "Tung1 Sing3/Tung1 Syu1"}, b)
check the Ten Thousand Year calendar [万年历] {M: "Wàn Nián Lì", C: "Maan6 Nin4
Lik6"}, or c) check using mobile apps.

Yin Yang in Heavenly Stems [天干陰陽]

Up to this point, some may notice that there are two stems for every element, for
example Jia [甲] and Yi [乙] are both Wood elements. Then what is the difference
between them? The difference is that both represent the Yin [陰] {M: "Yīn", C:
"Yam1"} and the Yang [陽] {M: "Yáng", C: "Yoeng4"}. Jia [甲] is Yang Wood [陽木] {M:
"Yáng Mù", C: "Yoeng4 Muk6"} while Yi [乙] is Yin Wood [陰木] {M: "Yīn Mù", C:

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"Yam1 Muk6"}. The first stem for each element is Yang [陽] and the second stem
will be Yin [陰]. Refer to the following table.

Wood [木] Fire [火] Earth [土] Metal [金] Water [水]
Yang Heavenly Stem [陽天干] Jia [甲] Bing [丙] Wu [戊] Geng [庚] Ren [壬]
Yin Heavenly Stem [陰天干] Yi [乙] Ding [丁] Ji [己] Xin [辛] Gui [癸]

Table 6: Polarity of Heavenly Stems [天干陰陽]

Yin Yang in Earthly Branches [地支陰陽]

After looking into the polarity of the Heavenly Stems, surely this will also apply to
the Earthly Branches too. However the polarity of Earthly Branches is slightly
different. Do refer to the following diagram for understanding.

Si [巳] Wu [午] Wei [未] Shen [申]

Yin Fire [陰火] Yang Fire [陽火] Yin Earth [陰土] Yang Metal [陽金]
Chen [辰] You [酉]
Yang Earth [陽土] Yin Metal [陰金]
Mao [卯] Xu [戌]
Yin Wood [陰木] Yang Earth [陽土]
Yin [寅] Chou [丑] Zi [子] Hai [亥]
Yang Wood [陽木] Yin Earth [陰土] Yang Water [陽水] Yin Water [陰水]

Diagram 2: Polarity of Earthly Branches [地支陰陽]

In the arrangement of the polarity of Earthly Branches, it starts with Yang [陽] in
the odd position (white box) and follow by Yin [陰] in the even position (black box).
Therefore, from this arrangement we can see that even though Yin [寅] and Mao
[卯] are both Wood element, their polarity will describe a totally different picture.

Yin Yang [陰陽]

In the previous section, we have mentioned a bit on the topic of Yin Yang [陰陽] {M:
"Yīn Yáng", C: "Yam1 Yoeng4"}. Yin Yang [陰陽] is extremely important in the
process of divination. It is used to translate the face of the coins into meaningful
word from the combination of Yin [陰] and Yang [陽]. As a common practice, Yang
[陽] will be represented by a solid line (the line is also known as Yao [爻] {M: "Yáo",
C: "Ngaau4"}) (―) or single apostrophe (′), while Yin [陰] will be represented by a
broken line (--) or double apostrophe (″).

By using only Yin [陰] and Yang [陽], we are unable to indicate any changing
factors in the reading of the divination, we will include the concept of Old [老] {M:
"Lǎo", C: "Lou5"} and Young [少] {M: "Shǎo ", C: "Siu2"} on top of Yin Yang [陰陽].
Therefore, Old Yang [老陽] {M: "Lǎo Yáng", C: "Lou5 Yoeng4"} and Old Yin [老陰] {M:

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"Lǎo Yīn", C: "Lou5 Yam1"} to represent changing yao, and Young Yang [少陽] {M:
"Shǎo Yáng", C: "Siu2 Yoeng4"} and Young Yin [少陰] {M: "Shǎo Yīn", C: "Siu2 Yam1"}
to represent unchanging or stationary yao. From the shaking of the three coins, we
will mark the result from bottom up, whether it is Old Yang [老陽], Old Yin [老陰],
Young Yang [少陽] or Young Yin [少陰]. Repeat the process for six times to get a
full hexagram. Refer to the table for better clarification.

Yao Coins combination Symbol

Old Yang [老陽] or O

Young Yin [少陰] or “

Young Yang [少陽] or ‘

Old Yin [老陰] or X

Table 7: Representation of the Yaos

Six Yaos [六爻]

Every hexagram [卦] {M: "Guà", C: "Gwaa3"} is formed by six yaos, arranged from
bottom up. The bottom-most yao is named the Initial Yao [初爻] {M: "Chū Yáo", C:
"Co1 Ngaau4"}, followed by second yao [二爻] {M: "Èr Yáo", C: "Yi6 Ngaau4"}, third
yao [三爻] {M: "Sān Yáo", C: "Saam1 Ngaau4"}, fourth yao [四爻] {M: "Sì Yáo", C:
"Sei3 Ngaau4"}, and fifth yao [五爻] {M: "Wǔ Yáo", C: "Ng5 Ngaau4"}. The top-most
yao is named Upper yao [上爻] {M: "Shàng Yáo", C: "Soeng5 Ngaau4"}. This will be
the hexagram [卦] that relates to the question that has been asked. However, the
process to translate the hexagram to some human readable word will still takes
some time.

In a hexagram, the initial yao [初爻], second yao [二爻], and third yao [三爻] will
form the lower trigram [下卦] {M: "Xià Guà", C: "Haa6 Gwaa3"}, while the fourth
yao [四爻], fifth yao [五爻], and upper yao [上爻] will form the top trigram [上卦]
{M: "Shàng Guà", C: "Soeng5 Gwaa3"}.

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Upper Yao [上爻]

Upper
Fifth Yao [五爻] Trigram
[上卦]
Fourth Yao [四爻]

Third Yao [三爻]

Lower
Second Yao [二爻] Trigram
[下卦]
Initial Yao [初爻]
Diagram 3: Hexagram formed from two trigrams

Trigrams [八卦]
Since we mention about the trigrams, what are the trigrams? There are eight
trigrams in total. This includes Qian [乾] {M: "Qián", C: "Kin4"}, Dui [兌] {M: "Duì", C:
"Deoi3"}, Li [離] {M: "Lí", C: "Lei4"}, Zhen [震] {M: "Zhèn", C: "Zan3"}, Xun [巽] {M:
"Xùn", C: "Seon3"}, Kan [坎] {M: "Kǎn", C: "Ham1"}, Gen [艮] {M: "Gěn", C: "Gan3"},
and Kun [坤] {M: "Kūn", C: "Kwan1"}. Each trigram represents different people,
direction, or matter. Refer to the table for more information.

Early Later
Family
Name Trigram Element Heaven Heaven Image Direction
Member(s)
Number Number
Qian North
Metal 1 6 Father Heaven
[乾] West
Dui Youngest
Metal 2 7 Lake West
[兌] Daughter
Li Middle
Fire 3 9 Fire South
[離] Daughter
Zhen Eldest
Wood 4 3 Thunder East
[震] Son
Xun Eldest South
Wood 5 4 Wind
[巽] Daughter East
Kan Middle
Water 6 1 Water North
[坎] Son
Gen Youngest North
Earth 7 8 Mountain
[艮] Son East
Kun South
Earth 8 2 Mother Earth
[坤] West

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Table 8: Characteristics of Trigrams

64 Hexagrams [六十四卦]
As we have mentioned earlier that the six yaos hexagrams are combined by an
upper trigram [上卦] and a lower trigram [下卦]. From the combination of eight
different trigrams as upper and lower trigram, this together will form the total of
64 hexagrams [卦]. Each hexagram will have its own name and is group under eight
different palaces [宫] {M: "Gōng", C: "Gung1"}, which includes Qian palace [乾宫]
{M: "Qián Gōng", C: "Kin4 Gung1"}, Dui palace [兌宫] {M: "Duì Gōng", C: "Deoi3
Gung1"}, Li palace [離宫] {M: "Lí Gōng", C: "Lei4 Gung1"}, Zhen palace [震宫] {M:
"Zhèn Gōng", C: "Zan3 Gung1"}, Xun palace [ 巽 宫 ] {M: "Xùn Gōng", C: "Seon3
Gung1"}, Kan palace [坎宫] {M: "Kǎn Gōng", C: "Ham1 Gung1"}, Gen palace [艮宫]
{M: "Gěn Gōng", C: "Gan3 Gung1"}, and Kun palace [坤宫] {M: "Kūn Gōng", C:
"Kwan1 Gung1"}. We will explore this in a later lesson.

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Qian palace Dui palace Li palace Zhen palace Xun palace Kan palace Gen palace Kun palace
乾宫 兌宫 離宫 震宫 巽宫 坎宫 艮宫 坤宫

乾為天 兌為澤 離為火 震為雷 巽為風 坎為水 艮為山 坤為地

Heaven Marsh Fire Thunder Wind Water Mountain Earth

天風姤 澤水困 火山旅 雷地豫 風天小畜 水澤節 山火賁 地雷復

Meeting Trap Travelling Delight Small Regulate Beauty Returning
Livestock

天山遯 澤地萃 火風鼎 雷水解 風火家人 水雷屯 山天大畜 地澤臨

Retreat Gathering Cauldron Relief Family Beginning Big Arriving
Livestock

天地否 澤山咸 火水未 雷風恆 風雷益 水火既濟 山澤損 地天泰

Stagnation Influence Not Yet Consistency Increasing Accomplished Decreasing Unity
Accomplished

風地觀 水山蹇 山水蒙 地風升 天雷無妄 澤火革 火澤睽 雷天大壯

Observation Obstruction Bliss Rising Without Reform Opposition Great
Wrongdoing Strength

山地剝 地山謙 風水渙 水風井 火雷噬嗑 雷火豐 天澤履 澤天夬

Peel Humility Dispersing Well Biting Abundance Tread Eliminating

火地晉 雷山小過 天水訟 澤風大過 山雷頤 地火明夷 風澤中孚 水天需

Advancement Lesser Litigation Great Nourish Dimming Light Sincerity Waiting
Exceeding Exceeding

火天大有 雷澤歸妹 天火同人 澤雷隨 山風蠱 地水師 風山漸 水地比

Great Reward Marrying Fellowship Following Poison Officer Gradual Alliance
Maiden Progress

Table 9: 64 Hexagrams in Natal palace