Bagua Eight Trigrams Symbolism Guide: Complete Chart of Correspondences
What Is the "Correspondences of All Things"?
The "Correspondences of All Things" (万物类象, wan wu lei xiang) is one of the core theories of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It teaches that everything in the universe can be categorized under one of the Eight Trigrams (Bagua, 八卦) according to its inherent nature and characteristics. Through the method of "taking images and drawing analogies," the vast complexity of existence is distilled into the symbolic system of the Bagua for analysis and interpretation.
Cultural Context: The Shuo Gua Zhuan (说卦传, "Commentary on the Images of the Trigrams") is the authoritative source for Bagua symbolism. It systematically maps the Eight Trigrams onto the natural world, human qualities, objects, seasons, and beyond — forming the philosophical foundation that later Feng Shui masters built upon.
Qian Trigram ☰ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Heaven |
| Direction |
Northwest (Later Heaven) / South (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Metal |
| Yin and Yang |
Yang (Pure Yang) |
| Numbers |
1, 6 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Father, elder, leader, official, celebrity, authority figure
- Body: Head, lungs, bones, large intestine
- Personality: Strong, decisive, dignified, proud, upright
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Horse, lion, elephant, swan, dragon
- Plants: Tall trees, chrysanthemum, walnut
- Items: Jewelry, gold and silver, swords, mirrors, round objects
- Places: Imperial palace, government buildings, skyscrapers, auditoriums, northwest direction
Other Correspondences
- Colors: Bright red, gold, white
- Taste: Spicy / pungent
- Season: Transition between autumn and winter
- Weather: Clear skies, severe cold, hail
Kun Trigram ☷ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Earth |
| Direction |
Southwest (Later Heaven) / North (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Earth |
| Yin and Yang |
Yin (Pure Yin) |
| Numbers |
2, 8 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Mother, married woman, farmer, masses, corpulent person
- Body: Belly, stomach, spleen, flesh, digestive system
- Personality: Gentle, tolerant, cautious, diligent, patient
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Ox, sheep, hen, all beasts of the field
- Plants: Grains, cotton, potato, sweet potato, flat-shaped fruits
- Items: Pottery, square containers, cloth, carts
- Places: Fields, villages, farmers' markets, southwest direction
Zhen Trigram ☳ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Thunder |
| Direction |
East (Later Heaven) / Northeast (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Wood |
| Yin and Yang |
Yang |
| Numbers |
3, 4 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Eldest son, athlete, police officer, soldier, warrior
- Body: Feet, liver, gallbladder, hair, voice
- Personality: Active, impatient, decisive, brave, impulsive
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Dragon, snake, koi, birds with clear calls
- Plants: Bamboo, reeds, tall trees, flowering plants
- Items: Musical instruments, alarm clocks, telephones, vehicles, long-shaped objects
- Places: Factories, stations, playgrounds, eastern direction
Xun Trigram ☴ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Wind |
| Direction |
Southeast (Later Heaven) / Southwest (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Wood |
| Yin and Yang |
Yin |
| Numbers |
4, 5 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Eldest daughter, eldest daughter-in-law, merchant, teacher, technical specialist
- Body: Thighs, gallbladder, trachea, nerves, respiratory system
- Personality: Gentle, changeable, detail-oriented, suspicious, indecisive |
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Chicken, snake, butterfly, dragonfly, feathered creatures
- Plants: Grasses, vegetables, flowers, vines and climbing plants
- Items: Ropes, fans, blowers, paper, slender objects
- Places: Grasslands, gardens, schools, shops, southeast direction
Kan Trigram ☵ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Water |
| Direction |
North (Later Heaven) / West (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Water |
| Yin and Yang |
Yang |
| Numbers |
1, 6 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Middle son, second son, sailor, thief, impoverished person
- Body: Ears, kidneys, bladder, blood, bone marrow, reproductive system
- Personality: Intelligent, cunning, changeable, outwardly soft but inwardly resolute, strategic |
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Pig, fish, fox, waterfowl, shellfish
- Plants: Aquatic grasses, lotus, water chestnuts, water plants
- Items: Wine vessels, liquid containers, pumps, boats, black objects
- Places: Rivers, lakes, seas, reservoirs, bathrooms, northern direction
Li Trigram ☲ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Fire |
| Direction |
South (Later Heaven) / East (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Fire |
| Yin and Yang |
Yin |
| Numbers |
3, 9 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Middle daughter, second daughter, scholar, actor, beautician, mid-level manager
- Body: Eyes, heart, small intestine, blood, tongue
- Personality: Passionate, courteous, beauty-loving, vain, impatient |
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Pheasant, peacock, turtle, crab, animals with beautiful plumage
- Plants: Sunflowers, pomegranates, chili peppers, flowering plants
- Items: Lamps, stoves, televisions, cosmetics, red objects
- Places: Kitchens, cinemas, schools, southern direction
Gen Trigram ☶ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Mountain |
| Direction |
Northeast (Later Heaven) / Northwest (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Earth |
| Yin and Yang |
Yang |
| Numbers |
7, 8 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Youngest son, small child, doorkeeper, security guard, miner, dwarf
- Body: Hands, nose, back, bones, joints, spleen and stomach
- Personality: Steady, stubborn, slow, honest, conservative
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Dog, wolf, bear, tiger, animals with tusks or horns
- Plants: Melons and gourds, potatoes, radishes, tuber and root vegetables
- Items: Stones, ceramics, safes, beds, desks, cube-shaped objects
- Places: Hills, cemeteries, warehouses, prisons, northeast direction
Dui Trigram ☱ Correspondences
Basic Attributes
| Attribute |
Description |
| Nature |
Lake / Marsh |
| Direction |
West (Later Heaven) / Southeast (Earlier Heaven) |
| Five Elements |
Metal |
| Yin and Yang |
Yin |
| Numbers |
2, 7 |
Human Correspondences
- People: Youngest daughter, little girl, singer, translator, lawyer, dentist
- Body: Mouth, lungs, teeth, tongue, throat, anus
- Personality: Joyful, eloquent, flattering, argumentative, decisive |
Object Correspondences
- Animals: Sheep, crane, swallow, chicken, animals with mouthparts or beaks
- Plants: Mosses, mushrooms, reeds, marsh plants
- Items: Knives and swords, goblets, bottles, metal vessels, damaged items
- Places: Swamps, lakes, abandoned wells, dance halls, western direction
Applying the Correspondences System
In Feng Shui Practice
- Directional Analysis: Use Bagua correspondences to analyze the energetic characteristics of each sector of your home
- Object Placement: Match items to their corresponding Bagua sector to enhance specific energies
- Missing Corner Remedies: Apply correspondence principles to offset the negative effects of missing or irregular corners in your floor plan
In Divination and Prediction
- Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数): Uses the correspondences as its foundation for divination
- Six Lines Divination (六爻): Analyzes hexagrams and their correspondences to judge auspicious and inauspicious outcomes
- Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门遁甲): Combines Bagua correspondences with temporal-spatial analysis
"Observe the forms to capture their essence; draw analogies to illuminate the wider whole." (观物取象，触类旁通。) Mastering the Bagua correspondences is the key to applying I Ching wisdom with flexibility. Beginners should commit the basic correspondences to memory, then expand and deepen their understanding through practice.
How to Start Using Correspondences in Your Home
- Pick one room to start with — your bedroom or home office works well for beginners
- Identify the directions using a compass: north, south, east, west, and the four inter-cardinal corners
- Audit each sector using the correspondences above — note what elements and items already exist there
- Add missing correspondences gradually: place a small lamp in the south (Li/Fire) for passion, a plant in the east (Zhen/Wood) for growth, or a metal ornament in the west (Dui/Metal) for creativity
- Observe changes over 30-90 days — keep a simple journal noting shifts in energy, mood, and circumstances
Quick Tips:
- Don't try to activate all eight sectors at once — overwhelm dilutes the energy. Focus on 2-3 sectors tied to your current life goals (wealth, career, relationships)
- The correspondences are flexible — a "metal" intention can be supported through white objects, round shapes, or even sounds (bells and singing bowls)
- Consistency matters more than perfection. A single rotating crystal ball in the west works better than eight cluttered sectors
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