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The 14 Foundation Elements

The Building Blocks of Reality

Before the 64 Hexagrams, there were the foundations. Explore Bradford Hatcher's formidable dictionary of the primal vectors that form the I Ching universe.

The Scale of Two

Er Yao (两仪) · The fundamental polarity / Hsiao (爻)

The Scale of Four

Si Xiang (四象) · The Four Emblems

The Scale of Eight

Ba Gua (八卦) · The Eight Trigrams

000
Kun
Accepting
Simplifying, responding, welcoming, forgiving, upholding, serving, sustaining, nurturing, caring, weathering, submitting, containing, leveling, sinking, background, environment, grass roots, lowlands, latitude, altar, shelter, openness, the given, burdens, furrows, diversity, inclusion, surrender, loyalty, work, welfare, expansive, accessible, impartial, collective, selfless, virtuous, broad, comprehensive, global, mundane, ordinary, generous, receptive, whole, wide open, impressionable, even, warm, lenient, substantial, abundant, m assive, acquiescent, extensive, ample
001
Gen
Stillness
Embodying, securing, positing, accumulating, standing, maintaining, settling, defining, finishing, restraining, resisting, backing up, culminating, enduring, manifestation, identity, stature, domain, landmark, terms, confirmation, edifice, tact, touchstone, plateau, transition, repository, proximity, threshold, candor, attainment, composed, benevolent, magnanimous, steadfast, objective, genuine, conscientious, dependable, centered, circumscribed, inevitable, cohesive, stubborn, limited, static, concrete, contemplative, realized, guarded, principled, circumspect, quiet, attentive
010
Kan
Exposure
Venturing, stretching, sounding, listening, worrying, braving, daring, pressing, hazarding, stressing, problem solving, plunging in, focusing, overcoming, insecurity, commitment, expedience, exigency, tension, self-reliance, constraints, straits, depression, predicament, luck, tenacity, relevance, confidence, fear, ambush, vulnerable, mysterious, hearty, severe, tenacious, challenging, unpredictable, vital, engulfing, dauntless, unfamiliar, wild, relentless, haunting, probabilistic, inundated, unknown, dangerous, reckless, inescapable, stout hearted, risky, uncertain, urgent
011
Xun
Adaptation
Searching, interacting, accessing, discerning, refining, circumventing, communicating, getting a drift, bending, insinuating, easing in, coopting, juggling, hints, savvy, insight, puzzle, improvisation, curiosity, reply, windfalls, inspiration, contingency, permutation, knack, adjustment, subtlety, follow through, repertoire, protean, indecisive, tentative, shrewd, deductive, intermediate, supple, circuitous, provisional, complex, nim ble, intelligible, elastic, fungible, tricky, clever, permeable, speculative, tenuous, astute, variable, alert, interested, breezy, meddlesome, quick
100
Zhen
Arousal
Moving, growing, proclaiming, awakening, shaking up, provoking, breaking loose, inciting, commanding, quickening, stimulating, sprouting, agitating, discharge, muscle, adventure, w arrior, surge, rhythm, alarm, volition, thrust, motive, appetite, im pact, shock, upset, exhilaration, repercussion, activity, kick, jo lt, force, impulsive, thunderstruck, threatening, kinetic, demonstrative, stunning, powerful, vibrant, dynamic, spirited, disturbing, com pelling, animated, astonished, emergent, effective, unstable, decisive, piqued, stormy, vital, autonomous, proactive, excited
101
Li
Arising
Shining, articulating, individuating, renewing, evaluating, appearing, transforming, contrasting, discerning, cla rifying, metabolizing, qualifying, burning, combustion, attention, identity, spark, health, hearth, foresight, witness, coherence, instance, moment, importance, departure, exaltation, vision, presence, interaction, solar, phototrophic, lucid, sentient, healing, explicit, distinct, contingent, self-aware, warm, outgoing, eye-catching, sociable, fired up, l ambent, eidetic, varied, colorful, triumphant, dazzling, temperamental, vital, unique, discrete, forward, golden, alive
110
Dui
Satisfaction
Encouraging, opening up, bargaining, liking, winning, appreciating, attracting, reaping, beguiling, hitting the spot, consuming, transacting, p ersuading, self-interest, affection, charm, vanity, relief, tantrum, payoff, fascination, seduction, gratification, joie de vivre, play, hunger, excess, incentive, epicure, bliss, frustration, sensuous, acquisitive, private, complacent, juicy, grateful, intense, thrilling, amused, fetching, indulgent, loquacious, ripe, responsive, personal, consensual, superficial, tasty, decadent, oral, awash, erotic, redeemed, satiated, captivating, magical, m utual
111
Qian
Creating
Designing, originating, provoking, resolving, struggling, m aximizing, inspiring, ordering, persevering, intending, directing, surviving, asserting, leading, authority, attunement, destiny, m erit, innovation, dignity, s eed, discipline, liberty, genius, solitude, facility, sovereignty, starlight, guidance, vanguard, apex, mastery, autonomous, enduring, potent, fierce, straight, brisk, cogent, cold, charged, proud, sure, clean, perpetual, impersonal, striking, primal, venerable, co mmanding, lasting, competent, original, driven, vast, exemplary, paternal, i nspiring, purposeful, direct