This cube displays symbols and characters that are usually found on a Chinese Bagua
Octagonal Diagram. The Bagua (八卦 bāguà), literally «eight symbols», is
a fundamental philosophical concept in ancient China. In its simplest form, it is generally represented
as an octagonal diagram displaying 1 trigram on each of its 8 octagonal sectors.
This cube was designed in 2017 by André
Boulouard and Walter Randelshofer.
The Bagua Trigrams
Each of the trigrams consists of three lines, each line either 'broken' or 'unbroken', respectively
representing Yin or Yang. Due to their tripartite structure, they are often referred to as 'trigrams'
in English.
The trigrams are related to Taiji philosophy, Taijiquan and the Wu Xing, or
«five elements». The relationships between the trigrams are represented in two arrangements,
the Primordial (先天八卦), «Earlier Heaven» or «Fu Xi»
bagua (伏羲八卦), and the Manifested (後天八卦),
«Later Heaven», or «King Wen» bagua. The trigrams have correspondences in
astronomy, astrology, geography, geomancy, anatomy, the family, and elsewhere.
Trigram Arrangement of the Cube
The Chinese Bagua Cube arrangement is that of «King Wen», or «Later
Heaven», for which the South is at the top, the North at the bottom, the East on the left and
the West on the right, when looking at the Front face. It is just the opposite of the usual directions
we are accustomed to.
Front Face – Yin Yang and 8 Trigrams
| Symbol |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| ☯ |
Yīnyáng |
Yin Yang |
| ☰ |
qián |
Trigram 1 |
| ☱ |
duì |
Trigram 2 |
| ☲ |
lí |
Trigram 3 |
| ☳ |
zhèn |
Trigram 4 |
| ☴ |
xùn |
Trigram 5 |
| ☵ |
kǎn |
Trigram 6 |
| ☶ |
gèn |
Trigram 7 |
| ☷ |
kūn |
Trigram 8 |
Right Face – Trigram Name
| Trigram Name |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| 卦名 |
Guàmíng |
Trigram Name |
| 乾 |
qián |
Trigram 1 name |
| 兌 |
duì |
Trigram 2 name |
| 離 |
lí |
Trigram 3 name |
| 震 |
zhèn |
Trigram 4 name |
| 巽 |
xùn |
Trigram 5 name |
| 坎 |
kǎn |
Trigram 6 name |
| 艮 |
gèn |
Trigram 7 name |
| 坤 |
kūn |
Trigram 8 name |
Top Face – Nature
| Nature |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| 自然 |
Zìrán |
Nature |
| 天 |
tiān |
heaven |
| 澤 |
zé |
lake |
| 火 |
huǒ |
fire |
| 雷 |
léi |
thunder |
| 風 |
fēng |
wind |
| 水 |
shuǐ |
water |
| 山 |
shān |
mountain |
| 地 |
dì |
earth |
Down Face – Animal
| Animal |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| 动物 |
Dòngwù |
Animal |
| 馬 |
mǎ |
horse |
| 羊 |
yàng |
sheep |
| 雉 |
zhì |
pheasant |
| 龍 |
lóng |
dragon |
| 雞 |
jī |
fowl |
| 豕 |
shǐ |
pig |
| 狗 |
gǒu |
dog |
| 牛 |
niú |
cow |
Left Face – Personality
| Personality |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| 性情 |
Xìngqíng |
Personality |
| 健 |
jiàn |
creative |
| 悅 |
yuè |
joyful |
| 麗 |
lì |
clinging |
| 動 |
dòng |
arousing |
| 入 |
rù |
gentle |
| 陥 |
xiàn |
abysmal |
| 止 |
zhǐ |
stillness |
| 順 |
shùn |
receptive |
Back Face – Body Part
| Body Part |
Pinyin Transcription |
English |
| 身体 |
Shēntǐ |
Body Part |
| 頭 |
tóu |
head |
| 口 |
kǒu |
mouth |
| 目 |
mù |
eye |
| 足 |
zú |
foot |
| 股 |
gǔ |
thigh |
| 耳 |
ěr |
ear |
| 手 |
shǒu |
hand |
| 腹 |
fù |
belly |