Ba Gua - 8 diagrams

[Sensei Francois]

I keep hearing about this 8 diagrams of Ba Gua Zhang.

Can anyone tell me what they are?

[Medway Tai Chi Society]

The 8 Trigrams ARE Bagua Zhang (Ba = 8, Gua = Trigrams, Zhang = Palm)

The trigrams are not directly related to martial arts. They are based in the Daoist tradition, and have applications in many areas of study.

[Tony]

As he said.

Here are the 8...

1. Pressing the Heavens South, Summer
Ch'ien, Heaven, Sky, Air
Intense Yang Heart, Small Intestine, Stomach, Lungs
(The Triple Warmer)

2. Drawing the Bow Southwest, Mid-Summer
Sun, Wind, Yang Kidneys, Spleen, Waist, Eyes, Legs

4. Wise Owl Gazes Backward West, Autumn
K'an, Water, Yang-Yin Lungs, Immune System, Large Intestine

7. Big Bear Turns from Side to Side Northwest, Mid-Autumn
Ken, Mountain, Yin-Yang Heart, Waist, Legs

3. Separate Heaven and Earth North, Winter
K'un, Earth
Intense Yin Spleen, Kidneys, Bladder, Pancreas

6. Bouncing on the Toes Northeast, Mid-Winter
Chen, Thunder, Yin Immune System, Calves, Feet

5. Punching with Angry Gaze Spring, East
Li, Fire, Yin-Yang Liver, Gallbladder, Blood, Eyes

8. Touching Toes then Bending Back Southeast, Mid-Spring
Tui, Lake, Yang-Yin Kidneys, Waist, Legs, Back

[Medway Tai Chi Society]

In terms of martial practice, the trigrams correspond to both the "changes of palm", and the "mother palms".

The 8 Mother Palms are a method of power generation training. Each trigram relates to an expression of power, such as "Heaven Palm" relates the forward and upward power.

[clouddragon]

The Tai Chi classics mention Ba Jin (8 forces) each of which is identified with a different triagram of the Ba Gua. These forces are based on the direction in which the type of Jin (force) is usually applied.

[Medway Tai Chi Society]

The same as in Bagua, CD