TaiChi Hexagram Series

The "I Ching".

Each of the basic forms in Tai Chi Chuan has a hexagram in the "I Ching" relating to it. These hexagrams are assigned in the book "Tai Chi Ch'uan and I Ching", written by Da Liu. The "I Ching" is one of the first efforts of the human mind to place itself in the universe. A collection and interpretation of sixty - four, 6-line figures, it has exerted a living presence in China for three thousand years. The creation of the eight basic trigrams from which the others emanate is attributed to the legendary Chinese sage, Fu Shi, who lived during the age of hunting and fishing around 5,000 years ago. By studying and observing heaven, earth, animal tracks and his own body he devised the broken and unbroken line as symbols of the fundamental nature of the universe. From these he constructed eight trigrams, each of which stood for an aspect of nature, society, and the individual. The "I Ching" gives advise on matters such as philosophy, divination, government, numerology, astrology, cosmotology, meditation and military strategy.

The Tao

Discovered and used almost 5,000 years ago; the "Tao te Ching" by Lao-tzu enunciated the principles of Tao. Selflessness is an important characteristic of a person who follows the way of the Tao. You must learn to go with the flow. Polarities of Yin and Yang exist everywhere in nature, Eg. Heaven and earth, man and woman, sun and moon. There is a constant cycle of change as in the"Tai Chi II"symbol, where yang starts out as a small tail and expands to a full orb with a dot of yin; then small yin develops to full yin with a dot of yang. In Tai Chi the empty foot is Yin and the heavy, firm foot is Yang until the weighting changes and the relationship is reversed. The real contribution of the Tao has been to the inner life of man. It has various schools of nonbeing, nonaction, inner and outer elixir, which point to the fact that man must understand himself before he can understand the world. Meditation is therefore key as one learns to focus and direct energies, which are usually squandered by the five senses. The movements of the arms and legs in T'ai Chi Chuan, along with the turns and posturing of the body, help to picture the flow of chi during meditation. Also, the very structure of the hexagrams can be used to picture the human body, the two top lines being head, the middle lines being chest, and the bottom two being the lower part of the body. The "I Ching' itself can be read as a manual describing the course of the 'chi' in meditation and as a guide to the temptations and goals of the meditator.

Jerry Jessop

	Inner Truth "Golden Cockrell Stands on One Leg" 'Chung Fu', Hexagram 61 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram (top three bars) 'Sun' means chicken or cock as well as gentlenss or wind. 'Tui' the lower trigram signifies golden. The nuclear trigrams (taken from the middle of the hexagram; lower- bars 3, 4, 5 and upper - bars 2, 3, 4) describe this movement: one leg is raised to strike, with the knee; Chen' and the other is planted like a mountain 'Ken'
	"The Traveller" Represents the Tai Chi form "High Pat on Horse" 'Lu',Hexagram 56 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Combining the trigrams we derive High "Sun', Pat 'Ken' on Horse 'Li', gently 'Sun'.
	"Grace" Represents the Tai Chi form "White Crane Spreads Wings" 'Pi', Hexagram 22 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The hexagram gives the picture of a wild water bird on the outskirts of a forest.
	"Power of the Great" Represents the Tai Chi form "Step Forward and Strike With Shoulder" 'Ta Chuang', Hexagram 34 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The inferior man works through power. The superior man does not act thus.... A goat buts against a hedge And gets its horns entangled.
	"Army Governs Snake Creeps Down" Represents the Tai Chi form Snake Creeps Down 'Shih', Hexagram 7 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
In the middle of earth is water. Six in the fourth place means: The army retreats. No blame.
	"Preponderance of the Small" Represents the Tai Chi form "Needle at Sea Bottom" 'Hsiao Kuo', Hexagram 64 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The water rises above the earth: The image of Progress. Thus the superior man himself Brightens his bright virtue.
	"Progress" Represents the Tai Chi form "Beginning of Tai Chi Chuan" 'Chin', Hexagram 35 acrylic on canvas 4' x 5' $1200
The sun rise above the earth: The image of Progress. Thus the Superior man himself Brightens his bright virtue.
	"Retreat" Represents the Tai Chi form "Step Back and Repulse the Monkey" 'Tun', Hexagram 33 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Mountain under heaven: the image of retreat... Not angry but with reserve.
	"Following" Represents the Tai Chi form "Play Guitar" 'Sui', Hexagram 17 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The nuclear trigram Sun' suggests the pi'pa, an ancient Chinese stringed instrument strummed like a guitar. 'Tui'. signifies the hands of the combatant as he moves into a strong position,,, vigorously twisting the opponent's arm.
	"The Creative" Represents the Tai Chi form "Grasp Bird's Tail and Push Up" "Ch'ien'. Hexagram 1 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Nine in the second place means: Dragon appearing in the field. (The left palm is held at chin level as though grasping the head of the bird or dragon)
	"Decay" Represents the Tai Chi form "Brush Knee and Push" "Ku', Hexagram 18 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The wind blows low on the mountain.. (The combined images of the trigrams picture a man stepping forward and pushing.)
	"Darkening of the Night" Represents the Tai Chi form "Cross Hands" 'Ming I', Hexagram 36 Acrylic on Board 24" x 30" $650
Six at the top means: Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, Then he plunged into the depths of the earth.
	"Caldron" Represents the Tai Chi form "Circle Fist" "Ting', Hexagram 50 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram"Li' means weapon, eyes and suggests the aphorism, "Strong outside, empty inside ." The lower trigram, 'Sun', signifies wood, gentleness, and strength. The upper nuclear trigram is 'Tui', which means smash, hurt , or right. The lower nuclear trigram is 'Chien', head.
	"Biting Through" Represents the Tai Chi form "Hit Opponent's Ears with Fists" acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Nine at the top means: His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue, So that his ears disappear. Misfortune.
	"Modesty" Represents the Tai Chi form "Step Forward and Punch To Opponents Lower Abdomen" 'Ch'ien', Hexagram 15 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram ''K'un' denotes earth, belly or abdomen. The lower trigram, 'Ken' means mountain, leg, or arm. The upper nuclear trigram is 'Chen', and signifies movement or strength. The lower nuclear trigram is 'K'an, water or danger.
	"Keeping Still" Represents the Tai Chi form "Bring Tiger To Mountain" 'Ken', Hexagram 52 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper and lower trigrams are both 'Ken' and can signify arm or hand. The upper nuclear trigram, 'Chen', means embracing. The trigram 'Ken', also signifies tiger and mountain. When it is time to stop, then stop. When it is time to advance , then advance. Thus movement and rest do not miss the right time.
	"Limitation" Represents the Tai Chi form "Fair Lady Works at Shuttles" 'Chieh', hexagram 60 acrylic on board 24" x 30" Collection of Harold H. Naka
In executing this form. the player's body turns around again and again like a water wheel (suggested by K'an). The body turns a total of four times, the number of seasons in a year.
	"Five Elements" acrylic on canvas 48 " x 72" $1400
METAL, WATER, WOOD, FIRE and EARTH
	"Increase" Repesents the Tai Chi form "Hit Tiger" 'I', Hexagram 42 Acrylic on board $650
The upper trigram 'Sun', denotes gentleness or wind. The lower trigram, 'Chen', signifies movement foot and arousing. The upper nuclear trigram is 'Ken' denoting arm, tiger and temple. The lower nuclear triad is 'K'un, meaning ribs or quietness. Nine at the top means: ...indeed, someone even strikes him.
	"Taming Power of the Great" Represents the Tai Chi form "Play Arms Like Fan" 'Ta Ch'u', Hexagram 26 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram is 'Ken', meaning small and hand and the lower is 'Ch'ien' , which means strong, firm or great. A folding fan, for instance , can be both small and great. The upper nuclear trigram, 'Chen', meaning movement or bamboo, gives substance to the image of the hands moving like a Chinese fan.
	"Dissolution" Represents the Tai Chi form "Slant Flying" 'Huan', Hexagram 59 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram, 'Sun', connotes wind, penetration or gentleness. The lower trigram, 'Kan', implies water, ear, or bow. The upper nuclear trigram is Ken meaning leg, hand or temple. The lower nuclear trigram is 'Chen', which means foot or movement.
	"Revolution" Represents the Tai Chi form "Single Whip" 'Ko', Hexagram 49 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Heaven and earth bring about revolution and the four seasons complete themselves thereby. The nuclear trigrams 'Ch'ien', and 'Sun', suggest the essence of the movement the body turning with hands still parallel almost 120 degrees from the termination of Push Forward. 'Ch'ien, and 'Sun', combined to give the picture of the body rotating in a gentle flowing motion alike a light wind.
	"Developement" Represents the Tai Chi form "Ride Tiger to the Mountain" 'Chien', Hexagram 52 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper trigram 'Sun' signifies gentleness and wind. The lower trigram, 'Ken', means mountain arm, leg, and tiger. The upper nuclear trigram is 'Li' meaning arrow, and the lower trigram is 'K'an, meaning bow.
	"Deliverance" Represents the Tai Chi form "Shoot Tiger" 'Hsieh', Hexagram 40 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
We have by combining Li and K'an, the image of the bow and arrow. Chen, when inverted becomes ken, which has the meaning of tiger and arm. And these trigrams give the image of shooting the tiger. Two fists are pressed forward. Li signifies that the arrows are aimed at the opponent's temple and ribs.
	"Youtful Folley" Represents the Tai Chi form "Kick with Toes" 'Meng' Hexagram 4 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Nine at the top means: In Punishing folly It does not further one To commit Transgressions.
	"Before Completion" Represents the Tai Chi form "Turn Body and Lotus Kick" 'Wei Chi', Hexagram 64 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
The upper Trigram 'Li', means sun, fire and eyes. The lower trigram, 'K'an, signifies water, wheel, turn and devil.
	"Difficulty at the Beginning" Represents the Tai Chi form "Wave Hands Like a Cloud" 'Chun', Hexagram 3 acrylic on board 24" x 30" $650
Wave Hands Like a Cloud is built from the composite elements of the hexagram. Cloud comes from K'an. The hands (Ken) turn (Chen) like waves of water (K'an) or a wheel. The hands in motion pass across the belly, moving peacefully like clouds floating by in the sky.