Primal Bagua Diagram
Before digging down into the study of Palm Changes, it helps to know the 8 Trigrams of Baguazhang. The static Qigong Postures and flowing Palm Changes of Baguazhang build upon the trigrams. Let’s examine one simple arrangement:
From Yang to Yin, in the Primal Arrangement, the trigrams flow as follows…
This profound arrangement is based on this diagram (yep, this same diagram is in the background of UBagua.com):

I know, I know: this is a bit abstract. But bear with me…
Look closely at the Primal Bagua Arrangement. In the long run, for your Baguazhang studies, knowing this diagram will be useful.
I’ll help you get it down.
When you can nail down the Primal Diagram (and a couple of other diagrams), then the Baguazhang Palm Changes will make more sense. You’ll get the flow, and you’ll see deeper into them.
Take a look.
Drawing the Primal Bagua Diagram
Get started with me, draw it right now:
By drawing it you’ll begin etching it into your mind. Being mindful of it will help you see how it works.
- Grab a piece of paper
- Snatch up a pen, a pencil, or a big marker
- Get ready…
I’ll show you how to draw the Primal Bagua Diagram:
(See it in high resolution: in the corner of the video, press the
button.)
6 responses to “Primal Bagua Diagram”
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about time, This is where your TRUE Strength LIES, heh
Interesting, how specifically does this order come into play in the exploration of the changes?
Derek, it’s a critical piece of the Yi-Jing’s Changes (and I’ll show that as articles appear), but it often isn’t seen in Palm Changes.
Many times Baguazhang Systems imply or suggest connections to the Yi-Jing, show some palms based on it, and jump right in to Form Work.
Step by step, right here, we’ll explore how hands connect to the concepts in the Yi Jing. And in a short time, we’ll have a tactile, kinesthetic sense of the Changes.
Cool, I’ve been looking for this type of information for some time. I have really good instructors that I train with, but they don’t focus on this aspect of it and it is the part I’m most interested in. I’m glad to have found this site and for your efforts in sharing this information.
Cheers
Understanding the trigrams is key.
I like your efforts here.
How do the trigrams emerge from Yin and Yang with this “primal” arrangement?
What are the relationships between the trigrams and the energies of bagua?
With taiji the 8 energizes are well known and can be used together to handle and relate anything, for they teach true application in a way no form ever can.
But I am not as familiar with bagua as I am taijiquan and I do not practice bagua for the most part so have no experience with how the trigrams relate to it.
Thanks for the props Josh.
Before we explore emerging, we’ll tackle the Primal and Temporal Arrangements, and we’ll explore Qigong associated with them.
After that, the fun begins.