Glossar

Traditional Acupuncture, a sub-system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is deeply rooted in Five Element Theory (Wu Xing, Five Phases). It’s aim is to help people restore their balance at all levels (body, mind, soul) and grow and mature. For that purpose Traditional Acupuncture relies mainly on using the meridians’ elements points (ancient points).

Acupuncture points can be understood as an energy pattern. It is possible to activate them not only through needles or finger pressure, but also through meditation, opening our minds to their metaphorical imagery.

Read more: Recommended Literature on Traditional Acupuncture

The eight trigrams are the basis of the I Ching. They are composed of three solid (Yang) or broken (Yin) lines. Two trigrams form a hexagram, one image of I Ching.
The colored trigrams link to the respective chapters in the I Ching Course where they are explained in detail.

Chinese Name	Traditional Image	Traditional Characteristic	Modern Interpretation	Phase Element Organ
Kun	Earth Mother	receptive, dark, nurturing, soft, flexible, adaptive, fertile	stability; compassion, commitment; peace Dysfunction: brooding	Earth Spleen (SP)
Dui	Lake youngest daughter	heiter, zufrieden, erfüllt, offen	humility; connection, inspiration Dysfunction: melancholia	Metal Lung (LU)
Li	Fire middle daughter	hot, bright, luminous, adherent, intelligent	discernment Dysfunction: chaos	Fire Small Intestine (SI)
Sun	Wind Tree eldest daughter	gentle, penetrating, well-rooted, flexible	thinking, planning, acting Dysfunction: resignation	Wood Liver (LIV)
Qian	Heaven Father	creative, clarity, conscious, extending	expression, passion; warmth, love Dysfunction: egocentricity	Fire Heart (HE)
Zhen	Thunder eldest son	erregend, stark, schnell, in Bewegung, umwälzend	decision-making, flexibility Dysfunction: fury	Wood Gallbladder (GB)
Kan	Water middle son	abysmal, dangerous, exposed to uncontrollable forces basic trust; intuition	basic trust; intuition Dysfunction: anxiety	Water Kidney (KI)
Gen	Mountain youngest son	to hold still, to persevere; a meditative state	disengagement; transformation Dysfunction: Trauer	Metal Large Intestine (LI)