In my recently initiated study of the I Ching, i found myself struggling with the terms "Opposite Gua," "Inverse Gua," and "Mutual Gua."
(For those who don't know) A "gua" is a binary image composed of 6 either yin (broken, yielding; 0) or yang (unbroken, strong; 1) yao (lines), read from the bottom up. Its code describes the state of an event or situation and how that situation is able to progress and/or change. Below are the first 3 Accomplished Gua (6-line gua vs. the 3-line "Primary Gua") contained in the I Ching.
(1)Qian Initiating
(2)Kun Responding
(3)Zhun Beginning
Looking at (3)Zhun, allow me to explain the structures of what are known as the Opposite Gua, the Inverse Gua, and the Mutual Gua. The Opposite Gua is obtained by changing each yin into a yang, and each yang into a yin; as such, the Initial (or Original) gua of (3)Zhun is read: yang, yin, yin, yin, yang, yin and its Opposite gua is (50)Ding, which is read: yin, yang, yang, yang, yin, yang (shown below).
(50)Ding Establishing the New
The Inverse gua of an accomplished gua is obtained by reflecting the image over a horizontal axis. Reading the Initial gua from top to bottom, the Inverse gua of (3)Zhun then is (4)Meng, which is read: yin, yang, yin, yin, yin, yang (shown below).
(4)Meng Childhood
The Mutual gua of an accomplished gua is obtained by constructing two new primary gua, using lines 2, 3, 4, and 5, and arranging them into a "nuclear hexagram" or Mutual gua: the lower primary gua of the Mutual gua is constructed from lines 2, 3, and 4; the upper primary gua of the Mutual gua is constructed from lines 3, 4, and 5. So, looking at (3)Zhun, the lower primary gua of the Mutual gua is: yin, yin, yin; the upper primary gua of the mutual gua is: yin, yin, yang. By combining the new lower and upper primary guas, one obtains the Mutual gua (23)Bo, which is read: yin, yin, yin, yin, yin, yang (shown below)
(23)Bo Falling Away
Now that you know what an Accomplished gua is, what Primary gua are, and what the Initial, Opposite, Inverse, and Mutual gua are, allow me to expound on what i believe each represents through the use of analogy.
Consider the Initial gua as a black & white photograph. The Opposite gua would be the negative image of the photograph, trading the places of highlights and shadows. The Inverse gua would be a mirror image of the photograph reflected over an axis . The Mutual gua would be any and all images arising due to permutation that are present within the Initial photograph (any shapes or images within the original photograph that recombine to construct "hidden images").
As the analogy follows, the Opposite gua will show the situation in a different light and thus will provide perspective on forces classified as generative (initiative) and receptive (responsive). The Inverse gua will show the situation from a different angle and thus will provide perspective on matters/forces classified as inner and outer. The Mutual gua reveals otherwise hidden patterns and information within the situation and thus will provide perspective on what one considers to be obvious or subtle.
I am sure that my understanding of these aspects of the I Ching will change over time, but i believe this to be a helpful summary for those looking to deepen their understanding of the many hidden layers of the I Ching.
1 comment:
Thanks for this succinct and very helpful summary of opposite, inverse and mutual gua. Like you, I have recently started studying the I Ching (inspired by my practice of Chi Gong and Tai Chi with a traditional Chinese master), and am also using Master Huang's translation. I was wondering how the different permutations of the accomplished gua shed light on it, and found your analogy to be an interesting and fresh way to think about it.
Have you made any further progress with your study of the I Ching since you wrote that post?
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