Taoist Astrology and the Structure of the UniverseAccording to the Taoist tradition, the five planets can be placed in the cycle of the five
elements. If we add the three trans-saturnal planets, we can link them up with these five
and use them in the eight directions of the pakua (the eight-sided form). Since Chinese
astrologists did not originally know about the three trans-saturnal planets, the use of the
eight planets must have been introduced in this century.
Although some Chinese astrologists claim that the trans-saturnal planets were known
long before their discovery in the west, we could not find any reference of astronomical/
astrological use of these planets in the old Chinese literature. Some additional planets
that are used in China and known as ‘counter planets’ are instead energetic formations
(not materialized). These same principles are also found in the Hindu and Aboriginal
tradition.
Fig. 3.29 Five ElementsMercuryNeptuneVenusSaturnMarsPlutoJupiterUranus
NS
WE
NW NE
SW SE
Mercury
WaterJupiter
WoodMars
FireSaturn
EarthVenus
Metal