Taoist Astrology and the Structure of the UniverseThe five elements and eight trigrams are deeply interwoven into Chinese philosophy
and astrology. The eight trigrams can be seen as a further derivation of the five elements
or from the four directions to the eight directions.
The symbolism in the eight trigrams is used in two different ways. One of them is called
“the preheavenly pakua” according to the legendary Fu Hsi, named during the age of the
five rulers (2852 B.C.). The other is the “postheavenly pakua” originally coming from King
Wen of the Chou Dynasty (1122 B.C.) in his book called Yixici (YI ‘s related metrical com-
position) or Yi Da Zhnan (great biography of Yi). This is the first written explanation of the
relationship between the preheavenly and postheavenly pakua. The preheavenly state is
related to the time before the earth was formed, when everything was chaotic, like a cloud
or mist. Nothing could be differentiated (state of Wu Chi).
Fig. 3.19 Preheavenly and Postheavenly PakuasThe preheavenly state can also be seen as the period before the time that the earth
started to materialize and heaven and earth began to separate (Tai Chi or grand ultimate
state). The postheavenly state begins at the time when heaven and earth were clearly
distinguishable and the yin and yang pole were generated.
In human life the preheavenly and postheavenly states are separated by birth or the
moment the baby can see the light or the sky.
The goal of the Universal Tao practice is to unify the pre and post heavenly states of
being. The quality of the preheavenly state is the basic energy of the newborn baby,
totally soft, natural and filled with its mother’s essence, Chi and blood.
As well as this, intuition, flexibility, softness, tenderness and creativity are components
of this preheavenly or virgin child state. In the Taoist Fusion and Kan and Li practice five
virgin children are pictured to store and crystallize the pure virtue energy from the five
elements.
Through the Universal Tao practices, the vital essences remain in the body until old
age. The practitioner remains flexible, strong, and full of virtue. The unification of ‘pre’ and
‘postheaven’ is reached by first “training the postheaven to remedy the preheaven” and
ChienTuiLi KanSunKunChen KenLiSunChen TuiKunKanKen ChienPreheavenly Postheavenly