Key terms from Chinese philosophy and metaphysics — explained simply, without jargon.
/dow/
The Way — the ultimate principle underlying all of existence. Unnameable, formless, yet the source of all things.
/duh/
Virtue, power, or inner integrity. The manifestation of the Tao through an individual.
/woo-way/
Non-action or effortless action. Acting in harmony with the natural flow of things, without force or struggle.
/yin-yahng/
The two complementary forces that make up all of existence. Not opposites, but interdependent poles of a single whole.
/chee/
Vital energy or life force that flows through all living things. The fundamental substance of the universe.
/bah-gwah/
Eight trigrams — symbols representing fundamental natural phenomena. The building blocks of the I Ching.
/fung-shway/
"Wind and water" — the practice of harmonizing with the energy of one's environment to promote health, prosperity, and well-being.
/bah-dzuh/
"Eight Characters" or Four Pillars of Destiny — a Chinese astrology system based on birth date and time.
/ee-jing/
"Book of Changes" — the oldest Chinese classic, a divination system based on 64 hexagrams.
/kwah/
A personal Feng Shui number based on your birth year and gender, used to determine your auspicious directions.
/woo-shing/
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — the five phases of energy that interact to create all phenomena.
/gwah/
A six-line symbol in the I Ching, formed by stacking two trigrams. Each hexagram represents a specific life situation.