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Chapter 5

The Eight Forces

The eight forces are a more detailed explication of the forces of nature and the universe. They are represented by the symbol of the pakua and the eight trigrams. Beyond the eight visible forces of the universe--Li (fire) and Kan (water), Chien (heaven) and Kun (earth), Tui (lake) and Ken (mountain), Sun (wind) and Chen (thunder)--the eight forces are symbolized by the eight immortals.

The pakua originates in the pattern of the turtle or tortoise shell used in prehistoric shamanic divination. From this shape evolved the drum and circle walking symbolizing the change of seasons, from the early steps of the spring through blossoming summer, reaping life’s harvest to sustain us into the autumn of retirement and cold winter of death.

Using the pakua in a meditation practice is a way to focus energy. The pakua creates a vortex that enables the practitioner to collect, gather, and condense chi. This vortex of energy is used to not only create a strong connection within ourselves, but a harmonious relationship with all the forces of nature.

Representing the forces nature, each of the eight immortals is associated with a particular geographical direction, season, color, planet, animal, organ, and so forth. Beginning with Han Hsien-Ku in the southeast, we will go around the pakua in a counterclockwise direction, describing the attributes of each of the eight immortals.

Southeast: Han Hsien-Ku

Han Hsien-Ku’s Characteristics

Color: Purple (green)
Force: Sun (wind)
Number: Four (4)
Season: Late spring
Energy: Great yin
Period: AD 800
Planet: Pluto
Mental: Sensitivity
Known as: Mountain sage
System: Nervous
Quality: Growing
Element: Air (wood)
Movement: Generating
Symbol: Magic Flute
Gland: Adrenal
Seed: Sprouting
Tai chi: Pull-down
I Ching: Penetration/following
Direction: Southeast
Emotions (positive): Kindness, forgiveness, graciousness, friendliness
Emotions (negative): Jealousy, anger, envy, rage
Chi: Warming
Nourishes: Tendon
Animal: Buffalo
Attitude: Determination
Teacher: Lu Tung-Pin
Organ: Gallbladder
Produces: Tears
Climate: Damp
Function: Deciding
Spirit: Green dragon
Sense: Seeing (eyes)
Sound: Sh-h-h-h-h-h-h

Han Hsien-Ku (Han Xiang Zi) was born in the eighth century AD, and was a nephew of the great Tang poet and scholar Han Yu. He studied and prepared for the state civil exams, but to the dismay of his uncle, he avoided taking them. He was an intelligent but wild child who disdained the pomp and vanity of the world.

Despite his expulsion from a Buddhist temple for rudeness and mischief, he delighted in stillness and obscurity. He was initiated into the secrets of Taoism by fellow Immortal Lu Tung-Pin while still a teenager, and quickly became absorbed in the practice of internal alchemy. He probed the mysteries of heaven and mastered the five phases (elements) of energy. The sacred knot on his robe is a symbol of his success in combining the two energies of yin and yang into the one original energy.

One time Lu Tung-Pin carried him up to a vantage point on the mythical World Tree in order to show him the universe. Han Hsien-Ku fell from the tree and was killed but quickly resurrected himself. He was very poor, but totally unconcerned about it for he was intoxicated with the love of the Tao. He performed wonderful feats and was able to foretell the future. He was able to make wine without grapes and flowers bloom in midwinter. One winter he magically grew a bunch of rose-peonies and on each petal were verses written in gold that foretold the fate of his uncle.

He is often depicted with a bouquet of flowers. He carries a flute on which he plays the Six Healing Sounds. He is shown mounted on a buffalo, a mythical beast symbolizing of the Taoist goddess Hsi Wang Mu, ruler of the West.

East: Chuan Chung-Li
Chuan Chung-Li Characteristics

Color: Light green
Force: Chen (Thunder)
Number: Three (3)
Energy: Great Yang
Period: AD 200
Planet: Jupiter
Mental: Emotional
Known as: General
System: Tendons
Quality: Growth
Element: Wood (air)
Direction: East
Emotions (positive): Generosity, forgiveness, benevolence, benign
Season: Early spring
Emotions (negative): Blame, aggression, guilt, frustration
Chi: Moist
Nourishes: Nerves
Animal: Chimera
Attitude: Decisiveness
Movement: Developing
Symbol: Feather fan
Gland: Hypothalamus
Seed: Sprouting
Tai chi: Push
I Ching: Intuition/action
Sense: Seeing (eyes)
Teacher: Lao-tszu
Organ: Liver
Produces: Tears
Climate: Warm
Function: Controls
Spirit: Green dragon
Sound: Sh-h-h-h-h-h-h

Chuan Chung-Li (Quan Zong Li) was born in the third century AD. During the Han Dynasty, he was an army general (Marshall of the Empire). After meeting an old man who taught him about the Tao, he left government service and went to the mountains, becoming a wanderer and a beggar. Once while he was meditating, the stone wall of his mountain dwelling crumbled exposing a jade box. The box contained secret meditation instructions on how to become an immortal. He followed the instructions, and one day his chamber was filled with rainbow clouds and celestial music. A crane arrived and carried him on its back into the regions of immortality.

After that he was able to wander among the heavens by himself. During a great famine he changed copper and pewter into gold and silver giving it to the poor, thus saving thousands of lives. He taught Lu Tung-Pin the secrets of Taoism after convincing him of the emptiness of life and persuaded him to join in his blissful life as a fellow immortal.

He is portrayed as bearded, and thinly clad. His hair is gathered in two coils on the sides of his head. His symbol is a fan, which he uses to revive and reincarnate the souls of the departed. More than 1,800 years old, he has often reappeared on Earth as a messenger of Heaven. He is mounted on a chimera, a mythical animal sacred to the Taoist goddess of Immortality, Hsi Wang Mu.