Nucular Trigrams
Within each kua there
are two nuclear trigrams. They are called nuclear trigrams because they are
made up of the middle four lines of the kua: lines 2, 3, 4, and 5. The nuclear
trigrams influence the meaning of the individual lines more than they influence
the overall meaning of the kua. The lower nuclear trigram is formed from lines
2, 3, and 4; the upper nuclear trigram is formed from lines 3, 4, and 5. The
bottom and top lines of the kua, lines 1 and 6, are not affected by the nuclear
trigrams because they are not part of either of them.
Line 2 of the kua is part of two trigrams:
the lower primary trigram, of which it is the center line, and the lower nuclear
trigram, of which it is the bottom line.
Line 3 is part of three trigrams: the
lower primary trigram, of which it is the top line, the lower nuclear trigram,
of which it is the center line, and the upper nuclear trigram, of which it is
the bottom line.
Line 4 is also part of three trigrams:
the lower nuclear trigram, of which it is the top line, the upper nuclear trigram,
of which it is the middle line, and the upper primary trigram, of which it is
the bottom line.
Line 5 of the kua, like line 2, is part of two trigrams: the upper nuclear trigram,
of which it forms the top line, and the upper primary trigram, of which it forms
the middle line.
If a particular line has meaning for you, that is, it is a moving line, and
the line is either number 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the kua, then the line will be subtly
influenced by the nuclear trigram or trigrams of which it is a part. What the
specific influence is will be determined by the nature of the nuclear trigram
itself. For instance, if the nuclear trigram is danger, there will be a hint
of danger in the situation, and the counsel of the moving line may add a word
of caution.