Early Heaven and Later Heaven Bagua

The Bagua is a representation of the fundamental principles of Taoist cosmology.

It is present in the I Ching, the oracle of ancient Chinese wisdom, as well as in martial arts (Baguazhang) and traditional Chinese medicine.

Composed of eight trigrams (guas), which correspond to elements of nature, it constitutes a philosophical treatise on the laws governing nature and human life, based on the Yin-Yang duality and the study of transformations.

There are two main arrangements:

Early Heaven (Xian Tian)

Traditionally attributed to the legendary Chinese leader and sage Fu Xi, it represents the perfect balance and ideal laws of the universe. Its arrangement was based on the geographical and climatic attributes of ancient China. It is used as a protective amulet above doors.

Later Heaven (Hou Tian)

Organized by King Wen of Zhou, it was designed to offer insights into the practical challenges and interactions encountered in the real world.

It represents the changing world, temporal cycles, the seasons, and the cardinal points.

It symbolizes the unfolding of human experience, the dynamic flow of life and energy, and the constantly changing patterns of the environment.

It is also widely used in Feng Shui to harmonize environments, owing to its association with directional and spatial aspects.

Source: https://imperialharvest.com/blog/early-heaven-and-later-heaven-bagua/