Ho Tu and Lo Shu
Ho Tu
Ho Tu
The Yellow River Map
Early Heaven
Ba Gua
Legend has it Fu Xi discovered the pattern of the Ho Tu or Yellow River Map on the back of a dragon-horse that he found on the bank of the Yellow River.
Fu Xi was the first legendary ruler of China and is also credited with bringing civilization, writing and iron working to humanity. Nu Wa healed creation after a cataclysm with colored stones thought to be the Wu Xing.
Lo Shu
Lo Shu
The Lo River Scroll
Later Heaven
Ba Gua
Ages after the time of Fu Xi, the Lo Shu or Scroll of the River Lo was discovered by the legendary emperor Yu on the back of a turtle. This is often associated with the Ba Gua arranged in the so called Later Heaven pattern although one can see how the Early Heaven arrangement as well as the Ho Tu will produce the Lu Shu magic square in their own fashions.
Lo Shu Magic Square
The sum of each row,
column & diagonal is 15
» more
The Early arrangement presents the Ba Gua in a balanced way while the Later arrangement presents a more dynamic state that makes it more useful in many cases. This movement from the Early to Later patterns can be significant.
