INTRODUCTION TO THE LABYRINTH SERIES

In 1990, a Chinese diagram I found in an old book sparked my interest in the form called the labyrinth. On further research, I discovered the connection between the labyrinth diagram and the “Lo-Shu” chart of the I Ching, also named the nine palaces.

The Lo-Shu Chart*

The “Lo-Shu” chart is a magical and mystical configuration of nine numbers occupying nine spaces.

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The Nine Palaces of the Pa-Kua*
In the I Ching, Pa-Kua are eight symbols of forces of nature– the Palaces of Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain and Lake. The Middle space in this configuration is dedicated to The Palace of the Great Void.

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I discovered the Labyrinth, which originated from an ancient Chinese Design, is related to directions on earth and the nine House of Pa-qua (the eight elements of I-Ching,). It is here composed of seven hundred twenty-one squares of 5-inch tile paintings. From this seemingly simple yet very complicated design, I learned its hidden meaning from the oracles ofI-Ching. From the clash of the elements Water and Fire, leading to the message of Ying and Yang, life itself follows an unchanging pattern—it blooms, bears fruit, and dies.  All of us, at one time or another, are lost in the ever-changing yet unpredictable life cycle, looking for a new passage, trying to do the impossible and avoid the unavoidable—to escape from this pre-destined cycle, of youth to old age, and old age to death… but always failing in the end.

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I do not intend to probe too deeply into the historical meaning of the design, nor do I expect everyone to agree with my interpretation. I only wish to re-create this ancient design in a new form and to let people discover their own feelings, thus giving the labyrinth its meaning in a new age.

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DIANA SHUIU WONG

*Quoted from Diana Wong’s book “Merging”