Feng Shui
In Chinese: 風水风水
How places and directions suit people: the Kua number and the Eight Mansions, the home’s facing and its Flying Stars.
Feng Shui, 風水 fēngshuǐ, means “wind and water”. The name comes from the Book of Burial attributed to Guo Pu (276–324): qi, the breath of things, rides the wind and scatters, and stops where it meets water, so the ancients sought places where it gathers and does not scatter, and called the art of finding them wind and water. It is the Chinese tradition of how places and directions suit the people who live in them.
Ulune reads Feng Shui in two halves. The first belongs to a person: from the year of birth and the tradition’s yin or yang count comes a Kua number, one of the eight trigrams, and from the Kua the Eight Mansions, four directions that support and four that ask for more care, laid out on a compass rose. The second belongs to a home: its facing direction, measured with a compass, falls in one of the 24 mountains; with the period in which the home was built or last fully renovated, it gives the home’s Flying Star chart, nine numbers moving through nine palaces, read palace by palace with the stars of the year and the month.
Two schools meet here. The Form School, which tradition traces to Yang Yunsong in the 9th century, reads the shape of the land, the mountains behind and the waters before; the Compass School reads directions and time with the luopan, the Chinese compass. The Eight Mansions follow the Ba Zhai Ming Jing, a Qing-dynasty manual, and the Flying Stars the method set out by Shen Zhureng (1849–1906), whose work was published after his death. Ulune’s method notes say at each step which convention it chose.
What Ulune suggests is always a way of arranging and using a place, where to sit, which room to give to rest or to work, never anything to buy. A home you give is kept only in your private space, encrypted on your device, and nothing about it is ever sent.
The foundations Feng Shui reads are in Chinese cosmology: the five phases, which give every direction and every star its colour, and yin and yang, which set the stars’ flight; the trigrams and the Lo Shu square join them there. Feng Shui’s own pages follow both halves: for a person, the Kua numbers and the Eight Mansions; for a home, the twenty-four mountains, the facing and the luopan, the Flying Stars with their periods, formations and pairs of stars, and the year’s stars and afflictions.
Key ideas
- FacingThe direction a home looks out to, measured at its main door: with the period, it decides everything the compass schools read in a home.
- LuopanThe Chinese compass of Feng Shui: a magnetic needle in a small round well, ringed by the trigrams, the 24 mountains, the stars and the degrees.
- Flying Star chartA home’s chart in the Flying Stars: nine palaces, each with a mountain star, a water star and a period star, cast from the home’s period and facing.
- Replacement chartThe second chart many schools read for a home facing within 3° of its mountain’s edge: a replacement star takes the place of the number going to the centre.
- Annual starsThe year’s own flying stars: one number in the centre for each solar year, one less each year, laid over every home’s chart and every person’s directions.
- Monthly starsThe month’s flying stars: one number in the centre for each solar month, starting from the Tiger month’s by the year’s branch, one less each month.
Kua numbers
- Kua numberA person’s number in Feng Shui, one of the eight trigrams, from the solar year of birth and the yin or yang count: the key to their eight directions.
- Kua 1The Kua of Kan, water, in the East group: its supportive directions are the south-east, the east, the south and the north, its own place.
- Kua 2The Kua of Kun, the earth, in the West group: supportive to the north-east, the west, the north-west and the south-west; also the yang count’s Kua 5.
- Kua 3The Kua of Zhen, thunder, in the East group: supportive to the south, the north, the south-east and the east; the one Kua both counts give in the same years.
- Kua 4The Kua of Xun, the wind, in the East group: its supportive directions are the north, the south, the east and the south-east, its own place.
- Kua 6The Kua of Qian, heaven, in the West group: its supportive directions are the west, the north-east, the south-west and the north-west, its own place.
- Kua 7The Kua of Dui, the lake, in the West group: its supportive directions are the north-west, the south-west, the north-east and the west, its own place.
- Kua 8The Kua of Gen, the mountain, in the West group: supportive to the south-west, the north-west, the west and the north-east; also the yin count’s Kua 5.
- Kua 9The Kua of Li, fire, in the East group: its supportive directions are the east, the south-east, the north and the south, its own place.
Eight Mansions
- Eight MansionsThe school and the table that give each Kua its eight directions: four supportive, Growth, Restoration, Harmony and Stability, and four challenging.
- Sheng Qi · GrowthThe first of the Eight Mansions: each Kua’s direction of growth, initiative and new projects, the one the tradition suggests facing to work or to begin.
- Tian Yi · RestorationThe second of the Eight Mansions: each Kua’s direction for rest, regaining energy and receiving help, suggested for the head of a bed.
- Yan Nian · HarmonyThe third of the Eight Mansions: each Kua’s direction for relationships, family and steady bonds, suggested for a place to meet, talk or share a meal.
- Fu Wei · StabilityThe fourth of the Eight Mansions: your own trigram’s direction, of calm, clarity and personal steadiness, suggested for study and quiet work.
- Huo Hai · FrictionThe mildest of the Eight Mansions’ four challenging directions: small frictions and setbacks, a side the tradition suggests for storage rather than a desk.
- Wu Gui · RestlessnessThe second of the Eight Mansions’ challenging directions, the five distractions: scattered energy and quarrels from little, not to face for long tasks.
- Liu Sha · EntanglementThe third challenging direction of the Eight Mansions, the six imbalances: entanglements and misunderstandings, a side for passing through.
- Jue Ming · DepletionThe last of the Eight Mansions: in the tradition’s words each Kua’s most draining direction, not to sit or sleep facing when one can choose.
The 24 mountains
- Twenty-four mountainsThe twenty-four directions of the luopan, 15° each, named after the stems, the branches and the corner trigrams: where a home faces and sits.
- Ren mountainThe north’s first mountain, 337.5° to 352.5°, named after Ren, the yang Water stem: a home facing it looks a little west of north.
- Zi mountainDue north, 352.5° to 7.5°: the mountain of the Rat’s branch, of midnight and midwinter, on the line every compass needle settles on.
- Gui mountainThe north’s last mountain, 7.5° to 22.5°, named after Gui, the yin Water stem: a home facing it looks a little east of north.
- Chou mountainThe north-east’s first mountain, 22.5° to 37.5°, named after the Ox’s branch: Earth that keeps the seed through the last of winter.
- Gen mountainThe north-east itself, 37.5° to 52.5°: the mountain of the trigram Gen, stillness, where the ring of terms puts the start of spring.
- Yin mountainThe north-east’s last mountain, 52.5° to 67.5°, named after the Tiger’s branch: Wood, the hour before dawn and the first month of spring.
- Jia mountainThe east’s first mountain, 67.5° to 82.5°, named after Jia, the first stem, yang Wood: a home facing it looks a little north of east.
- Mao mountainDue east, 82.5° to 97.5°: the mountain of the Rabbit’s branch, of sunrise and the spring equinox, the middle of the east’s three Wood mountains.
- Yi mountainThe east’s last mountain, 97.5° to 112.5°, named after Yi, the yin Wood stem: a home facing it looks a little south of east.
- Chen mountainThe south-east’s first mountain, 112.5° to 127.5°, named after the Dragon’s branch: the moist Earth of late spring, shaken by thunder.
- Xun mountainThe south-east itself, 127.5° to 142.5°: the mountain of the trigram Xun, the wind, where the ring of terms puts the start of summer.
- Si mountainThe south-east’s last mountain, 142.5° to 157.5°, named after the Snake’s branch: Fire, late morning and the first month of summer.
- Bing mountainThe south’s first mountain, 157.5° to 172.5°, named after Bing, the yang Fire stem, the sun at noon: a home facing it looks a little east of south.
- Wu mountainDue south, 172.5° to 187.5°: the mountain of the Horse’s branch, of noon and midsummer, which classical palaces and temples faced.
- Ding mountainThe south’s last mountain, 187.5° to 202.5°, named after Ding, the yin Fire stem, the lamp: a home facing it looks a little west of south.
- Wei mountainThe south-west’s first mountain, 202.5° to 217.5°, named after the Goat’s branch: warm, dry Earth where fruit gains its flavour.
- Kun mountainThe south-west itself, 217.5° to 232.5°: the mountain of the trigram Kun, the earth that receives, where the ring of terms puts the start of autumn.
- Shen mountainThe south-west’s last mountain, 232.5° to 247.5°, named after the Monkey’s branch: Metal, late afternoon and the first month of autumn.
- Geng mountainThe west’s first mountain, 247.5° to 262.5°, named after Geng, the yang Metal stem: a home facing it looks a little south of west.
- You mountainDue west, 262.5° to 277.5°: the mountain of the Rooster’s branch, of sunset and the autumn equinox, the middle of the west’s three Metal mountains.
- Xin mountainThe west’s last mountain, 277.5° to 292.5°, named after Xin, the yin Metal stem, the jewel: a home facing it looks a little north of west.
- Xu mountainThe north-west’s first mountain, 292.5° to 307.5°, named after the Dog’s branch: dry Earth that keeps the year’s Fire as autumn ends.
- Qian mountainThe north-west itself, 307.5° to 322.5°: the mountain of the trigram Qian, heaven, where the ring of terms puts the start of winter.
- Hai mountainThe north-west’s last mountain, 322.5° to 337.5°, named after the Pig’s branch: Water, late evening, roots resting as winter begins.
Flying Stars
- Flying StarsThe school of Feng Shui that reads a home through time: nine stars, the numbers of the Lo Shu, flying through nine palaces from its period and facing.
- 1 White starThe first of the nine stars, Water and the trigram Kan, at home in the north: study, careers and journeys, and timely again in Period 9.
- 2 Black starThe second of the nine stars, Earth and the trigram Kun, the mother, at home in the south-west: land, care and patience, timely in Period 9.
- 3 Jade starThe third of the nine stars, Wood and the trigram Zhen, thunder, at home in the east: drive and initiative, read with patience out of season.
- 4 Green starThe fourth of the nine stars, Wood and the trigram Xun, the wind, at home in the south-east: letters, study and the arts.
- 5 Yellow starThe fifth of the nine stars, Earth and the Lo Shu’s own centre, with no trigram or direction: the strongest star, for which the classics ask quiet.
- 6 White starThe sixth of the nine stars, Metal and the trigram Qian, heaven, the father, at home in the north-west: authority, leadership and support from above.
- 7 Red starThe seventh of the nine stars, Metal and the trigram Dui, the lake, at home in the west: speech, charm and pleasure, read with care out of season.
- 8 White starThe eighth of the nine stars, Earth and the trigram Gen, the mountain, at home in the north-east: steadiness and lasting gains, waning in Period 9.
- 9 Purple starThe ninth of the nine stars, Fire and the trigram Li, at home in the south: celebration, recognition and joy, the star of the present period.
Periods
- Nine periodsThe Flying Stars’ clock: nine periods of twenty years in a cycle of 180, each ruled by a star; the present is Period 9, from Lichun 2024 to Lichun 2044.
- Period 1The first of the nine periods, 1864 to 1883 and again from 2044: ruled by the 1 White, Water, it opens each cycle of 180 years.
- Period 2The second of the nine periods, 1884 to 1903 and again from 2064: ruled by the 2 Black, Earth, the star of land, property and care.
- Period 3The third of the nine periods, 1904 to 1923 and again from 2084: ruled by the 3 Jade, Wood and thunder, the star of drive and initiative.
- Period 4The fourth of the nine periods, 1924 to 1943 and again from 2104: ruled by the 4 Green, Wood and the wind, the star of letters and study.
- Period 5The fifth of the nine periods, 1944 to 1963 and again from 2124: ruled by the 5 Yellow, the centre, whose period chart is the Lo Shu itself.
- Period 6The sixth of the nine periods, 1964 to 1983 and again from 2144: ruled by the 6 White, Metal and heaven, the star of authority and support.
- Period 7The seventh of the nine periods, 1984 to 2003 and again from 2164: ruled by the 7 Red, Metal and the lake, the star of speech and charm.
- Period 8The eighth of the nine periods, 2004 to 2023: ruled by the 8 White, Earth and the mountain, and the period just past, its star now waning.
- Period 9The present period, from Lichun 2024 to Lichun 2044: ruled by the 9 Purple, Fire, celebration and recognition, the last of the cycle of 180 years.
Formations
- Star formationsThe patterns that run through a whole Flying Star chart: where the period’s stars stand, numbers that add to ten or follow in strings, a 5 in the centre.
- Prosperous at sitting and facingThe chart the classics want: the period’s star as mountain star at the back and as water star at the front, support behind and opportunity ahead.
- ReversedThe period’s mountain star at the front and its water star at the back, the other way round from where the classics want them: answered by the surroundings.
- Double stars at the facingBoth of the period’s stars at the front of the home: the front counts twice, open and lively for the water star, with something steady for the mountain star.
- Double stars at the sittingBoth of the period’s stars at the back of the home: a steady, quiet back for the mountain star, and some open space behind for the water star where it can be.
- Combination of Ten, mountainIn every palace the mountain star and the period star add up to ten: a chart whose stars work together, read for people and the bonds between them.
- Combination of Ten, waterIn every palace the water star and the period star add up to ten: a chart whose stars work together, read for activity and resources.
- Parent stringIn every palace the three stars belong to one of the groups 1-4-7, 2-5-8 or 3-6-9, which join the three ages of the 180-year cycle.
- Pearl stringIn every palace the three stars follow one another, like 4, 5 and 6: a chart whose stars connect like a string of pearls, said to soften what else it carries.
- Repeated chartA 5 in the centre flies forward, so the mountain or water stars stand on the Lo Shu’s own numbers in every palace: energy that repeats rather than moves.
- Opposed chartA 5 in the centre flies backward, so each palace holds the number opposite its own: energy running against the square’s own order.
Annual afflictions
- Annual afflictionsThe places the classics ask to leave quiet for a year: where the 5 Yellow, the Grand Duke, the Year Breaker and the Three Killings fall, a matter of timing.
- 5 YellowWhere the year’s 5 Yellow flies in a home: the part the classics ask to keep quiet for the year, no heavy works, digging or renovation that can wait.
- Year BreakerThe branch across the compass from the Grand Duke: the side the classics suggest leaving undisturbed by works for the year, Zi in 2026.
- Three KillingsThe three mountains of one cardinal direction each year, opposite the year’s trine: the classics suggest facing them rather than having them at one’s back.
Pairs of stars
- Pairs of starsThe 45 meetings of a mountain star and a water star in one palace of a Flying Star chart, each with the reading the classics give it, in season and out.
- 1 and 1 · Water twiceThe 1 White as both mountain and water star: water on water, the star of learning and journeys doubled, timely again in Period 9.
- 1 and 2 · Earth holding waterThe 1 White and the 2 Black: the earth that holds back water, the mother and the middle son, a patient pairing that asks for plain talk.
- 1 and 3 · Water feeding woodThe 1 White and the 3 Jade: water that feeds wood, growth and a name made through effort, with patience while the 3 is out of season.
- 1 and 4 · The scholar’s pairingThe 1 White and the 4 Green in one palace: the classics’ pairing of study and letters, water feeding the wood of the scholar’s star.
- 1 and 5 · Earth pressing on waterThe 1 White and the 5 Yellow: earth pressing on water, a heavy pairing for plans, a sector the classics ask to keep calm.
- 1 and 6 · The He Tu pair of waterThe 1 White and the 6 White: one of the four He Tu pairs, metal carrying water, authority and wisdom together in one palace.
- 1 and 7 · Metal and waterThe 1 White and the 7 Red: metal feeding water, charm and eloquence, an ease with words, and talk to keep within bounds.
- 1 and 8 · Water held by the mountainThe 1 White and the 8 White: the mountain that holds the stream, steady gains kept in check, two of the three white stars.
- 1 and 9 · Water and fire in balanceThe 1 White and the 9 Purple: water over fire, the hexagram Ji Ji, after completion, two stars adding to ten and both timely in Period 9.
- 2 and 2 · Earth twiceThe 2 Black as both mountain and water star: earth on earth, land, care and patience doubled, timely in Period 9 and kept light.
- 2 and 3 · The fighting bullThe 2 Black and the 3 Jade: the fighting bull, wood against earth, the eldest son against the mother, eased by patience and a calm room.
- 2 and 4 · Wood pressing on earthThe 2 Black and the 4 Green: wood pressing on earth, the mother and the eldest daughter, small frictions a shared meal can ease.
- 2 and 5 · The two earth starsThe 2 Black and the 5 Yellow: the two earth stars joined, the pairing the classics treat with the most care, a sector to keep quiet.
- 2 and 6 · Earth and heavenThe 2 Black and the 6 White: earth feeding metal, Kun and Qian, the mother and the father, a solid household and its provision.
- 2 and 7 · The He Tu pair of fireThe 2 Black and the 7 Red: the He Tu pair of fire, which makes fire though neither star is fire, wealth from trade and some care with heat.
- 2 and 8 · Two earths adding to tenThe 2 Black and the 8 White: two earths adding up to ten, the mother and the youngest son, land, property and savings.
- 2 and 9 · Fire feeding earthThe 2 Black and the 9 Purple: fire feeding earth, celebrations and a full house, both stars timely in Period 9.
- 3 and 3 · Thunder twiceThe 3 Jade as both mountain and water star: thunder on thunder, drive and ambition doubled, read with patience out of season.
- 3 and 4 · Thunder and windThe 3 Jade and the 4 Green: thunder and wind, the hexagram Heng, constancy, two woods side by side, ideas and drive together.
- 3 and 5 · Wood against the 5The 3 Jade and the 5 Yellow: wood against the 5’s earth, strain on money and plans, a sector to keep calm and decisions weighed twice.
- 3 and 6 · Authority and ambitionThe 3 Jade and the 6 White: metal checking wood, the father and the eldest son, ambition given shape by discipline.
- 3 and 7 · Two stars of disputeThe 3 Jade and the 7 Red: metal cutting wood, two stars adding up to ten, read with care for belongings and for words.
- 3 and 8 · The He Tu pair of woodThe 3 Jade and the 8 White: the He Tu pair of wood, which the classics call friends, growth and change, property that moves.
- 3 and 9 · Wood and fire, bright mindsThe 3 Jade and the 9 Purple: wood feeding fire, bright and clear, intelligence and a name that spreads, with the 9 timely now.
- 4 and 4 · Wind twiceThe 4 Green as both mountain and water star: wind on wind, study, writing, the arts and romance, attention to gather out of season.
- 4 and 5 · Letters weighed downThe 4 Green and the 5 Yellow: wood against the 5’s earth, study and romance weighed down, steady effort on a large work.
- 4 and 6 · Rules and creativityThe 4 Green and the 6 White: metal checking wood, two stars adding to ten, the father and the eldest daughter, rules and creativity.
- 4 and 7 · Speech and lettersThe 4 Green and the 7 Red: metal checking wood, two daughters of the home, speech against letters, charm with an edge.
- 4 and 8 · Learning and propertyThe 4 Green and the 8 White: wood pressing on earth, the eldest daughter and the youngest son, learning turned into property.
- 4 and 9 · The He Tu pair of metalThe 4 Green and the 9 Purple: the He Tu pair of metal, which the classics call friends, wood feeding fire, writing that makes a name.
- 5 and 5 · The 5 twiceThe 5 Yellow as both mountain and water star: the strongest star on itself, the sector the classics ask to keep the quietest of all.
- 5 and 6 · Authority with weightThe 5 Yellow and the 6 White: earth feeding metal, authority with weight behind it, command in season and rigidity out of it.
- 5 and 7 · Words with weightThe 5 Yellow and the 7 Red: earth feeding metal, speech given weight, persuasive words in season and words that carry too far out of it.
- 5 and 8 · The 5 and the mountainThe 5 Yellow and the 8 White: two earths, the 8’s steadiness holding the 5, property and weight, a sector to keep calm and simple.
- 5 and 9 · Fire feeding the 5The 5 Yellow and the 9 Purple: fire feeding the 5’s earth, its intensity made stronger, a sector to keep quiet and cool.
- 6 and 6 · Heaven twiceThe 6 White as both mountain and water star: heaven on heaven, authority and support from above, steady in season, aloof out of it.
- 6 and 7 · Crossed swordsThe 6 White and the 7 Red: crossed swords, two metals, authority and speech, sharp skill in season and rivalry eased by distance out of it.
- 6 and 8 · Standing and wealthThe 6 White and the 8 White: earth feeding metal, two white stars, standing and wealth together, one of the pairings the classics praise most.
- 6 and 9 · Fire at heaven’s gateThe 6 White and the 9 Purple: fire at heaven’s gate, the middle daughter and the father, ambition and authority to keep in balance.
- 7 and 7 · The lake twiceThe 7 Red as both mountain and water star: lake on lake, speech, charm and pleasure, good company in season and care with words out of it.
- 7 and 8 · The young coupleThe 7 Red and the 8 White: the lake over the mountain, the hexagram Xian, attraction, the youngest daughter and the youngest son.
- 7 and 9 · Seven and nine crossingThe 7 Red and the 9 Purple: seven and nine crossing, fire on metal, two daughters of the home, quick wit and a little care with flames.
- 8 and 8 · The mountain twiceThe 8 White as both mountain and water star: mountain on mountain, property, savings and stillness, a steadiness to keep in Period 9.
- 8 and 9 · CelebrationThe 8 White and the 9 Purple: fire feeding earth, celebrations, weddings and wealth together, among the happiest pairings.
- 9 and 9 · Fire twiceThe 9 Purple as both mountain and water star: fire on fire, fame and recognition, the brightest pairing of Period 9.
Sources
- Guo Pu (attributed), Zangshu (Book of Burial), 4th century
- Yang Yunsong (attributed), Han Long Jing, 9th century
- Ba Zhai Ming Jing (Bright Mirror of the Eight Mansions), Qing dynasty
- Shen Zhureng, Shen shi Xuankong xue, published after 1906