Eight Mansions Feng Shui – Your best and worst facing directions

(Written by Sallie Tsui Sien)

Are you prepared for 2022?

This is probably one of the most comprehensive and accurate articles written on Eight Mansions Feng Shui I have ever seen. It not only offers clear and precise information but Sallie also teaches in such a way that you could use this valuable information almost instantly without the normal confusion that so many books and websites offer.

Michael Hanna 2-1-2004

Locations and directions:

Most of our readers know what The Eight Mansions Theory is but there are still many who worry and are confused on the subject “direction and location” (also known as a sector). Believe it or not but many Practitioners base their entire consultation on just this information alone, for us, this is the basics but still a very important part of the foundation.

The most commonly asked question is: “Should I relocate my desk so that I do not face southwest (I am a Gua 8) because in 2004, the annual 2 is in the southwest and this is not considered a good area in 2004”

Here we have a case of:

In Eight Mansions, the best (Sheng Ch’i) direction for a Gua 8 person is the southwest direction. But in Xuan Kong (Time Aspect) Feng Shui, in 2004, the southwest location (or sector) of all buildings/property is negatively influenced by the annual 2. Is it beneficial for a Gua 8 person to continue to sit facing the southwest direction?

The answer is yes. Those belonging to Gua 2, 6, 7 and 8 should not worry about facing the southwest in 2004. But they (and everyone else) must avoid (if at all possible) using the southwest sector (or room) of the house or the office in 2004. Eight Mansions and Xuan Kong are two different concepts but are complementary to each other. When taken together, they provide us with a more detailed analysis of the Feng Shui of our living space. As Master Practitioners, we always use both systems on every consultation along with many other undisclosed formulas.

Let’s take some time and explain this. Eight Mansions (also known as Eight House Feng Shui) is only one of the components we use when we analyse the Feng Shui of a property. One theory of Eight Mansions addresses the different essence of Ch’i (energy) from the eight magnetic compass directions and how it affects us, as individuals, either positively or negatively. The formula and calculation of this are based on the year an individual is born. So if you are a Gua 8 person, your personal four good directions are southwest, northwest, west and northeast. You should try and face one of these directions all the time wherever you are. These directions do not change and are with you throughout your life wherever you are in the world and have no association with Xuan Kong flying star.

The Annual and Monthly Xuan Kong update in our newsletter looks at the movement of energies and where they land within the eight magnetic locations of a building or a house. It also deals with how the energies of the monthly stars, when combined with the annual star, affect each location (sector) and in turn how they affect the performances of the residents occupying these sectors. These energies are charted according to the three cycles and 9 periods.

In 2004, the annual governing star is the 5 Yellow in the central grid. 1 White in the north, 2 Black in the southwest, 3 Jade in the east, 4 Green in the southeast, 6 White in the northwest, 7 Red in the west, 8 White in the northeast and 9 Purple in the south.

From the above, we see that in 2004, the southwest location/sector is visited by the Annual 2 Black star. The quality of the chi (energy) of 2 Black in Period 7 and Period 8 is in its threatening (untimely) stage. The underlying essence of this chi in the southwest location in 2004 is an inauspicious one.

During the year 2004, when an annual 2 Black combines with any untimely visiting monthly stars, the chi manifested from this combination can affect us negatively. The degree of influence varies according to the function of that particular sector. If this is your front door, the use of this sector on a daily basis will inevitably activate its malevolent effects. On the other hand, if this is your storeroom or cloakroom, this sector can be quite harmless.

You will not be affected by the annual 2 Black by facing southwest if you are a Gua 8 person. Facing southwest is good for you, but you (and everyone) should try avoiding using the southwest room of your property or the southwest office of the building in 2004. The southwest sector of every house or building is deemed unfortunate in the year 2004. If you have to use the southwest room, try to avoid the southwest corner of the room and arrange your desk so that you can face one of your four good directions, southwest included if you are a Gua 2, 6, 7 or 8 person.

I have included some charts and formulas below for you to quickly and accurately calculate your Ming Gua so you can start using your good directions to improve health, wealth, career, business, relationships and education immediately.

How to calculate your Gua number and determine your good and bad directions:

© Feng Shui Store 2004

The Application of Eight Mansions and Ming Gua (Personal Trigram)

Finding your Ming Gua and the significance of the four auspicious and inauspicious directions

The table below shows the four favourable directions (in pink) and the four unfavourable directions (in grey) of your Ming Gua number.

Special note:

If you are a male and your Ming Gua is 5, you should use the directions attributed to Gua 2.

As a Gua 2, your four favourable directions are NE, W, NW and SW.

If you are a female and your Ming Gua is 5, you should use the directions attributed to Gua 8. As a Gua 8, your favourable directions are SW, NW, W and NE.

© Feng Shui Store 2004

The Four Favourable directions and their meanings:

Sheng Chi (The Breath of Life)

The energy from this direction attracts prosperity, vitality, respectability and reputation. This is your best magnetic direction. Strive to face this direction when conducting anything important, e.g. interview, business negotiation, your office desk.

Tien Yi (Heavenly Doctor)

This magnetic direction fosters good health

Anyone with poor health should try to locate his or her bed head in this direction. (The crown of your head should point in this direction when you are lying down).

Yan Nian (commonly known as Nien Yien)

Yan Nian direction enhances the quality of relationships in the family. This direction also promotes longevity. This is a good direction for adolescents going through growing pains.

Fu Wei (overall harmony)

This energy brings about peace. This is a good direction for meditation and for very young children to face or to sleep with their head (crown) pointing to this direction when they are lying down. If you are into self-development, this is the direction where your bedhead should be.

The Four Unfavourable directions and their meanings:

These are the four directions that one should avoid strenuously especially the two worst directions.

Ho Hai (Obstacles and mishaps)

This energy is considered the least harmful but has been known to lead to all kinds of intermittent difficulty and frustration.

Wu Kwei (Five Ghosts)

This energy generates the kind of bad luck that leads to fire, loss of income, burglary, fear and insecurity.

Lui Sha (Six Killings)

This direction represents scandals, missed opportunities, legal entanglements and illnesses

Chueh Ming (Total loss)

This is the most harmful and dangerous direction. This energy represents disaster, misfortune, disease and unproductive career. Every care should be taken to avoid facing this direction.

How to calculate your Gua number

For those of you that are eager to learn how to calculate your own Ming Gua without the quick and easy charts above I have included the formula below.

The Ming Gua number is calculated according to the year of birth. Those born between 1st January and 5th February should consult the calendar below to ascertain the solar year they are born in.

In Feng Shui calculation, the Hsia (solar) calendar is used. Spring, according to the Hsia calendar, starts between the Winter Solstice (shortest day of the year) and the Spring Equinox. This day occurs around February 4th or 5th each year.

GUA FORMULAS FOR MALE (for birth years before the year 2000)

Ascertain birth year if born between 1st Jan and 5th Feb. Otherwise, birth year is when born.

For example, year of birth – 1945 March 3rd (therefore the birth year 1945)

Add the last two digits of the year.

4 + 5 = 9

10 – 9 = 1

Ming Gua number is 1

GUA FORMULAS FOR FEMALE (for birth years before the year 2000)

Ascertain birth year if born between 1st Jan and 5th Feb. Otherwise, birth year is when born.

For example, year of birth – 1946 Jan 25th (therefore the birth year 1945)

This person was born in the solar calendar year of 1945

Add the last two digits of the year. 1945

4 + 5 = 9

9 + 5 = 14 (add numbers together to reduce to one digit)

1 + 4 = 5

Ming Gua number is 5

Favourable and unfavourable directions are those of Gua 8 (as above).

GUA FORMULAS FOR MALE (for birth years from the year 2000)

Ascertain birth year if born between 1st Jan and 5th Feb. Otherwise, birth year is when born.

For example, year of birth – 2001 March 3rd (therefore the birth year 2001)

Add the last two digits of the year. 2001

0 + 1 = 1

9 – 1 = 8

Ming Gua number is 8

GUA FORMULAS FOR FEMALE (for birth years from the year 2000)

Ascertain birth year if born between 1st Jan and 5th Feb. Otherwise, birth year is when born.

For example, year of birth – 2002 Jan 25th (therefore the birth year 2001)

This person was born in the solar calendar year of 2001

Add the last two digits of the year. 2001

0 + 1 = 1

1 + 6 = 7

Ming Gua number is 7

© Feng Shui Store 2004