Eight Mansions (Ba Zhai)

Aligning with Your Personal Magnetic North

The Principle of Resonance (Ganying)

Ba Zhai (Eight Mansions) is the study of how your personal energy signature (Ming Gua) interacts with the magnetic field of your environment. Derived from the classics Ba Zhai Ming Jing (八宅明鏡) and Yang Zhai San Yao (陽宅三要), it represents the "Static Plate" of Feng Shui—focusing on long-term compatibility, health, and stability rather than time-based shifts.

The Technical Foundation: Da You Nian (大游年)

The core of Ba Zhai logic lies in the Flip-Gua (翻卦) method. By changing the lines (Yao) of the base trigram, we derive the eight "Wandering Stars." This is encapsulated in the Da You Nian Ge (大游年歌), the primary mnemonic used by masters for centuries.

大游年歌 (The Great Wandering Year Song)

乾六天五禍絕延生
Qián: 6-Sha, Tian-Yi, 5-Ghost, Huo-Hai, Jue-Ming, Yan-Nian, Sheng-Qi
坎五天生延絕禍六
Kǎn: 5-Ghost, Tian-Yi, Sheng-Qi, Yan-Nian, Jue-Ming, Huo-Hai, 6-Sha
艮六絕禍生延天五
Gèn: 6-Sha, Jue-Ming, Huo-Hai, Sheng-Qi, Yan-Nian, Tian-Yi, 5-Ghost
震延生禍絕五天六
Zhèn: Yan-Nian, Sheng-Qi, Huo-Hai, Jue-Ming, 5-Ghost, Tian-Yi, 6-Sha
巽天五六禍生絕延
Xùn: Tian-Yi, 5-Ghost, 6-Sha, Huo-Hai, Sheng-Qi, Jue-Ming, Yan-Nian
離六五絕延禍生天
Lí: 6-Sha, 5-Ghost, Jue-Ming, Yan-Nian, Huo-Hai, Sheng-Qi, Tian-Yi
坤天延絕生禍五六
Kūn: Tian-Yi, Yan-Nian, Jue-Ming, Sheng-Qi, Huo-Hai, 5-Ghost, 6-Sha
兌生禍延絕六五天
Duì: Sheng-Qi, Huo-Hai, Yan-Nian, Jue-Ming, 6-Sha, 5-Ghost, Tian-Yi

1. Determining Your Groups

Ba Zhai divides both Houses (Zhai Gua) and People (Ming Gua) into East and West groups. Alignment between the two creates Ganying (Resonance).

The Two Groups (Luo Shu Logic)

East Group (東四命/宅)
  • Kan (1): North
  • Zhen (3): East
  • Xun (4): Southeast
  • Li (9): South
West Group (西四命/宅)
  • Kun (2): Southwest
  • Qian (6): Northwest
  • Dui (7): West
  • Gen (8): Northeast

2. The Eight Wandering Stars & Star-Palace Interaction

In advanced practice, we don't just look at the star name. We look at Xing Gong Ke Zhi (星宮剋制) —how the Star's element interacts with the Palace (Sector) it sits in.

Auspicious Stars (吉)

  • Sheng Qi (Life Generating - Wood): Wealth and vitality. Best in: East, SE (Wood) or North (Water).
  • Tian Yi (Heavenly Doctor - Earth): Health and mentors. Best in: West, NW (Metal) or South (Fire).
  • Yan Nian (Longevity - Metal): Harmony and networking. Best in: West, NW (Metal) or SW, NE (Earth).
  • Fu Wei (Stability - Wood): Peace and study. Best in: North (Water) or East, SE (Wood).

四吉星

  • 生氣 (貪狼木): 財運、事業。木星入水宮(北)或木宮(東/巽)為吉。
  • 天醫 (巨門土): 健康、貴人。土星入金宮(西/乾)或火宮(南)為吉。
  • 延年 (武曲金): 姻緣、和諧。金星入土宮(西南/艮)或金宮(西/乾)為吉。
  • 伏位 (輔弼木): 安定、修養。本氣歸位，宜靜不宜動。

Inauspicious Stars (凶)

  • Jue Ming (Fatal - Metal): Accidents, bankruptcy. Dangerous: If it clashes with your Ming Gua element.
  • Wu Gui (5 Ghosts - Fire): Fire, theft, betrayal. Suppression: Place in a sector with Water or Earth.
  • Liu Sha (6 Killings - Water): Legal issues, scandals.
  • Huo Hai (Mishaps - Earth): Obstacles, petty people.

四凶星

  • 絕命 (破軍金): 破財、多病。最忌在大門或臥室。
  • 五鬼 (廉貞火): 口舌、火災。宜壓在凶方以火克邪。
  • 六煞 (文曲水): 官非、桃花劫。
  • 禍害 (祿存土): 小人、阻滯。

3. Yang Zhai San Yao (The Three Essentials)

The most important application of Ba Zhai is the relationship between the Main Door (门) , the Master Bedroom (主) , and the Stove (灶) .

🔥 The Stove Rule (Zuo Xiong Xiang Ji)

One of the deepest secrets of Ba Zhai is the placement of the stove: "Sit on Bad, Face Good" (坐凶向吉) .

  • Sitting (Position): The stove should be placed in one of your 4 Inauspicious sectors. The fire "burns away" the negative energy of that sector.
  • Facing (Knobs/Mouth): The front of the stove (where the knobs are) should face one of your 4 Auspicious directions to receive positive Qi.

🛌 The Bed Rule (Zuo Ji Xiang Ji)

Unlike the stove, the bed should ideally Sit on Good and Face Good .

  • The bedroom should be located in an Auspicious sector of the house.
  • The head of the bed (the crown) should point towards one of your personal Auspicious directions.

🚽 The Bathroom Rule

Bathrooms and toilets generate "waste water." Following the logic of suppression, they should be placed in Inauspicious sectors (like Jue Ming or Wu Gui) to flush away the negative energy.

🎥 Video Learning Resources

Visual guides to calculating your Ming Gua and applying the 8 Mansions method.

Eight Mansions Mastery

Search for tutorials on calculating Ming Gua (Personal Kua) and mapping the 4 East/West groups.

Watch Tutorials on YouTube →

Stove & Bed Placement

Visual examples of the "Sit Bad, Face Good" rule for kitchens.

Search Placement Rules →
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Classical Sources (经典依据)

The Ba Zhai system derives from two primary texts:

  • Ba Zhai Ming Jing 八宅明鏡 — "The Bright Mirror of Eight Mansions." The primary text systematizing the East/West group methodology and the four auspicious / four inauspicious stars with their interactions with room functions.
  • Yang Zhai San Yao 陽宅三要 — "The Three Essentials of a Yang Dwelling." Focuses on the three critical features: Main Door (門), Master Bedroom (主), and Stove/Kitchen (灶). Their alignment with the occupant's Ming Gua determines the majority of life outcomes.

"門為氣口，主為命宮，灶為財源。三者得宜，則一家皆吉。"

"The Door is the Qi mouth; the Master Bedroom is the Destiny Palace; the Stove is the wealth source. When these three are appropriate, the whole household is auspicious."

— Yang Zhai San Yao tradition