Hong Fan Water Method (洪範水法)
The Hong Fan Water Method (洪範水法) is a classical San He water placement system attributed to Yang Yunsong (楊筠松). It rates every directional water position — both entry (來水) and exit (去水) — against the twelve-stage life cycle (十二長生) of the relevant five-element water frame. The ideal formation has water entering at 長生 (Birth/Growth) and exiting at 墓 (Tomb), generating and retaining wealth qi.
The Twelve Growth Stages (十二長生)
The twelve stages follow the Five-Element birth cycle, cycling through the 12 Earthly Branches:
| Stage | Chinese | English | Water Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 長生 | Birth / Growth | Auspicious incoming — qi is born and growing |
| 2 | 沐浴 | Bathing | Peach Blossom — romantic, unstable; caution for commerce |
| 3 | 冠帶 | Capping | Auspicious incoming — growth maturing |
| 4 | 臨官 | Official Post | Excellent incoming — career and authority |
| 5 | 帝旺 | Flourishing | Peak auspiciousness — maximum wealth potential |
| 6 | 衰 | Decline | Neutral — qi beginning to fade |
| 7 | 病 | Sickness | Inauspicious — health complications |
| 8 | 死 | Death | Acceptable exit — wealth retained |
| 9 | 墓 | Tomb / Storage | Best exit — qi collected and stored |
| 10 | 絕 | Extinction | Acceptable exit — qi dissipates gently |
| 11 | 胎 | Conception | Neutral exit — new cycle beginning |
| 12 | 養 | Nurturing | Mild auspicious — growth latent |
Stem Birth Directions
Each Heavenly Stem has a corresponding birth direction (長生位) in the San He system:
- 甲 (Jia Wood): Born at 亥, peaks at 卯, tomb at 未 — Wood Frame
- 丙 (Bing Fire): Born at 寅, peaks at 午, tomb at 戌 — Fire Frame
- 庚 (Geng Metal): Born at 巳, peaks at 酉, tomb at 丑 — Metal Frame
- 壬 (Ren Water): Born at 申, peaks at 子, tomb at 辰 — Water Frame
Yellow Spring Kill (黃泉煞)
Certain sitting+water-exit combinations activate Yellow Spring Kill — the most inauspicious formation in San He practice. See the San He module for the complete table and classical mnemonic.