Fundamental Distinction: Da Xuan Kong (大玄空) is the ancestral system transmitted by the Ming Dynasty master Jiang Dahong (蔣大鴻) . It is fundamentally different from the common Xuan Kong Fei Xing (Flying Stars). While Flying Stars focuses on the movement of the Nine Stars in sectors, Da Xuan Kong emphasizes the Xuan Kong Wu Xing (Secret Five Elements) and the Ai Xing (Star Shuffling) fixed to the 24 Mountains.
"The secrets of Xuan Kong are found not in the numbers, but in the transformation of the elements through Time and Space." — Jiang Dahong
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🏰 What Makes It "Da" (大 — Grand)?
The character "Da" (大) in Da Xuan Kong means "Grand" or "Complete." It distinguishes this system from two related but lesser methods:
Xiao Xuan Kong (小玄空, Small Xuan Kong): A simplified method that uses only the basic Yin-Yang polarity of the Eight Trigrams to determine auspicious and inauspicious directions. It does not employ the full 64-hexagram system, stars, or Period calculations. Xiao Xuan Kong is primarily used for date selection and basic directional assessment — it is a "pocket knife" compared to Da Xuan Kong's "full surgical kit."
Xuan Kong Fei Xing (玄空飛星, Flying Stars): The most widely practiced branch. It uses the 9 Stars flying through a Luo Shu grid to generate star charts. While Fei Xing is powerful and widely validated, Da Xuan Kong practitioners argue it is a derived simplification of the original system — focusing on star-arithmetic rather than the deeper Mountain-based Ai Xing method that Jiang Dahong actually transmitted.
Da Xuan Kong claims to be the original, complete system — the method Jiang Dahong himself practiced before his teachings were simplified for wider distribution.
⚖️ Technical Comparison: Da Xuan Kong vs. Fei Xing
Feature
Xuan Kong Fei Xing (飞星)
Da Xuan Kong (大玄空)
Core Focus
9 Palaces (Lo Shu Grid)
24 Mountains (Physical Directions)
Star Movement
Period, Annual, Monthly "Flight"
Fixed "Ai Xing" Shuffling (挨星)
Time Cycles
3 Cycles, 9 Periods (San Yuan Jiu Yun)
Often uses 2 Cycles (Upper/Lower Yuan)
Element Logic
Standard 5 Elements
Xuan Kong Wu Xing (Secret Mapping)
Key Principle
Star Combinations (e.g., 1-4, 2-5)
Ling Zheng (Zero/Correct God) strictness
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1. Xuan Kong Wu Xing (玄空五行 - The Secret Elements)
The foundation of Da Xuan Kong is the "True Elements" of the 24 Mountains, which differ from the standard Compass (San He) elements. This mapping is the key to identifying the Correct God (正神) and Zero God (零神) .
Note: This mapping is used to calculate the resonance between the landform and the current Period (Yuan Yun).
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☰ The 64 Hexagram System (六十四卦體系)
While standard Fei Xing operates with 9 Stars mapped onto 9 Palaces, Da Xuan Kong employs the full 64 hexagrams of the Yi Jing (I Ching) mapped onto the compass. This provides a dramatically finer resolution for analyzing directional Qi.
The 64 hexagrams are arranged on the outermost ring of the Da Xuan Kong Luopan according to Shao Yong's Circular Arrangement (邵雍圓圖序), also known as the "Innate Heaven" (先天) sequence. Each hexagram occupies exactly 5.625° of arc (360° ÷ 64), providing over six times the resolution of the standard 24-Mountain system (15° each).
Each hexagram consists of an upper trigram (外卦) and a lower trigram (內卦) . In the compass context:
Upper Trigram (外卦): Represents the Heaven/Time quality — the temporal Qi of the current Period acting upon the direction.
Lower Trigram (內卦): Represents the Earth/Space quality — the inherent, fixed quality of the physical direction.
When the Upper and Lower trigrams form a harmonious pairing (e.g., He Tu pairs: 1-6, 2-7, 3-8, 4-9), the direction has "internal coherence." When they clash, the direction carries internal contradiction — even if the star appears timely.
Hexagram Pairing: Sitting and Facing
In Da Xuan Kong, the Sitting hexagram and Facing hexagram must be analyzed as a pair. The critical relationships are:
✓ Auspicious Pairings
Combination of Ten (合十): Sitting hexagram's Yun number + Facing hexagram's Yun number = 10. Supreme balance.
He Tu Pairing (河圖配): Sitting and Facing hexagrams form a He Tu pair (1&6, 2&7, 3&8, 4&9). Strong generative relationship.
Same Palace (合元): Sitting and Facing hexagrams belong to the same Yuan (Tian/Di/Ren). Internal consistency.
✗ Inauspicious Pairings
Cross-Yuan clash (出卦): Sitting and Facing belong to different Yuan categories — chaotic Qi mixing.
Destructive opposition: The hexagrams form a Five-Element destruction cycle — active conflict.
Empty combination: The pairing has no He Tu or Combination-of-Ten link — no energetic bridge between front and back.
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2. The Da Xuan Kong Ai Xing (大玄空挨星法)
Unlike Flying Stars, where stars move annually or by period in a fixed grid, Da Xuan Kong uses a Mountain-based Shuffling . Each of the 24 Mountains is assigned a primary star which "shuffles" into the center based on whether it is in the Upper, Middle, or Lower Yuan .
The Nine Star Mapping (挨星口訣):
1 (Tan Lang): 甲癸申 (Jia, Gui, Shen)
2 (Ju Men): 坤壬乙 (Kun, Ren, Yi)
3 (Lu Cun): 戌乾巳 (Xu, Qian, Si)
4 (Wen Qu): 辰巽亥 (Chen, Xun, Hai)
6 (Wu Qu): 庚丁寅 (Geng, Ding, Yin)
7 (Po Jun): 丙辛卯 (Bing, Xin, Mao)
8 (Zuo Fu): 未坤申 (Wei, Kun, Shen)
9 (You Bi): 午壬 (Wu, Ren)
The Polarity Rule (陰陽順逆)
To determine if the stars fly forward (clockwise) or backward (counter-clockwise), you must look at the Yin-Yang polarity of the Mountain:
Polarity
Mountains (二十四山)
Movement
Yang (+)
乾坤艮巽 (4 Corners), 甲庚壬丙 (4 Gan), 寅申巳亥 (4 Meng)
Forward (順)
Yin (-)
子午卯酉 (4 Zhong), 辰戌丑未 (4 Ji), 乙辛癸丁 (4 Yin Gan)
Backward (逆)
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🌟 Heavenly Heart Correct Method (天心正運)
The Tian Xin Zheng Yun (天心正運, "Heavenly Heart Correct Movement") is the core calculation principle that determines whether a property is "in Period" (得運) or "out of Period" (失運). The "Heavenly Heart" (天心) is the central axis point of the compass — the very center of the Luo Shu grid from which all directional energy radiates.
The principle states: The center must contain the current Period star. When the center star "correctly responds" (正應) to the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal positions through proper Ai Xing sequencing, the property achieves Heavenly Heart alignment.
Place the Period Star at Center: The current Period number (9 for 2024–2043) occupies the central palace of the Luo Shu.
Check the Cross (十字): The four cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) must receive stars that form a harmonious relationship with the center. In Da Xuan Kong, this means the Ai Xing stars at the cardinal positions should form He Tu pairs or Combination-of-Ten with the center.
Check the Diagonal (×字): The four inter-cardinal directions (NE, NW, SE, SW) must also harmonize. If both the Cross and the Diagonal pass, the property has "Complete Heavenly Heart" (天心全合).
Verify Against Landscape: Final confirmation requires that the physical environment matches — mountains where the Heavenly Heart places "Mountain Stars" and water where it places "Water Stars."
When the Heavenly Heart is correct: The property experiences smooth wealth accumulation, strong health, and social harmony. When it fails, even a site with excellent landforms will underperform — the temporal Qi is misaligned with the spatial form.
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3. Step-by-Step Da Xuan Kong Analysis
Identify the Period: Determine the current Yuan Yun (e.g., Period 9).
Establish the Base Star: Look up the Star associated with your Sitting Mountain using the Ai Xing Mapping above.
Enter the Palace: Place this Star in the center of the Lo Shu grid.
Determine Flight: Check the Polarity of your Mountain. If Yang, fly the stars 1 → 2 → 3... If Yin, fly them 9 → 8 → 7...
Verify Ling Zheng: Check if the Current Period Star (9) is at the Mountain position and the Opposite Star (1) is at the Water position.
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🏰 Castle Gate Theory (城門訣)
The Castle Gate (城門) is one of the most powerful techniques in Da Xuan Kong. It identifies the single most important water mouth (水口) — the point where water enters or exits the property's area of influence. As the classical axiom states: "A lucky Castle Gate can surpass ten thousand taels of gold" (城門一訣最為良，萬兩黃金不換之).
The "Castle Gate" derives its name from ancient Chinese city planning: the main gate of a walled city controlled all entry and exit. In Feng Shui, the water mouth functions identically — it is the single point through which wealth Qi enters or drains from a property.
To find the Castle Gate direction, follow these steps:
Determine the Facing direction of the property (e.g., Facing South, Li trigram).
Identify the two auxiliary positions — the directions that flank the Facing at 45° on each side. For a South-facing property, the auxiliary positions are Southeast (Xun) and Southwest (Kun).
Check which auxiliary direction has visible water (a river, road, intersection, or open terrain). The auxiliary direction with water is the Castle Gate.
Verify the Ai Xing star at the Castle Gate position. If the star at the Castle Gate is the current Period star or its Sheng Qi (growing) star, the Castle Gate is "open" and wealth flows in. If it is a Sha Qi or Si Qi star, the Castle Gate is "blocked" and wealth drains out.
Worked Example: Period 9, South-Facing Property
Facing: South (Li, Star 9)
Auxiliary positions: Southeast (Xun, Star 4) and Southwest (Kun, Star 2)
Scenario: There is a major road intersection visible at the Southwest (Kun) position.
Assessment: The Ai Xing star at Kun is Star 2. In Period 9, Star 2 is classified as approaching Sheng Qi (future Period 2 is awakening from the next cycle). This makes the Southwest Castle Gate moderately auspicious — the road at Kun brings gradual wealth accumulation.
If instead the road intersection were at Southeast (Xun, Star 4), Star 4 is deeply retreating Qi in Period 9 — the Castle Gate would be inauspicious , potentially draining wealth rather than attracting it.
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4. Ling Zheng: The Zero and Correct Gods (零正神)
In Da Xuan Kong, the definition of prosperity is simple yet rigid: Mountain must meet Mountain, and Water must meet Water.
Zheng Shen (正神 - Correct God): The star of the current period. It thrives on High Ground (Mountains) . If water is placed here, it causes "The Mountain falling into Water" (下水), leading to health and lineage issues.
Ling Shen (零神 - Zero God): The star opposite to the current period (Sum of Ten). It thrives on Low Ground (Water) . If a mountain is placed here, it causes "The Water climbing the Mountain" (上山), leading to financial ruin.
Period 9 (2024-2043) Strategy:
Zheng Shen: South (Li). Ensure the South sector of your property has stable land or tall structures.
Ling Shen: North (Kan). Ensure the North sector has active water (roads, fountains, or open space) to capture the wealth of Period 9.
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5. Advanced Formulas of the Great Sky
A. Five Ghosts Carry Wealth (五鬼運財)
This is the most famous "Emergency Wealth" formula in Jiang Dahong's lineage. It utilizes the Lian Zhen (Star 5) to bridge the gap between the Dragon and the Water. When the Mountain star and the Water star form a specific "Sum of Ten" or "He Tu" relationship with Star 5, the "Ghosts" are said to bring wealth from the surroundings into the house.
B. Seven Stars Robbery (七星打劫)
The Seven Stars Robbery (七星打劫, Qī Xīng Dǎ Jié) is the most coveted and most misunderstood technique in all of Xuan Kong Feng Shui. It allows a property to "rob" or "borrow" the Qi of future Periods , gaining prosperity that extends far beyond the current 20-year cycle — potentially providing timely Qi for 60 to 180 years.
The Three Star Groupings
Seven Stars Robbery is built upon three groups of three stars each, derived from the Luo Shu triads:
Group
Stars
Yuan Affiliation
Directional Axis
Group A
1 – 4 – 7
Kan, Xun, Dui (Water, Wood, Metal)
North – Southeast – West
Group B
2 – 5 – 8
Kun, Center, Gen (Earth triad)
Southwest – Center – Northeast
Group C
3 – 6 – 9
Zhen, Qian, Li (Wood, Metal, Fire)
East – Northwest – South
For Seven Stars Robbery to occur, the Sitting, Facing, and a third directional position must each contain one star from the same group , and at least one of those stars must be the future Period star .
Three Types of Seven Star Robbery
True Robbery (真打劫): All three positions (Sitting, Facing, and the auxiliary direction) contain stars from the same group in Period sequence . The property genuinely borrows future Qi. This is extremely rare and considered the most powerful configuration in all of Feng Shui.
False Robbery (假打劫): The three positions contain the correct stars, but the sequencing is wrong — the future star appears at a "Mountain" position instead of a "Water" position, or the landscape contradicts the requirements. The property appears to have the Robbery pattern on paper but fails to manifest.
Empty Robbery (空打劫): Stars from the group are present, but one or more positions fall in "empty" directions (directions with no physical feature to activate them). The Robbery pattern exists theoretically but has no channel for Qi to flow through.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to artificially create a Seven Stars Robbery configuration — for example, by adding water features at calculated positions — without understanding the full Ai Xing dynamics can backfire catastrophically. A miscalculated Robbery drains future Qi from the property instead of bringing it to the property.
C. The Great Xuan Kong 50-Year Periodization
Some sub-lineages of Da Xuan Kong use a 50-year/40-year division for Period 5 (The Central Earth), accounting for the "Great Void" between the Upper and Lower Yuans. This allows for a more nuanced calculation of property "Timeliness" (Wang Shu) during the transition eras.
6. Relationship to Liuren Geographical Arts
In the Liuren Fuying Hall tradition, the Geographical Immortal Master (地理仙師) is the patron of these arts. The practitioner uses Da Xuan Kong to:
Align the Altar: Ensuring the Shi Gong tablet is placed on a "Correct God" mountain line.
Temple Siting: Using the Xuan Kong Wu Xing to ensure the temple element matches the local "Dragon Qi" (Long Mai).
Ritual Activation: Selecting dates where the Ai Xing of the day harmonizes with the property's fixed Ai Xing stars.
📺 Video Resources: Grand Xuan Kong Lectures
Supplementary lectures from recognized lineages, providing practical insights into the application of Jiang Dahong's methods and the critical distinction from standard Flying Stars.
Cai Yuyang (蔡于阳) Lineage
Case Study: 034 Seven-One Counter-Pattern
Learning Path: Simplification of Grand Xuan Kong
Calculation: Monthly Flying Stars Method
Li Shuanglin (李雙林) - Conceptual Foundations
Master Li Shuanglin explains the core philosophy of the Grand Xuan Kong system and how it differs from other schools.
Introduction: Defining Da Xuan Kong
Technical: Principles of Charting (For Comparison)
Note: These videos are provided for educational comparison and are part of the broader Grand Xuan Kong research archive.
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🔗 Integration with Other San Yuan Methods
Da Xuan Kong does not exist in isolation. It is part of a family of San Yuan methods that share the same theoretical roots but emphasize different aspects of Jiang Dahong's original system. Understanding how these methods relate is essential for advanced practice.
Method
Core Focus
Relationship to Da Xuan Kong
When to Use Together
Xie Zi Fa (些子法)
Sub-degree hexagram-line precision for siting
Complementary. Da Xuan Kong provides the macro framework; Xie Zi Fa refines the exact degree of Facing to the Yao level. Many lineage masters use Da Xuan Kong for site assessment and Xie Zi Fa for the final orientation adjustment.
Fine-tuning the facing direction after Da Xuan Kong confirms the general orientation is correct.
Liu Fa (六法)
Six core methods: Dragon, Mountain, Water, Facing, Star, and Period
Parallel system. Liu Fa is attributed to the same core classics but organizes them into a six-step verification framework. Some scholars consider Liu Fa a different decoding of Jiang Dahong's writings, rather than a branch of Da Xuan Kong.
As an independent cross-check: if both Da Xuan Kong and Liu Fa agree on a site's assessment, confidence is extremely high.
Fei Xing (飛星)
Period-based star charts for interior room analysis
Partially complementary, partially conflicting. Da Xuan Kong and Fei Xing share the same 9-Star system but apply it differently. Da Xuan Kong is Mountain-fixed; Fei Xing is Palace-flying. For exterior siting , Da Xuan Kong takes precedence. For interior room layout , Fei Xing provides more granular detail.
Use Da Xuan Kong for orientation and siting decisions; use Fei Xing for interior room-by-room placement of beds, desks, and doors.
Da Gua (大卦)
64-hexagram mathematical pairing for marriage of Sitting/Facing
Closely related. Da Gua is sometimes considered a sub-method of Da Xuan Kong focused specifically on hexagram pairings. The key difference is emphasis: Da Gua is primarily mathematical, while Da Xuan Kong integrates hexagram analysis with Ai Xing, Ling Zheng, Castle Gate, and Seven Stars Robbery in a unified framework.
Use Da Gua's pairing analysis when verifying the Sitting-Facing hexagram relationship identified by Da Xuan Kong.
🔑 Practitioner's Integration Principle
The experienced San Yuan practitioner treats these methods as different lenses on the same reality . A complete advanced Feng Shui assessment typically follows this workflow:
Da Xuan Kong: Establish the macro site assessment — Ai Xing stars, Ling Zheng alignment, Castle Gate, and Seven Stars Robbery potential.
Xie Zi Fa: Refine the exact Facing direction to the hexagram-line level for surgical precision.
Fei Xing: Generate the interior star chart for room-by-room optimization of indoor spaces.
Da Gua: Cross-verify the Sitting-Facing hexagram pairing to confirm mathematical harmony.
Liu Fa: Apply the six-method verification checklist as a final independent audit.
When multiple methods converge on the same conclusion, the practitioner can be confident in the assessment. When they diverge, it signals the need for deeper investigation — usually indicating that one or more measurements were imprecise.
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Master the Void. Jiang Dahong's Da Xuan Kong is the "Internal Gate" (內門) of Feng Shui. It requires rigorous study of the Di Li Bian Zheng and the guidance of a lineage holder. Inquire for the full syllabus.