San Yuan Na Qi focuses on the dynamic reception of Qi through the "Mouths" of a property. In Period 9 (2024–2043), the quality of Qi shifts fundamentally towards the Fire element.
San Yuan Na Qi (三元纳气 - Sān Yuán Nà Qì)
Receiving the Vital Breath of Period 9
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Module 1: The Core Principles of Na Qi
- External Na Qi: Energy from outside (doors/windows).
- Internal Na Qi: Internal flow (bedroom doors).
- Taiji Center: Measurement from the person's active location.
San Yuan Na Qi vs. San He Na Qi
Two major traditions approach Na Qi with fundamentally different frameworks:
| Aspect | San Yuan Na Qi (三元纳气) | San He Na Qi (三合纳气) |
|---|---|---|
| Time system | San Yuan Nine Periods (currently Period 9) | Four Burial Libraries — Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei (辰戌丑未) |
| Evaluation basis | Door direction vs. the current period's favorable stars | Door direction vs. San He Water Dragon formulas and sitting compatibility |
| Time sensitivity | Assessment changes every 20 years as periods shift | Assessment is relatively fixed (not period-dependent) |
| Primary reference | Xuan Kong star governing the door's compass sector | Twelve Growth Phases (十二长生) of the sitting's Dragon Qi |
| Key emphasis | "Timeliness" (当令, dāng lìng) of the incoming Qi | Compatibility between Dragon, Sitting, and Door on the San He Luopan |
Which system to use? San Yuan Na Qi is the correct lens for Period assessments and is re-evaluated every 20 years at each period transition. San He Na Qi is applied when analysing the long-term structural relationship between the Dragon's incoming Qi and the site's orientation — it does not change with periods and provides a "baseline" compatibility reading that San Yuan then refines.
Module 2: Period 9 Prosperity Map (九运旺衰)
The "Prosperity" of a direction depends on the Zheng Shen (Direct Spirit) and Ling Shen (Zero Spirit) logic of the current period.
| Status | Directions (Period 9) | Technical Logic | Practical Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prosperous (旺气) | S, NE, W, NW | Zheng Shen (Direct Spirit): Receiving Qi from the Current and Future Stars. | Open doors/windows here. Sleep/Work facing these directions. |
| Wealth Water (零神) | North (N) | Ling Shen (Zero Spirit): The "Opposite" of the Period Star (9 is South, so North is Zero). | Ideally see Water or active roads in this direction to activate wealth. |
| Declining (衰气) | SW, E, SE | Dead/Retreating Qi: Stars that have already passed their peak (Period 7/8 stars). | Keep windows closed or use heavy curtains. Avoid activity here. |
The Period 9 Shift
In Period 8 (2004-2023), the Northeast was the Direct Spirit. Now in Period 9, the South has taken over as the primary source of life-force Qi. Many houses that were prosperous in P8 may feel a "sudden drain" if they don't adjust their Na Qi to the South/North axis.
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Module 3: Period 9 Door Direction Guide (九运门向指南)
In San Yuan Na Qi, the main door must receive a timely star's energy. The door direction is measured with a Luopan (罗盘) from the inside of the threshold looking outward. For Period 9 (2024–2043), governed by the Li (离, ☲) trigram and the Fire element:
| Rating | Door Direction | Star Received | Pinyin | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | South (南) | Star 9 Purple (九紫右弼) | Jiǔ Zǐ Yòu Bì | The current period star — maximum prosperity and recognition |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | North (北) | Star 1 White (一白贪狼) | Yī Bái Tān Láng | Future prosperity star — excellent long-term wealth and academic luck |
| ⭐⭐⭐ | Northeast (东北) | Star 8 White (八白左辅) | Bā Bái Zuǒ Fǔ | Residual Period 8 wealth energy — still supportive but weakening |
| ⭐⭐⭐ | Northwest (西北) | Star 6 White (六白武曲) | Liù Bái Wǔ Qū | Authority star — declining but useful for leadership roles |
| ⚠️ | West (西) | Star 7 Red (七赤破军) | Qī Chì Pò Jūn | Robbery/loss star — brings theft, financial disputes |
| ⚠️ | East (东) | Star 3 Jade (三碧禄存) | Sān Bì Lù Cún | Quarrel/litigation star — provokes arguments and legal problems |
| 🚫 | Annual 5 Yellow sector | Star 5 Yellow (五黄廉贞) | Wǔ Huáng Lián Zhēn | Grand Duke of misfortune — changes yearly; avoid major Na Qi activation here |
Period 9 Key Insight
The South–North axis is the dominant prosperity corridor for Period 9. A main door receiving Qi from the South (Star 9) or overlooking open water/roads in the North (Ling Shen activation) creates the optimal dual condition: "Timely star at the door, Zero Spirit water at the back" (当运星临门，零神水在后).
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Module 4: Room-by-Room Qi Distribution (室内气流分布)
Once Qi enters through the main door (气从门入, qì cóng mén rù), it flows through the building following physical pathways. Understanding internal distribution is critical for Na Qi optimization:
- Corridors (走廊) act as Qi channels (气道, qì dào) — long, narrow corridors accelerate Qi into a rush; wider corridors allow gentle circulation.
- Doorways between rooms are secondary Na Qi points — each interior door filters and redirects the Qi stream to the room beyond.
- Open floor plans allow Qi to spread broadly but thinly — beneficial for social energy, but can dilute concentrated prosperity Qi.
- Closed doors accumulate Qi within the room — beneficial if the room is in a good sector ; harmful if in a bad sector (trapped Sha Qi).
- Stairways act as vertical Qi conduits — a staircase directly facing the front door "drains" Qi upward before it can circulate on the ground floor. This is the classic "Qi rushing up the stairs" problem (气冲楼梯, qì chōng lóu tī).
The Staircase Problem (气冲楼梯)
If your front door opens directly to a staircase, install a curved partition screen (屏风, píng fēng) or place a substantial piece of furniture between the door and the stairs. This forces incoming Qi to circulate through the ground floor before rising — preserving vitality in the main living areas where the family spends most of their waking hours.
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📋 Case Study: Door Direction Change Transforms a Shop (深圳改门转运)
A Period 8 jewelry shopfront in Shenzhen originally had its main door facing West (Dui sector, receiving Star 7 Red). After the transition to Period 9 in 2024, the business experienced three robbery attempts in 18 months.
- Na Qi diagnosis: The door was "receiving" Star 7 Red (七赤破军) — now the untimely robbery star — directly from the road.
- Recommendation: Create a new entrance at the South corner of the shopfront, receiving Star 9 Purple (九紫, the timely prosperity star).
Outcome (post-2025): No further security incidents. Monthly revenue increased by 65% as foot traffic patterns also favoured the new South-facing entrance. The old West entrance was converted to a display window.
🔑 Practitioner Takeaway
The transition between periods (运转换, yùn zhuǎn huàn) is the most dangerous time for buildings whose doors face the outgoing period's star . When Period 8 ended in 2024, every West-facing door began receiving the now-untimely Star 7 robbery energy. A simple door relocation — even by a few meters along the same wall — can shift Na Qi from an inauspicious to an auspicious star. Always re-audit door directions at the start of each new 20-year period.
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📋 Case Study: Staircase Na Qi Problem in Split-Level Home (楼梯纳气问题)
A split-level home in Taipei had the main door opening directly onto a staircase going up. The ground floor felt perpetually "lifeless" (气虚, qì xū) — the family spent most time upstairs, causing a disconnect from social life.
Na Qi diagnosis: All incoming Qi was immediately "sucked" upstairs before circulating through the ground-floor living areas. The classic "Qi rushing up the stairs" (气冲楼梯, qì chōng lóu tī) problem — the mouth (门) of the building feeds the upper floors directly, starving the ground level of vitality.
Remedy: A curved partition wall (屏风, píng fēng) was installed between the front door and the staircase, forcing Qi to circulate through the ground-floor living room before rising. The father's ground-floor study, previously stagnant, began to receive proper Qi flow.
Outcome: The family reported feeling more energized downstairs and began hosting social gatherings again. The father, working from the ground-floor study, saw his freelance income increase. The upper-floor bedrooms retained excellent overnight Qi while the active daytime spaces were properly energized.
🔑 Practitioner Takeaway
A staircase directly facing the front door is one of the most common and impactful Na Qi errors in modern homes. The fix is simple — any solid screen, decorative partition, or furniture arrangement that forces incoming Qi to turn before reaching the staircase resolves the problem. The screen need not be tall; 1.2 metres is sufficient to redirect the Qi stream along the ground floor before it ascends.
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