Master Luopan Ring Reference (羅盤圈層詳解)

The Geographic Information System of the Ancient Masters

The Anatomy of the Compass

A professional **Luopan (羅盤)** is a sophisticated analog computer that maps multiple layers of metaphysical and astronomical data onto a circular grid. These layers, known as **Rings (圈層)**, range from basic directional pointers to complex calendars and star degree mappings.

This reference categorizes the most critical rings found on **San He (三合)**, **San Yuan (三元)**, and **Zong He (綜合)** Luopans.

專業的 羅盤 是一個精密的模擬計算工具，將多層形而上學和天文數據映射到圓形網格上。這些被稱為 「圈層」 的層次，從基礎的方向指針到複雜的曆法和星度映射不等。

本參考手冊對 三合盤 、 三元盤 及 綜合盤 中最關鍵的圈層進行了分類詳細解釋。

1. The Core Three Plates (三針三盤)

The foundation of every San He Luopan consists of three concentric rings of the 24 Mountains, each offset by 7.5 degrees for specific purposes.

Ring Name (CN)English NameNeedle (針)Function & Primary Use
地盤正針Earth PlateOriginal NeedleStandard Alignment: Used for determining the sitting and facing (Li Xiang 立向) of buildings and tombs. Reflects the magnetic North.
人盤中針Man PlateMiddle NeedleBa Sha (拔砂): Offset 7.5° counter-clockwise. Used to assess the influence of surrounding landforms (mountains, buildings) and neutralize Sha Qi.
天盤縫針Heaven PlateSeam NeedleNa Shui (納水): Offset 7.5° clockwise. Used to assess the entry and exit of water flows (rivers, roads) relative to the property.
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2. Dragon & Energy Alignment (龍法與分金)

These rings provide granular detail within the 24 sectors to identify the "Dragon's Breath" and precise degrees of luck.

60 Dragons with 24 Mountains reference

Reference: 60 Dragons layered onto the 24 Mountains (Luopan ring alignment).

72 Dragons (穿山七十二龍)

Divides the compass into 5-degree sub-sectors. Used to determine the specific "Nayin" element of the Qi entering from the mountain. Crucial for identifying the **Big Void (大空亡)** gaps.

Full Reference Table →

60 Dragons (透地六十龍)

Located outside the 72 Dragons. Used to coordinate the "Grid of the Dragon" with the 24 solar terms. Focuses on the internal flow of Qi through the property's center.

120 Divisions (一百二十分金)

Extremely granular division (3 degrees each). Used to find the "Royal Degree" of alignment. In practice, practitioners seek the **3/7** or **2/8** split to avoid clashing with the main branch energy.

72 Dragons (Chuan Shan) reference

72 Dragons (穿山七十二龍)

120 Dragons division reference

120 Divisions (一百二十分金)

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3. Astronomical & Star Degrees (宿度與星度)

The outermost rings align the Earthly measurement with the actual positions of the stars in the sky. This is the area of most technical debate due to the **Precession of the Equinoxes (歲差)**.

The 28 Lunar Mansions (二十八宿)

Earth's axis wobbles slowly over a 26,000-year cycle. This means the position of the stars relative to the Equinox shifts by 1 degree every 72 years. Professional Luopans use one of two standards:

  • Kai Xi Sudu (開禧宿度): Fixed to the 1207 AD Song calendar. Most masters use this for consistency with classical star-element formulas.
  • Shi Xian Sudu (時憲宿度): Fixed to the 1645 AD Qing calendar. Favored by astronomers for reflecting current physical reality.

地球軸心在26,000年的周期中緩慢擺動。這意味著恆星相對於分點的位置每72年移動1度。專業羅盤使用兩種標準之一：

  • 開禧宿度： 固定於公元1207年的宋代曆法。多數大師使用此標準以保持與經典星曜五行公式的一致性。
  • 時憲宿度： 固定於公元1645年的清代曆法。天文學家更偏好此標準，因為它反映了當前的物理現實。
Lunar Mansions Data →
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4. San Yuan (Xuan Kong) Specialized Rings

San Yuan Luopans focus on the **64 Hexagrams** and time-cycle dynamics.

Ring LayerTechnical Name (CN)Application
Outer Trigrams外卦 (玄空大卦)Matching the building's facing to one of the 64 Hexagrams.
Hexagram Luck卦運 (Gua Yun)Determining which of the 9 periods (1-9) is favorable for that specific degree.
Kinship/Element卦氣 (Gua Qi)Mapping the Five Element value (1-9) of the hexagram for "Sheng/Ke" interaction.
384 Lines三百八十四爻The ultimate precision: adjusting alignment by single degrees to change the internal line of the hexagram (**Chou Yao Huan Xiang**).
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5. San He Water Frames (三合水局)

The core of San He calculation is the Water Frame (水局 Shuǐjú) . The twelve Earthly Branches are grouped into four triadic frames based on the life cycle of the elements. The Water Mouth — where water visibly exits the site — determines the governing frame for the entire property.

Frame (局)ElementBranches: Birth — Peak — TombWater Mouth Exits (Tian Pan)
水局 Water FrameWater (水)Shen (申) — Zi (子) — Chen (辰)Chou (丑) · Gen (艮) · Yin (寅) direction
木局 Wood FrameWood (木)Hai (亥) — Mao (卯) — Wei (未)Chen (辰) · Xun (巽) · Si (巳) direction
火局 Fire FrameFire (火)Yin (寅) — Wu (午) — Xu (戌)Wei (未) · Kun (坤) · Shen (申) direction
金局 Metal FrameMetal (金)Si (巳) — You (酉) — Chou (丑)Xu (戌) · Qian (乾) · Hai (亥) direction

⚠️ Yellow Spring Kill (黃泉煞 — Huáng Quán Shā)

The most dangerous water formation in San He — known as "Opening the Gate to the Underworld." It occurs when water flows from a specific direction relative to the site's facing direction. Always check the Tian Pan (Heaven Plate) measurement for water mouth direction.

Example: For a site facing Geng (庚) or Ding (丁) , water flowing from the Kun (坤) direction constitutes a Yellow Spring Kill. Consult the complete Huang Quan table for all facing-direction combinations before finalizing any site.

How to Determine Water Frame on Site

  1. Face the water mouth (exit point) and read the direction on the Tian Pan (Heaven Plate) — offset +7.5° clockwise.
  2. Identify which of the four triads (Birth/Peak/Tomb) the exit direction falls in.
  3. That triad determines your governing Water Frame for the site.
  4. The site's Dragon, Sitting, and Facing must then be compatible with this Frame for auspicious energy flow.
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6. Classical Anchors (经典依据)

The Luopan's ring system is not a modern invention — each plate and ring traces back to specific classical texts. Understanding these sources clarifies why each ring exists and how it should be applied.

Zang Shu 葬書 (Book of Burial) — Guo Pu, Jin Dynasty (~276 AD)

"氣乘風則散，界水則止。古人聚之使不散，行之使有止，故謂之風水。"

"Qi disperses when carried by wind; it stops where bounded by water. The ancients gathered it so it would not scatter, and directed it so it would halt — thus it is called Feng Shui."

Relevance to the Luopan: The Di Pan (Earth Plate) is used to identify the Sitting and Facing of a structure — its relationship to the incoming Dragon carrying Qi. Guo Pu's foundational text established the theoretical basis for all San He plate usage. It is the undisputed authority on burial landform studies.

Qing Nang Jing 青囊經 (Green Satchel Classic)

"天尊地卑，陽奇陰偶。一六共宗，二七同道，三八為朋，四九為友，五十同途。"

"Heaven is noble, Earth is humble; Yang is odd, Yin is even. One and Six share origin; Two and Seven share path; Three and Eight are companions; Four and Nine are friends; Five and Ten share the same way."

Relevance to the Luopan: The Qing Nang Jing introduced the He Tu / Lo Shu number theory that underpins the San Yuan hexagram rings. The pairing logic above is directly applied when reading the Gua Qi (Hexagram Energy) ring on San Yuan Luopans.

Qing Nang Ao Yu 青囊奧語 (Green Satchel Mystical Verses)

"先看金龍動不動，次察血脈認來龍。"

"First observe whether the Golden Dragon moves or is still; next, trace the blood-veins to recognize the incoming Dragon."

Relevance to the Luopan: The Qing Nang Ao Yu covers the foundations of the 72 Dragons, the Four Water Frames (四大水局), and the use of the Heaven and Earth plates in Yang Gong methodology. It is the companion text to the Tian Yu Jing — theory here, practice there.

Tian Yu Jing 天玉經 (Heavenly Jade Classic)

"江南龍來江北望，江西龍去望江東。"

"A Dragon arriving from the south of the river looks toward the north; a Dragon departing from the west looks toward the east."

Relevance to the Luopan: The Tian Yu Jing governs the practical application of the Luopan for evaluating landform structures, Yin and Yang site selection, and the arrangement of Dragons — the direct field-use complement to the Qing Nang Ao Yu. Study these two texts together.

📖 Recommended Classical Study Order (San He)

  1. 葬書 (Zang Shu) — Qi theory, foundational burial logic
  2. 天玉經 (Tian Yu Jing) — Landform evaluation, Dragon arrangement
  3. 青囊奧語 (Qing Nang Ao Yu) — 72 Dragons, Four Water Frames
  4. 玉尺經 (Yu Chi Jing) — Outcome events, 60 JiaZi Dragons, date selection
  5. 入地眼 (Ru Di Yan) — Entering the Earth's Eye: advanced site reading
  6. 雪心賦 (Xue Xin Fu) — Snow Heart Ode: poetic synthesis
  7. 玉髓真經 (Yu Sui Zhen Jing) — Jade Marrow True Classic: advanced integration
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💡 Professional Insight

A "Comprehensive" (Zong He 綜合) Luopan combines all the above. When auditing, a master uses the **Earth Plate** for the house, the **Heaven Plate** for the road/river, and the **Hexagram Rings** to fine-tune the door's "Breath" to the exact degree of the era's prosperity.

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