The Cyclic Nature of Qi

Unlike the static Eight Mansions system, Xuan Kong Flying Stars tracks the movement of celestial energy across time. The system is based on the Three Cycles and Nine Periods (三元九運) , a 180-year grand cycle where the "Ruling Star" changes every 20 years.

🧬 The Theoretical Framework (三元九運核心理論)

According to Shen Shi Xuan Kong Xue (沈氏玄空學), the Grand Cycle is an astronomical simulation of the alignment of the planets and the Big Dipper. One **Grand Cycle (大元)** lasts 180 years, consisting of three **Cycles (元)** of 60 years each (Jia Zi cycles):

  • Upper Cycle (上元): Periods 1, 2, 3
  • Middle Cycle (中元): Periods 4, 5, 6
  • Lower Cycle (下元): Periods 7, 8, 9

Each **Period (運)** lasts 20 years, during which one star becomes the "Ruling Star" or "Wang Star" (旺星). This star enters the center of the Nine Palace grid and determines the quality of Qi for that era.

根據《沈氏玄空學》,大周期是行星與北斗七星排列的天文模擬。一個 「大元」 持續180年,由三個60年的 「元」 (甲子周期)組成:

  • 上元: 一、二、三運
  • 中元: 四、五、六運
  • 下元: 七、八、九運

每個 「運」 持續20年,在此期間一顆星成為「當令星」或「旺星」。該星進入九宮格中心,決定該時代的氣場品質。

📚 Historical Background & Classical Lineage (歷史淵源)

Xuan Kong Fei Xing (玄空飛星, "Mysterious Void Flying Stars") is a subset of the San Yuan (三元) school of classical Chinese Feng Shui. The system maps the invisible patterns of Qi occupying a building through time and space.

Key Classical Texts (經典文獻)

TextAuthorDynasty/Era
地理辨正 (Di Li Bian Zheng)蔣大鴻 (Jiang Da Hong)Late Ming / Early Qing
歸厚錄 (Gui Hou Lu)蔣大鴻 (Jiang Da Hong)Late Ming / Early Qing
天元五歌 (Tian Yuan Wu Ge)蔣大鴻 (Jiang Da Hong)Late Ming / Early Qing
沈氏玄空學 (Shen Shi Xuan Kong Xue)沈竹礽 (Shen Zhu Ren)1930s
大三元玄空錄談養吾 (Tan Yang Wu)1920s
大三元玄空實驗談養吾 (Tan Yang Wu)1920s

Four Authoritative Classics for 81 Combinations

  1. 飛星賦 (Fei Xing Fu - Flying Star Commentary): Core interpretations of star interactions
  2. 紫白訣 (Zi Bai Jue - Purple White Scroll): Essential for understanding star combination meanings
  3. 玄機賦 (Xuan Ji Fu - Classics of Mystical Stars): Advanced star combination principles
  4. 玄空秘旨 (Xuan Kong Mi Zhi - Secret Decree of Xuan Kong): Secret principles and interpretations

Historical Lineage

  • 蔣大鴻 (Jiang Da Hong, late Ming/early Qing): Wrote extensively but in cryptic language, establishing the foundations
  • 章仲山 (Zhang Zhong Shan): Added essential commentaries, founded the 無常派 (Wu Chang Pai) school
  • 談養吾 (Tan Yang Wu, 1920s): First scholar-practitioner to systematically use case studies for teaching
  • 沈竹礽 (Shen Zhu Ren, 1930s): Discovered and documented the Flying Star method, published the definitive reference text that remains the standard today
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🎥 Flying Star Feng Shui Series (Period 9 Focus)

Curated resources for understanding the major energy shift of Period 9 (2024-2043). Essential viewing for updating natal charts.

Joey Yap: Period 9 Mastery

Comprehensive guide to the 20-year cycle shift. Focuses on the #9 Fire Star as the new Wealth Star.

Explore More Period 9 Content

The transition to Period 9 is the hottest topic in Feng Shui today.

Search YouTube for "Period 9" →
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1. The Three Cycles and Nine Periods (三元九運)

To analyze a building, you must identify its Base Period (when the roof was installed and occupants moved in). This determines the "Natal Chart" of the house.

Cycle (Yuan)Period (Yun)Years (Gregorian)Ruling Element
Upper Cycle
(上元)
Period 11864 - 1883Water (Kan)
Period 21884 - 1903Earth (Kun)
Period 31904 - 1923Wood (Zhen)
Middle Cycle
(中元)
Period 41924 - 1943Wood (Xun)
Period 51944 - 1963Earth (Central)
Period 61964 - 1983Metal (Qian)
Lower Cycle
(下元)
Period 71984 - 2003Metal (Dui)
Period 82004 - 2023Earth (Gen)
Period 92024 - 2043Fire (Li)

📍 We Are Currently in Period 9 (2024-2043)

Star 9 (九紫右弼 - Fire) is the ruling Wang (旺) star. This means Fire element energy is at peak power. Buildings completed and occupied between Feb 2024 - Jan 2044 have Period 9 as their natal chart base.

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📊 Period Base Charts (運盤) — All Nine Periods

Each period has a unique base chart determined by which star enters the center palace. The stars then "fly" following the Luo Shu trajectory: Center → NW → W → NE → S → N → SW → E → SE .

Mnemonic: 戴九履一、左三右七、二四為肩、六八為足、五居中央 (Wear nine, step on one; left three, right seven; two-four are shoulders; six-eight are feet; five resides in center)

Original Luo Shu (洛書元旦盤)

┌─────────┬─────────┬─────────┐
│  SE(4)  │  S(9)   │  SW(2)  │
├─────────┼─────────┼─────────┤
│  E(3)   │  C(5)   │  W(7)   │
├─────────┼─────────┼─────────┤
│  NE(8)  │  N(1)   │  NW(6)  │
└─────────┴─────────┴─────────┘
                

Period 1 (1864-1883) 一運盤

1 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:9│ S:5 │ SW:7│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:8 │ C:1 │ W:3 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:4│ N:6 │ NW:2│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 2 (1884-1903) 二運盤

2 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:1│ S:6 │ SW:8│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:9 │ C:2 │ W:4 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:5│ N:7 │ NW:3│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 3 (1904-1923) 三運盤

3 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:2│ S:7 │ SW:9│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:1 │ C:3 │ W:5 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:6│ N:8 │ NW:4│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 4 (1924-1943) 四運盤

4 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:3│ S:8 │ SW:1│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:2 │ C:4 │ W:6 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:7│ N:9 │ NW:5│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 5 (1944-1963) 五運盤

5 enters Center (same as Luo Shu)

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:4│ S:9 │ SW:2│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:3 │ C:5 │ W:7 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:8│ N:1 │ NW:6│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 6 (1964-1983) 六運盤

6 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:5│ S:1 │ SW:3│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:4 │ C:6 │ W:8 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:9│ N:2 │ NW:7│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 7 (1984-2003) 七運盤

7 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:6│ S:2 │ SW:4│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:5 │ C:7 │ W:9 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:1│ N:3 │ NW:8│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 8 (2004-2023) 八運盤

8 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:7│ S:3 │ SW:5│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:6 │ C:8 │ W:1 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:2│ N:4 │ NW:9│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

Period 9 (2024-2043) 九運盤 ⭐ CURRENT

9 enters Center

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ SE:8│ S:4 │ SW:6│
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ E:7 │ C:9 │ W:2 │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ NE:3│ N:5 │ NW:1│
└─────┴─────┴─────┘
                    

🔑 How to Use Period Charts

  1. Identify Building Period: Determine when your building was completed (roof on, occupants moved in)
  2. Select Period Chart: Use the corresponding period chart as the base for your natal chart
  3. Apply Sitting/Facing: Based on the building's facing direction (measured with Luo Pan), calculate Mountain Star and Water Star distributions
  4. Analyze Combinations: For each of the 9 palaces, examine the Mountain-Water star combinations using the 81 Combinations Reference
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⚡ Star Energy Phases in Period 9 (九運星曜能量)

Based on the Shen Shi tradition, the classification of stars changes relative to the current period. Understanding these states is the first step in any audit.

PhaseChineseStatus in Period 9StarsNature
Wàng 旺旺氣Current Ruling StarStar 9 (Fire)Most auspicious; immediate wealth and fame.
Shēng 生生氣Future Prosperous StarsStar 1 (Water), Star 2 (Earth)Highly favorable; future potential and long-term gain.
Tuì 退退氣Retreating StarStar 8 (Earth)Losing power; represents stagnation or past success.
Sǐ 死死氣Dead Qi StarsStars 7, 6 (Metal)Powerless and potentially harmful; "Old" energy.
Shā 殺煞氣Killing Qi StarsStars 5, 4, 3Active harm; triggers disaster, legal issues, and illness.
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2. The Nine Stars (Attributes & Bodies)

While the "Timeliness" of a star changes with the Period (e.g., Star 7 is wealth in Period 7 but "Robbery" in Period 8/9), the intrinsic nature of the star remains constant.

1 White (Tan Lang)

Element: Water
Good: Wisdom, Noble People, Career.
Bad: Depression, Isolation, Kidney issues.

2 Black (Ju Men)

Element: Earth
Good: Real Estate, Fertility, Healing.
Bad: Sickness, Miscarriage, Chronic illness.

3 Jade (Lu Cun)

Element: Wood
Good: Action, Growth, Sports.
Bad: Arguments, Lawsuits, Theft.

4 Green (Wen Qu)

Element: Wood
Good: Academics, Romance, Writing.
Bad: Sex scandals, Adultery, Confusion.

5 Yellow (Lian Zhen)

Element: Earth
Good: Imperial Power (only in P5).
Bad: Disaster, Calamity, Cancer, Bankruptcy.

6 White (Wu Qu)

Element: Metal
Good: Authority, Military, Leadership.
Bad: Loneliness, Rigid thinking, Head injury.

7 Red (Po Jun)

Element: Metal
Good: Communication, Metaphysics.
Bad: Robbery, Fire hazards, Gossip.

8 White (Zuo Fu)

Element: Earth
Good: Wealth (Slow), Stability.
Bad: Stagnation, Back problems.

9 Purple (You Bi)

Element: Fire
Good: Future Wealth, Fame, Beauty.
Bad: Eye issues, Blood pressure, Heart trouble.

3. Charting Logic

A Xuan Kong chart is composed of three numbers in each of the 9 palaces:

  • Base Star (Middle): The Period number flew according to Luo Shu.
  • Mountain Star (Left): Governs Health/People. Determined by the Sitting Direction.
  • Water Star (Right): Governs Wealth. Determined by the Facing Direction.

Yin and Yang Flying

Depending on whether the 24 Mountain direction is Yang (Odd) or Yin (Even) relative to the Period, the stars fly Forward (Shun) or Reverse (Ni) . This is the secret key to the chart.

📚 Deep Dive: The 81 Combinations

Once you have your chart, you must interpret how the stars interact in each sector. We have compiled a comprehensive technical reference for all major combinations.

View 81 Combinations Reference →