Eight Mansions · Kua Number
Kua Number 6 乾
Kua 6 belongs to the West group and carries the Metal element. Its trigram is 乾 (Qián, ☰), the image of heaven. Your four lucky directions are West, Northeast, Southwest and Northwest.
- Trigram
- ☰ 乾 Qián
- Element
- Metal
- Group
- West group
- Home direction
- Northwest
- Family role
- Father
Your eight directions
Eight Mansions (八宅, Bā Zhái) divides the compass into eight sectors and ranks them for each Kua Number. The first four are favourable and the last four unfavourable.
| Direction | Star | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| West | Sheng Qi 生氣 | Growth and success |
| Northeast | Tian Yi 天醫 | Health |
| Southwest | Yan Nian 延年 | Relationships |
| Northwest | Fu Wei 伏位 | Stability and personal development |
| Southeast | Huo Hai 禍害 | Mishaps and irritations |
| East | Wu Gui 五鬼 | Conflict and gossip |
| North | Liu Sha 六煞 | Setbacks |
| South | Jue Ming 絕命 | Most unfavourable |
The 乾 trigram
Qian is three solid lines, the most active and creative trigram. It stands for heaven, leadership and strength, and in the family of trigrams it is the father.
Kua 6 is linked with leadership, responsibility and mentors. The Northwest, Qian's home direction, is traditionally tied to helpful people and travel. In the traditional family of trigrams, 乾 is the father.
Kua 6 around the home
Desk and work
Sit so that you face West, your Sheng Qi (growth) direction. If the room makes that awkward, face Northeast or Southwest instead. Keep a solid wall behind you where possible.
Bed and rest
Point the headboard, so your head lies toward Northeast (Tian Yi, health) or Southwest (Yan Nian, relationships). Avoid sleeping with your head toward South, your Jue Ming direction.
Front door
A main door facing one of your good directions (West, Northeast, Southwest or Northwest) is ideal. You cannot move a door, so if yours faces Southeast, East, North or South, keep the entrance bright, uncluttered and welcoming, and use your good directions inside instead.
Kitchen and stove
Classical Eight Mansions places the stove in an unfavourable sector (Southeast, East, North or South) so that its fire "burns away" the bad luck, with the control knobs facing a good direction. Bathrooms and storerooms also belong in unfavourable sectors.
Choosing a home
West-group people traditionally feel most at home in west-group houses: those that sit (have their back) to the West, Northwest, Southwest or Northeast. Other West-group Kua Numbers are 2, 7, 8, so partners in the same group can share favourable directions easily.
Birth years for Kua 6
These use the Chinese solar year, which starts at Li Chun (about 4 February). If you were born before Li Chun, use the previous year.
| Men with Kua 6 | Women with Kua 6 |
|---|---|
| 1940, 1949, 1958, 1967, 1976, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2012, 2021 | 1946, 1955, 1964, 1973, 1982, 1991, 2000, 2009, 2018 |
Kua Numbers come from the Eight Mansions school. Other schools, such as Flying Stars, use different methods. Use your directions as a gentle guide, not a rule.