The Formula to Success

一 命
二 运
三 风水
四 积功德
五 读书
六 名
七 相
八 敬神
九 交贵人
十 养身

Translated as:
Destiny of a person takes precedence in the equation, followed by the luck (cycle) they are in, their environment / Feng Shui, their karma (past and present) and education. Next, a person's name is important as well, followed by their appearance / features, respect to deities (parents can be considered our deities or gods too!), friends and acquaintances who provide assistance, and lastly maintaining good health.

I respectfully disagree with the order / priority. For one, the definition of success differs from person to person. Some measure it by wealth. Some measured it by the car they drive or location of their homes. And some measure it simply by the level of happiness they feel in their heart.

Mnemonic for the Eight Trigrams 八卦口诀

乾三连
坤六断
震仰盂
艮覆碗
离中虚
坎中满
兑上缺
巽下断

Qian = 3 full lines
Kun = 3 broken lines
Zhen = upright bowl image
Gen = inverted bowl image
Li = middle in centre
Kan = filled in the middle
Dui = opening at the top
Xun = opening at the bottom

San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia 三元奇门遁甲

The San Yuan method of Qi Men Dun Jia is a hidden secret and the ‘key’ to the practice of San Yuan Xuan Kong Feng Shui, This secret is only passed down through a direct lineage from previous Masters. The San Yuan Method is based on the 64 Hexagrams. There are 1080 Qi Men Dun Jia Charts. Each chart is divided into 64 Hexagrams of Xuan Kong Da Gua. There is a predefined phenomenon for each of these 64 Hexagrams.

A San Yuan Luo Pan containing the 64 Hexagrams of Xuan Kong Da Gua is required in order to practice San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia. The Xuan Kong Da Gua method of selecting an auspicious time to commence an action only allows us to identify the appropriate ‘Chinese Hour’. One Chinese Hour is equivalent to two Western Hours. It allows us to identify within this Chinese Hour the exact ‘moment’ when the action must commence in order to obtain a guaranteed result. This ‘moment’ is when a predefined phenomenon is observed to occur.

The effectiveness of applying Qi Men Dun Jia in actual practice lies in our ability to observe the occurrence of the predefined phenomena. Sometimes the phenomena take a slightly different form compared to what have been described in the old text and it takes an experienced practitioner to spot it.

The History of Feng Shui

With its origins in China, and developing over 2,000 years as a system on how to survive, excel and live in harmony with nature, the Chinese has practiced Feng Shui for thousands of years. 

It started during the Han Dynasty (206BC – 220AD) as a form of Chinese philosophy on the relationship between humans and their environment, and about how everything is connected and affects our well-being. Based on the Laws of Nature, its theories offer us a way of understanding why certain things occur and how to create a comfortable environment that lets us live and work efficiently and progressively.

The word ‘Feng Shui’ derived during the reign of Jin Dynasty (265 – 420AD) when Guo Pu, the author of the book Zhang Jing (Study of Burial Ground) first used it. In the book he says, “The travel of Qi is conducted by air and water. When the air is dispersed, the Qi too is dispersed; when the water is stagnant, the Qi too is stagnant.”

Feng Shui is based on Taoist philosophies of nature; these include the Yin-Yang Theory, Five-Elements Theory and The Trigrams based on Yi Jing. Feng Shui literally means (the flow of) ‘wind’ and ‘water.’ It takes into account many different elements affecting your environment. Good Feng Shui is where the balance of Yin and Yang achieves harmony and the Chinese believe that everything has Qi or cosmic energy and all that has Qi has Yin and Yang qualities. 

Qi is divided into three categories: The Tian Qi (Heaven’s Qi), Di Qi (Earth’s Qi) and Ren Qi (Human’s Qi). Yin and Yang are both opposites and complimentary. When we practice good Feng Shui, we attract and cultivate positive energy called ‘Sheng Qi’ and dispel or eliminate negative Qi called ‘Sha Qi.’

Today, Feng Shui is a multidisciplinary study encompassing architecture, urban planning, geography, astrology, electromagnetism, landscaping, environmental psychology and many others. In the wake of these realities, it is gaining more and more popularity in the West. Like most martial arts disciplines, Feng Shui consists of various systems, some good, some not-so-good and some a mixture of both. It is only through years of studies and practical experiences that one can be accredited a Feng Shui master. Even then, there are very few genuine Feng Shui experts around. Traditionally, Feng Shui was passed down from one master to another and never through a classroom setting.

Feng Shui can be classified into the Theory School, which has three different aspects: The San He, The San Yuan and The Nine Star and The Form School with its emphasis on the study of landscaping. The Theory School was practiced more in the North and Central China while The Form School in the South. After the Ming Dynasty they were merged as one to give a wholesome picture and study of Feng Shui, which was until then sort of incomplete.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Master Dennis Lai of Classic Feng Shui Mastery.

Palmistry - The Art of Palm Reading 掌相学

Art of Palm Reading

There is no guessing in Palmistry. It is precise and revealing. Period.

Too many people fail to live in the present, as they are busy with anticipating tomorrow. What if you have a clear idea of what's going to happen? Will you then enjoy today more?

Some of the common questions include:

- Will I find love? When will that be? Is it true love?

- Will I be rich? When will that be? How can I get the money?

- Will I stay healthy? When might I fall sick? And can I overcome it?

- Am I compatible with my partner? What could happen in the future?

What is Palmistry?

Palmistry originated from India over 3,000 years ago as a method of counseling. It is a part of a vast field of study, referred to as Samudrik Shastra, which literally means the ocean of knowledge. Palmistry is a sub-section of Samudrik Shastra and deals specifically with the study of the hands.

Palmistry is the science of analyzing the hands of human beings. This incorporates the external features of the hands such as the shape, colour, texture, suppleness, fingers formation, nails, as well as the lines within the palms. An ascertained and competent palmist would be able to draw a clear picture of your destiny from your palm prints and would be able to give you a reliable guide to life when reading your palms.

The original intent of palmistry was for personality assessment and counseling. One's emotional tendencies, social attitudes, conscious awareness and subconscious fears, blockages and strengths can be understood in great detail through this in-depth system.

Everyone knows that “the face can wear a mask,” that a person may be a good actor and put on a certain expression that may deceive even the best judgment.

But hands cannot change as the result of a mere effort to please; the character they express is the real nature of the individual-the true character that has been formed by heredity or that has grown up with the person by long years of habit.

Remember that the hands are the immediate servants or instruments of the brain. There are more motive and sensory nerves from the brain to the hand than to any other portion of the body and, whether sleeping or waking, they continually and unconsciously reflect the thought and character of the mind or soul of the individual.

 

It will, then, be seen from these observations that without looking at the lines of the hand, one may be able to obtain certain details of character that are more trustworthy than those given by the face, and that these rules, if followed, should be of the greatest assistance and value to people in all walks of life.

Palmistry is the science of analyzing the hands of human beings. This incorporates the external features of the hands such as the shape, colour, texture, suppleness, fingers formation, nails, as well as the lines within the palms. An ascertained and competent palmist would be able to draw a clear picture of your destiny from your palm prints and would be able to give you a reliable guide to life when reading your palms.

The value of Hand Analysis and Palmistry

Hand analysis is an invaluable way to understand others and yourself better. It can help you to discover your best skills, gifts, talents and strengths so that you can put them all to work more effectively. Focusing on your natural strengths will allow you to feel better about yourself and enjoy more success in life. With this new self-understanding, you will have more confidant and power to live the life you’ve always wanted to live.

When we analyze other people’s palms, we help them to understand their unique personal qualities. This will provide them with guidance in their life and draw out the best in them.

Is palm reading accurate?

You should be asking – what makes it so accurate?

Reproduced with the kind permission of Master Dennis Lai of Classic Feng Shui Mastery.

San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Feng Shui 三元玄空大卦风水

Is this what is the most advanced form of Feng Shui?

Or just the primer to San Yuan Xuan Kong Yin Feng Shui (Feng Shui for the deceased)?

How does this complement the San Yuan Xuan Kong Flying Star system?

How do I use the San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Feng Shui in the first place?

Can I place water where it is not allowed under the Flying Star system?




Does 1 degree of difference in the door facing matter, or no? How about 0.875 degrees?

Will I have the ability to predict when and what events will happen in a household and to who?


Do you know how to decode this:
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。

Or this?
天地定位，山 澤通氣，雷風相薄，水火不相射。 

中五立極，臨制四方，背一面九，三七居旁，二八四六，縱橫紀綱。

What do the numbers in a hexagram mean, and how can we use them to our benefit?

What is the Heaven, Man and Earth relationship in San Yuan Xuan Kong System of Feng Shui?

Xuan Kong Da Gua refers to the 64 Hexagrams which is the same as the Yi Jing Hexagrams. Within these 64 Hexagrams, there are hidden secrets and for centuries the Chinese has been using these secrets for various applications.

The study of this Chinese text is very profound as there are many layers of information within the same text. Unless and until someone who knows reveals the hidden secrets to you; you may not be able to access the coded information. This is how profound the written Chinese text is.

In Xuan Kong Da Gua, each of the 64 Hexagrams has an 'element number' and 'period number'. You will find them on the rings of a San Yuan Luo Pan. These rings are very important and the 'key' in San Yuan Xuan Kong Feng Shui applications. The 'key' will unlock the secrets to release the 'treasure'.

The application of the Xuan Kong Da Gua rings is the 'key' to make one an outstanding Feng Shui master and a class above others. The Xuan Kong Da Gua rings on the Luo Pan are proven knowledge of authentic Feng Shui applications; by knowing how to apply this information, one's skills will be ascertained.

San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection 三元玄空大卦择日

So what is the San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection method, and why is this such an important area of knowledge for all of those practising the San Yuan Feng Shui system?

Xuan Kong Da Gua refers to the 64 Hexagrams which is the same as the Yi Jing Hexagrams. Within these 64 Hexagrams, there are hidden secrets and for centuries the Chinese has been using these secrets for various applications.

The study of this Chinese text is very profound as there are many layers of information within the same text. Unless and until someone who knows reveals the hidden secrets to you; you may not be able to access the coded information. This is how profound the written Chinese text is.

In Xuan Kong Da Gua, each of the 64 Hexagrams has an 'element number' and 'period number'. You will find them on the rings of a San Yuan Luo Pan. These rings are very important and the 'key' in San Yuan Xuan Kong Feng Shui applications. The 'key' will unlock the secrets to release the 'treasure'.

How important is Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection?

Many Feng Shui practitioners know how to read Feng Shui, do audits, offer changes, but somehow they may not get the desired results after the changes are made. This is due to the incompatible method of Date Selection applied. In Xuan Kong Feng Shui, one must use the Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection method to obtain the desired results.

Do you know that Moving Into a New House and Opening of Business on the Wrong Date will affect a house Feng Shui? The bad effect will stayed with you until the day you shifted out.

The application of the Xuan Kong Da Gua rings is the 'key' to make one an outstanding Feng Shui master and a class above others. The Xuan Kong Da Gua rings on the Luo Pan are proven knowledge of authentic Feng Shui applications; by knowing how to apply this information, one's skills will be ascertained.

In a nutshell, Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection is the access 'key' to integrate the Heaven Qi and the Earth Qi to enhance the Human Qi to obtain results in the practice of San Yuan Xuan Kong Feng Shui.

The application of Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection method will assist us in taking advantage of time and space to enhance prosperous, harmonious and healthy living.

San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection - Competency Test

Myth: San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection is so easy: just know the facing of the unit, refer to a calendar, "match" the numbers, and I will have a perfect date.....


Truth: REALLY? That simple? 


To be competent in the San Yuan Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection method, you MUST know the answers to all of the following questions. Test your competence level now!





Which of these four numbers belong to Yang Element in XKDG date selection? 
(i) 9, 4, 3, 8 or (ii) 1, 3, 7, 9




What is Gua Qi (卦氣) and Gua Yun (卦運)?




What is the differences between the combo of 10 (合十) in the Gua Qi (卦氣) and Gua Yun (卦運)?




Why combo of 5 (合五), 10 (合十) and 15 (合十五) does not belong Earth Element?




Why there is no He Tu combination of 1-6, 2-7, 3-8 and 4-9 in the period combination? And, why there is no special combo of 1-3, 2-4, 6-8 and 7-9 in the Gua Qi (卦氣)?




Which of this decide the time factor?
Gua Qi (卦氣) or Gua Yun (卦運)?




What is San Ban Gua ( 三般卦) in XKDG date selection?




What is a Good San Sha day and what is a Bad San Sha day (三煞日)? How to apply it correctly to prevent bad influences?




Why is it by selecting date on the same day, one became a San Sha day (三煞日) while the other is not?




What is the main factor in XKDG date selection? Heaven, Earth or Man?




What is "Heaven" and what is "Earth" in XKDG date selection?




What sort of Date can last for Three Yuan 180 years (三元不敗局)?




How to determine a Man's Gua Element in XKDG? by Day or by Year?




How to use the "Special Secret Combo" of 1-3, 2-4, 6-8 and 7-9 in XKDG date selection?




Why is it by knowing Xuan Kong Flying Star alone is not sufficient to choose an auspicious day in XKDG date selection?




Why certain dates you'd chosen, only gain auspiciousness in Relationship but not Wealth?




Why certain dates you'd chosen, only gain auspiciousness in Health but not Business?




How to determine a House Sitting in XKDG date selection? 24 mountains? 64 Hexagrams? Or the 8 directions in the Later Heaven Ba Gua?




Are there any San Sha (三煞) sectors in the 24 mountains of Gen (艮) Xun (巽) Kun (坤) and Qian (乾)? 




Are there any Tai Sui (太歲) sectors in the 24 mountains of the heavenly stems?




Which is the stronger month for San Sha (三煞) when it falls to the South sector?




Tai sui (太歲) cover the area of 45°? 22.5° ? or 15°?




Which is the best month you should choose when a house is sitting at the Northeast sector of Chou (丑)?




What is the relationship within Heaven, Earth and Man in XKDG date selection?




Gen Yin (庚寅甲子) has two Hexagrams of 4/2 and 3/1. Which Hexagram should we apply in the date selection?




Why produce out and control out can still be considered as a good day?




Why some "Pure Gua" days are considered as an inauspicious Day?




What is Ling Shen (零神) and Zhen Shen (正神) in XKDG date selection?




What is Seven Stars Robbery (七星打劫秘法) in XKDG date selection?




What is In-Gua and Out-Gua in XKDG date selection?

History of Kan Yu - 堪 舆 历 史

This is an article that presents the academic research perspective of the history of Kan Yu (or Feng Shui in modern terms), with citation from the different ancient classics.

This article is reproduced with the kind permission of Yi Min of Aura Feng Shui based in China, who produce this fabulous research masterpiece. I decided to showcase the original form, and not my translated version, as I don't think I will be able to reproduce the brilliance of this piece of excellent work in my humble opinion.
    

堪 舆 历 史

                                          

 　　东汉初，班固《汉书·艺文志第十》中，始见载堪舆术专著，有谓"《堪舆金匮》十四卷"，与言阴阳五行、时令日辰、灾应诸书同列"五行家"类，为当时"数术"六种之一。 

　　班固评五行家之流："其法亦起五德终始，推其极则无不至，而小数家因此以为吉凶，而行于世，浸以相乱"。又在《数术略》末总说云："数术者，皆明堂羲和史卜之职也"。窥其意， 

　　《堪舆金匮》作为其时堪舆家专著之一，奥旨不外与《史记》所述者同。 

据《后汉书·王景传》载，与班团同时代的水利专家王景，曾"以六经所载皆有卜筮，作事举止质于蓍龟，而众书杂糅，吉凶相反，乃参纪众家数术文书，冢宅禁忌、堪舆日相之属，适于事用者，集为《大衍玄基》。" 

由此可见，堪舆之术确如司马迁和班固评述，乃由汉以前占卜之术传承分化而来。 

　　堪舆一词的释义，东汉许慎曾谓："堪，天道；舆，地道"  测堪舆是谓天地之道。许慎此语，出自唐代初颜师古引注《汉书·艺文志》之"《堪舆金匮》十四卷"条下。 

　 　稍后，李善注《文选》中扬雄《甘泉赋》"堪舆"之句也引了许慎此语。在许慎的《说文解字》中，说"堪，地突也"，"舆，车舆也"，并没有"堪舆"一词的 联绵解释。颜师古和李善所引许慎语，很可能是出自唐初尚传世未佚的许慎注《淮南子》所涉"堪舆"句（参见《隋书·经籍志》）。而综观《淮南子》、《史 记》、《甘泉赋》、《汉书·艺文志》所涉"堪舆"，解释为天地之道，是说得通的。 

　　许慎之后，有郑玄 注《周礼》，提及堪舆，是术书之名。其解《春官宗伯第三 》所云"保章氏，掌天星，以志星辰、日月之变动，以观天下之迁，辨其吉凶。以星土辨九州之地所封，封域皆有分星，以观妖祥"， 注谓："星土，星所主封也；封，犹界也。大界则曰九州，州中诸国中之封域，于星亦有分焉，其书亡矣。《堪舆》虽有郡国所入度，非古数也。今其存可言者，十 二次之分也。星纪，吴越也；玄枵，齐也；娜訾，卫也；降娄，鲁也；大梁，赵也、实沈，晋也；鹑首，秦也；鹑火，周也；鹑尾，楚也；寿星，郑也；大火，宋 也；析木，燕也。此分野之妖祥，主用客星、慧孛之气为象。" 

按郑玄说，汉以前即有《堪舆晰书》，后代所作《堪舆》以十二次论分 野，尚存可言古者。郑说后出《堪舆》，即或班固谓堪舆家之《堪舆金匮》。而其术尚宗古代占星之法，即将木星或谓岁星十二年运行一周天的轨道，等分为十二， 称之十二次，又对应于地上之郡国，即所谓分野，视各天区星象变异而预兆对应地域世道吉凶。 

　　盛行于汉代

　　从有关史实看，堪舆术在汉代甚为流行，占卜日辰吉凶是其主要内容，多属无稽迷信。对此，当时的有识之士，曾予非议或批判。如东汉王充《论衡·讥日篇》曾指出，其时流行于世的"《堪舆历》，历上诸神非一，圣人不言，诸子不传，殆无其实。" 

　　汉末应动《风俗通》提到，其时"《堪舆》书云：上朔会客必有斗争。"应助以事实批驳此说荒谬："按，刘君阳为南阳牧，尝上朔盛撰，了无斗者。" 

　　后至三国时，魏人张晏曾有释义云："堪舆，天地总名。"语出颜师古引注《汉书·扬雄传》之《甘泉赋》，也出李善引注《文选》中扬雄《甘泉赋》"堪舆"句。此说与许慎释堪舆为天地之道稍有出入而已， 

　

　　综观《淮南子》、《甘泉赋》、《日者传》、《堪舆金匾》、《后汉书·王景传》各所涉堪舆之语，及郑玄、王充、应劭等提及的《堪舆》，以此解释，也是说得通的。 

　　堪舆一词释义与相度风水直接联系，就目前所知，最早出自三国时魏人孟康。曾谓："堪舆，神名，造《图宅书》者。"见于颜师古注《汉书·扬雄传》中《甘泉赋》"堪舆"句所引述者。 

　　唐代有所发展

　　《旧唐书·吕才传》载，唐初，吕才钦遵唐大宗命，对世传风水术书加以刊正，"削其浅俗，存其可用者"。 

　 　吕才并将各类风水术书"多以典故质正"，对其中讹伪、穿凿及无稽拘忌者，每每痛加批判。其叙《宅经》云："至于近代巫师，更加五姓之说。言五姓者，宫、 商、角、徵、羽等，天下万物，悉配属之，行事吉凶，依此为法。"然而"验于经籍，本无斯说；阴阳诸书，亦无此语；直是野俗口传，竟无所出之处；唯按《堪舆 经》黄帝对于天老，乃有五姓之说"，又引例论证，谓此五姓之说"事不稽古，义理乘僻"。 

　　吕才所谓出 自《堪舆经》的五姓之说，即五音姓利之说，东汉王充《论衡·诘术篇》，就对出自其时《图宅术》的此说进行了猛烈批判。依王充引；"《图宅术》曰：宅有八 术，以六甲之名，数而第之。第定名立，宫商殊别。宅有五音，姓有五声。宅不宜其姓，姓与宅相贼（按：贼，即克）测疾病、死亡、犯罪、遇祸"。又引："《图 宅术》曰：商家门不宜南向，徵家门不宜北向。则商金，南方火也；徵火，北方水也；水胜火，火贼金，五行之气不相得。故五姓之宅，门有宜向，向得其宜，富贵 吉昌；向失其宜，贫贱衰耗"云云。可见，唐传《堪舆经》为汉时《图宅术》一脉传承，十分明显。 

　　堪舆 家以干支相配而论日辰吉凶，事实上早见于王充《论衡·洁术篇》及《难岁篇》所引《图宅术》之类。其以六甲，即甲子、甲寅、甲辰、甲午、甲申、甲戌"数而第 之"以宅，主论其吉凶，又拘忌于建除之法，谓移徙、起宅、嫁娶等，皆不得抵太岁、负太岁，即回避太岁所行至地支方位及日辰，否则凶，名曰"岁下"、"岁 破"。对如是诸说，王充予以了无情批判，一如其批判堪舆家之五音姓利说。而由王充所引测知术家自谓其说皆"自天地神也，"且皆稽"于五行之象"，以"决吉 凶而已"。 

　　综观汉唐以来各说，堪舆家在当时所为，也确有看风水之内容，即图宅，有论宅之方位、起宅 时辰吉凶诸说。而其作为占家，"法天地、象四时"，"起五德终始，推其极而无不至"，"然后言天地之利害，事之成败"，所以娶妇择时，竟然也有堪舆家之流 参予其事。这中间，如王充、吕才所尖锐批判的五音姓利诸说，事属无稽拘忌，纯系迷信。但另一方面，也可看到，堪舆家注重天、地、人诸多神秘契合关系的考 究，也未尝没有合理成份。 

　　同时，皆讲究以五音姓利而相宅，分野、建除之说也传承不辍。但在唐初，魏 征等奉敕撰《隋书·经籍志》，列南朝及隋代堪舆术书入五行者类，作"堪舆"为"堪余"，凡十三种二十七卷，如《二仪历头堪余》、《四序堪余》、《八会堪 余》、《地节堪余》等等。孰谓"堪余"？以吕才、贾公彦等人仍称堪舆，以及堪余诸书见载《旧唐书·经籍志》、《新唐书·艺文志》者，皆复称堪舆，推论之， 当为一时音变，或如吕才等引《堪舆经》，可能适为汉时《堪舆金匮》，书同音近。 

　　明清有所衰弱

　　唐以后直至明清，堪舆之名再无改异，但其术内容却有了变化，有存有废。 

　 　堪舆家之五音姓利说，虽屡遭批判，但因世俗迷信，吕才之后，尚有僧一行撰《五音地理新书》三十卷，依南宋晁公武《读书后志》云，仍主五音姓利说。一行之 说在宋仁宗命王洙编纂《地理新书》为地理官书之前，极为流行，北宋皇室一再据其说择陵地。考为晚唐之作的敦煌《相阴阳宅书》残卷，宋初钦天监杨惟德撰进给 宋仁宗的《茔原总录》，以及见载《宋史·艺文志》的诸多风水书，如《五音地理诗》、《五音地理经决》、《五音三元宅经》、《五姓合诸家风水地理》，等等， 皆涉及五音姓利说。 

　　嗣后在风水衍为"形势宗"与"理气宗"两大宗的分野之中，理气宗之术书，仍多言阴阳五行生克及吉凶祸福之拘忌，五音姓利说亦在其中。理气宗为汉时堪舆家流的苗裔，也由此明显反映出来。 

　　风水建筑是中国传统建筑的一部分，它把生态学、美学、心理学、哲学、地理学等融入建筑中，在某种程度上实现了人与环境的和谐发展，突出了人类应该尊重环境的思想。风水建筑中的科学理论和超前的环境意识，对建筑行业的发展具有深远的意义。

He-Tu Formation 河图

[河出图，洛出书，圣人则之]

Legend has it that the He-Tu Formation （河图）was derived by Fu Xi, who observed unique patterns of spots off the back of a mythical creature called a Dragon Horse （龙马） that emerged from the Yellow River （黄河）.

By use of numbers to represent the spot formations, in evaluating the arrangements of the He-Tu Formation;

- 1 and 6 is at the North, representing the Water element [一六共宗，属水，位居北方]

- 2 and 7 is at the South, representing the Fire Element [二七同道，属火，位居南方]

- 3 and 8 is at the East, representing the Wood Element [三八为朋，属木，位居东方]

- 4 and 9 is at the West, representing the Metal Element [四九作友，属金，位居西方]

- 5 and 9 is at the Centre, representing the Earth Element [五十同途，属图，位居中央]

Elemental Interaction

There is a Cycle of Birth relationship between the Five Elements （五行）, where Water gives birth to Wood, Wood gives birth to Fire, Fire gives birth to Earth, Earth gives birth to Metal, and Metal in turn gives birth to Water to complete the Cycle of Birth. (Note: the "Elements" should not be interpreted in the literal sense)

 

Numberology

孔子云：“ [天以一生水，而地六成之； 地以二生火，而天以七成之； 天以三生木， 而地以八成之； 地以四生金， 而天以九成之； 天以五成土， 而地以十成之。]

The odd numbers or 奇数 are Yang numbers and are also known as 天数, while the even numbers or 偶数 as Yin are also known as 地数. Within each of the combinations, there is a 天数 and a 地数, and hence there is balance of Yin and Yang.

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the base numbers and are known as 生数, while the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are the resulting numbers and are known as 成数. Within each of the combinations, there is a 生数 and a 成数. We can see that within the combinations, the subtraction of the 生数 from the 成 数 will always equate to 5, which is in turn called the 小成.

From the perspective of adding the numbers across the cardinal directions and ignoring the centre, there is a combination of 20 （合二十）,  i.e. 3+8+2+7 = 20, and 1+6+4+9 = 20. From a different perspective, adding up all the odd numbers (1+3+7+9) and adding up all the even numbers (2+4+6+8) will both yield 20 as well. (5 and 10 not taken into consideration here)

Applications

From the perspectives of Yin Yang and Elemental Interaction, we can see that the He-Tu depicts a state of harmony which is conducive to "birth". The combinations of the Heavenly Stems （天干）, which will be covered in a later posting, also follows the relationships of the He-Tu Formation.

The He-Tu Formation is closely related to the Early Heaven Ba Gua arrangement （先天八卦）, which has its applications in the San Yuan （三元） systems of Xuan Kong Da Gua Feng Shui （玄空大卦风水） and Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection （玄空大卦择日）.

Point to ponder - since Fire and Water, as well as Metal and Wood are opposite each other, wouldn't they clash? Or are they complementary and in harmony?