New to the subject
Map the traditions, then learn shared concepts.
Traditional Knowledge Learning Center
Start with a question, understand the concept, then read a diagram or make a record. Follow a path or go straight to a topic.
Choose a reading path
Read a compass and a plan
Define the object and north reference before sectors and plates.
- Sitting, facing and doorway direction
- Magnetic north, true north and map orientation
- Phone compass drift and uncertainty
- 24 mountains and angular sectors
- Distinguishing the three compass plates
- Read a plan and record openings and bearings
Read classics and almanacs
Clarify diagrams, time and terms before consulting sources.
Continue with BaZi, Liuyao and Ziwei
Clarify inputs and references before comparing methods.
- How should I compare two conflicting charts?
- How should month command and strength be understood?
- What should a casting record contain?
- How are relationship labels derived from the palace phase?
- What do the twelve palaces describe?
- How do I locate Sanfang Sizheng on a chart?
- How do wealth position, Wealth star, Wealth line and Wealth palace differ?
Browse by topic
Browse the encyclopediaShared foundationsUnderstand relations and numbering before their use in each tradition.
- Yin–yang: relations and context
- Why five phases are not just materials
- Reading production and control
- Ten stems and twelve branches
- How the sexagenary cycle works
- Solar terms and lunar months
- What do Gregorian, lunisolar and stem-branch dates record?
- Are double-hours, time zones and apparent solar time interchangeable?
- How should I compare two conflicting charts?
- How should combinations, clashes, penalties and harms be read in context?
Zhouyi and line patternsIdentify text layers and read line patterns in order.
- Zhouyi, Yijing and Yixue
- Eight trigram names and patterns
- Earlier- and later-heaven trigrams
- How do upper and lower trigrams form 64 hexagrams?
- Read six lines from the bottom
- How do judgments, line statements and later commentary differ?
- How do the original hexagram, moving lines and resulting hexagram relate?
- What do philosophical and image-number approaches examine?
- How do Hetu, Luoshu and the nine palaces differ?
- How should I verify a sourced explanation of a hexagram?
Compass and spaceRelate traditional names to bearings, plans and observations.
- Form, direction and feng shui
- 24 mountains and angular sectors
- Sitting, facing and doorway direction
- Magnetic north, true north and map orientation
- Phone compass drift and uncertainty
- Distinguishing the three compass plates
- Inputs for Eight Mansions, Sanhe and Xuankong
- Road alignment, reverse bow, sharp corner and narrow gap
- Read a plan and record openings and bearings
- Why sha classifications overlap
Four-pillar basicsClarify time inputs and the day-master reference first.
- What the four pillars record
- Why specify year and month pillar boundaries?
- Why ten gods use the day master
- How do phase relations and polarity produce Ten Gods?
- What are hidden stems in branches?
- How should month command and strength be understood?
- Why can pattern and strength not be read from one character?
- Do Yongshen, Xishen and Jishen have universal meanings?
- How do major cycles, annual layers and the natal chart differ?
- Are Nayin, symbolic stars and Ten Gods the same classification?
Liuyao NajiaStart with raw casting records, then read palaces, relationships and Shi/Ying.
- How do six line positions differ from the Liuyao method?
- What should a casting record contain?
- What do palace classification and Najia each do?
- How are Shi and Ying positions located?
- How are relationship labels derived from the palace phase?
- Why does the selected Yongshen depend on the question?
- Do a moving line and its changed line share a position?
- What conditions do month and day provide?
- How do Six Spirits differ from Six Relations?
- Can a home-related casting replace site measurement?
Ziwei DoushuSeparate palaces, stars, transformations and time layers from floor plans.
- What inputs does a Ziwei chart require?
- How do Ming and Shen palaces differ?
- What do the twelve palaces describe?
- How should principal and auxiliary stars be studied?
- What are the four transformations Lu, Quan, Ke and Ji?
- How do I locate Sanfang Sizheng on a chart?
- How do decade periods, annual layers and the natal chart differ?
- Is the Property palace a home’s feng shui plan?
- What should I check when Ziwei apps disagree?
- Are Ziwei stars real-time astronomical positions?
Date selection and sourcesStart with the activity and calendar assumptions, then check editions.
- Date selection versus reading a calendar
- What are the twelve officers?
- Why do almanacs disagree about suitable activities?
- Entering a home, moving and yixi
- How do renovation, construction ground-breaking and burial ground-breaking differ?
- How do Tai Sui, Sui Po and San Sha use time and direction?
- Starting with Xieji Bianfang Shu
- How should terms and editions in old texts be checked?
- Why is one almanac label insufficient?
- How should dates, directions and participant details be recorded?
Traditions and terminologyThe same word can mean different things; identify its reference.
- What feng shui, Bazi, Liuyao and Ziwei examine
- How can BaZi and Ziwei be compared without mixing rules?
- Why yongshen differs in Bazi and Liuyao
- How do BaZi Ten Gods relate to Liuyao relationships?
- Is a personal gua the same as Bazi?
- How do flying stars differ from Ziwei stars?
- 24 mountains versus 24 solar terms
- Do not mix form sha, directional sha and Seven Killings
- How do wealth position, Wealth star, Wealth line and Wealth palace differ?
- Choose a path for your question