Your Kua number (卦數, guà shù) is the numerical key to personalised feng shui — the number that determines your four auspicious and four inauspicious compass directions based on your birth year and gender. It is the foundation of the Eight Mansions method (八宅派, Bāzhái Pài), one of the two major classical feng shui systems alongside Flying Star feng shui. As Master Yap Tian Xuan, I use Kua number analysis in every residential consultation to determine the ideal positions for beds, desks, and the main entrance, and to identify which orientations to avoid. This article explains how to calculate your Kua number, what it means, and how to apply it practically.
How to Calculate Your Kua Number
The Kua number is calculated from the last two digits of your birth year in the Gregorian calendar, adjusted for gender. Because the Chinese New Year falls between late January and mid-February, if you were born in January or before the Chinese New Year in February, use the previous year for your calculation.
For Men (Born 1900–1999)
- Take the last two digits of your birth year
- Add the individual digits together; if the result is two digits, add again until you have a single digit
- Subtract that number from 10
- The result is your Kua number
Example: Born 1975 → 7 + 5 = 12 → 1 + 2 = 3 → 10 − 3 = Kua 7
For men born 2000 or later: Sum the last two digits of the birth year to a single digit, then subtract from 9.
For Women (Born 1900–1999)
- Take the last two digits of your birth year
- Add the individual digits together to a single digit
- Add 5 to that number; if the result is two digits, add again to get a single digit
- The result is your Kua number
Example: Born 1982 → 8 + 2 = 10 → 1 + 0 = 1 → 1 + 5 = Kua 6
For women born 2000 or later: Sum the last two digits to a single digit, then add 6.
Important: Kua 5
Kua 5 is not a usable number in Eight Mansions analysis. Men with a calculated result of 5 use Kua 2; women with a calculated result of 5 use Kua 8.
East Group and West Group
The nine Kua numbers divide into two groups that are fundamental to how Eight Mansions feng shui works:
| Group | Kua Numbers |
|---|---|
| East Group (東四命, Dōng Sì Mìng) | 1, 3, 4, 9 |
| West Group (西四命, Xī Sì Mìng) | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
East Group people have their four auspicious directions in the east sector of the compass (North, South, East, Southeast) and their four inauspicious directions in the west sector (West, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest) — and vice versa for West Group people. This is why an East Group person should not sleep with their head pointing West or sit facing Northwest: these are their worst directions.
For maximum benefit, the house you live in should ideally be an East Group or West Group property that matches your personal group — meaning the property’s auspicious sectors align with your personal auspicious directions.
Your Eight Directions
Every Kua number produces eight directional qualities — four auspicious and four inauspicious:
The Four Auspicious Directions
Sheng Qi (生氣) — Vitality / Best Direction The most powerful of the four auspicious directions. Facing your Sheng Qi direction while working, sitting at a desk, or sitting at the dining table activates career opportunities, wealth potential, and overall vitality. This is also the direction you want the main door of your home to face if possible.
Tian Yi (天醫) — Heavenly Doctor / Health Your health direction. This is the ideal position for your bed — sleep with the top of your head pointing in your Tian Yi direction for restorative rest and protection from illness. It is also beneficial for those recovering from health challenges.
Yan Nian (延年) — Longevity / Relationships Your relationship and longevity direction. This direction supports harmonious relationships, marital happiness, and long-term stability. Good for the bed position if Tian Yi is not available, and for couples to face each other during important conversations.
Fu Wei (伏位) — Stability / Personal Growth The mildest of the four auspicious directions. It supports personal development, steady progress, and a sense of groundedness. Good as a facing direction for study or meditation.
The Four Inauspicious Directions
Huo Hai (禍害) — Accidents / Minor Misfortune The mildest of the four inauspicious directions. Activating this direction produces minor setbacks, mishaps, and obstacles — nothing catastrophic, but a consistent drain on energy and momentum.
Wu Gui (五鬼) — Five Ghosts / Interference Associated with backstabbing, interference from others, difficulty in communication, and recurring irritations. Avoid placing your main door, bed, or desk facing this direction.
Liu Sha (六煞) — Six Killings / Harmful Relationships Produces relationship difficulties, health challenges, and situations where trust is broken. One of the more serious inauspicious directions.
Jue Ming (絕命) — Life Severance / Worst Direction The most inauspicious of the eight. Consistent activation of this direction — through the main door orientation, the position of the bed, or the desk facing direction — is associated with severe health decline, financial loss, and relationship breakdown. Every effort should be made to avoid this direction for sleeping and working positions.
Kua Numbers and Their Auspicious Directions
| Kua | Group | Sheng Qi | Tian Yi | Yan Nian | Fu Wei | Huo Hai | Wu Gui | Liu Sha | Jue Ming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East | SE | E | S | N | W | NE | NW | SW |
| 2 | West | NE | W | NW | SW | E | SE | S | N |
| 3 | East | S | N | SE | E | SW | NW | NE | W |
| 4 | East | N | S | E | SE | NW | SW | W | NE |
| 6 | West | W | NE | SW | NW | SE | E | N | S |
| 7 | West | NW | SW | NE | W | N | S | SE | E |
| 8 | West | SW | NW | W | NE | S | N | E | SE |
| 9 | East | E | SE | N | S | NE | W | SW | NW |
How to Apply Your Kua Number
Sleeping position: Position your bed so the top of your head points toward your Tian Yi (health) direction while you sleep. This is the most consistent and impactful application of Kua number feng shui in daily life.
Working position: Face your Sheng Qi direction while sitting at your desk. If this is not possible due to room constraints, face your Tian Yi or Yan Nian direction instead.
Main door orientation: When selecting a property, look for a main entrance that faces your Sheng Qi or Tian Yi direction. This energises the entire household with your best personal qi from the moment you enter.
Avoid your Jue Ming and Liu Sha: These are the directions worth most carefully avoiding for sleeping and sitting positions. If your current bedroom setup has you sleeping with your head in your Jue Ming direction, correcting this is a high priority.
Kua Number and Flying Star Feng Shui
Eight Mansions (Kua number) feng shui and Flying Star feng shui are complementary, not competing, systems. In a full classical feng shui consultation, I use both together: the flying star chart of the building identifies which sectors are energetically active and in what way, while the Kua numbers of the occupants identify which of those sectors are personally most beneficial or harmful. The intersection of these two analyses produces specific, highly personalised recommendations that cannot be derived from either system alone.
To understand feng shui numbers more broadly — including the nine flying stars and cultural numerology — read our feng shui number guide. For a full personalised assessment, a professional feng shui consultation will provide analysis that goes well beyond what any calculator can offer.
