八卦, eight trigrams
The Bagua and the Eight Life Areas
Eight three-line symbols, each governing a life area when laid over a space.
The life areas
What sits where
- North, 坎. Career and path. Water.
- Northeast, 艮. Knowledge and self-cultivation.
- East, 震. Family and health. Wood.
- Southeast, 巽. Wealth and abundance.
- South, 離. Fame and reputation. Fire.
- Southwest, 坤. Love and relationships.
- West, 兌. Children and creativity. Metal.
- Northwest, 乾. Helpful people and travel.
Two ways to place it
Compass or three-door
The classical compass bagua pins these areas to true compass directions, measured with a compass. The modern Western three-door bagua ignores the compass and aligns the map to the wall with the front door. Both are used; the three-door version is a twentieth-century adaptation, not ancient practice, and it is honest to say which one a map uses.
Keep exploring
More of the Feng Shui hub
Feng Shui, the hubThe Five PhasesYin and YangThe Eight DirectionsThe Compass and 24 MountainsThe SchoolsFlying StarsYour Kua NumberMonks and LineageFeng Shui and Your AnimalThe BedroomThe Commanding PositionThe Front DoorFeng Shui ColorsThe Office and DeskOffice Feng Shui, the clusterThe Wealth Corner
See how this shapes your own space in the Habitat, or find your animal on the Oracle.