Feng shui
The bagua map, your kua number, and an honest line between the metaphysics and the design advice.
Your kua number
The traditional formula uses two variants split by gender. It is part of the system as recorded, not an editorial choice here.
The bagua
| Area | Direction | Element | Colours | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and path | North | Water | Black, deep blue | 1 |
| Knowledge and self-cultivation | North-east | Earth | Blue, green | 8 |
| Family and health | East | Wood | Green | 3 |
| Wealth and abundance | South-east | Wood | Purple, gold | 4 |
| Fame and reputation | South | Fire | Red | 9 |
| Love and relationships | South-west | Earth | Pink, red | 2 |
| Children and creativity | West | Metal | White, pastels | 7 |
| Helpful people and travel | North-west | Metal | Grey, silver | 6 |
| Health and balance | Centre | Earth | Yellow, earth tones | 5 |
Classical feng shui orients the grid by compass. The Western BTB school aligns it to the front door instead — the two schools disagree, and neither is a corruption of the other.
The part that works regardless
Strip out the qi and a lot of feng shui is competent interior design. Sit where you can see the door — people are demonstrably more relaxed facing an entrance. Keep circulation paths clear. Do not put the bed under a heavy beam or a window. Get light into a room. Reduce clutter.
None of that needs energy flow to be true. It is why feng shui advice often improves a room even for people who think the metaphysics is nonsense — and why the two halves are worth keeping apart.