Bagua Map
Bagua (八卦, "eight trigrams") is an energy map overlaid on a floor plan of a home or individual room. Each of the eight sectors corresponds to a specific area of life. It's one of the key tools of feng shui basics — the practice of balancing space and letting qi flow freely.
The Eight Bagua Zones
| Zone | Direction | Element | Life Area | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kan | North | Water | Career and path | Black, dark blue |
| Gen | Northeast | Earth | Knowledge, wisdom | Beige, yellow |
| Zhen | East | Wood | Family, health | Green |
| Xun | Southeast | Wood | Prosperity, luck | Green, purple |
| Tai Ji | Center | Earth | Health, balance | Yellow, brown |
| Kun | Southwest | Earth | Love, partnership | Pink, red |
| Dui | West | Metal | Children, creativity | White, gold |
| Qian | Northwest | Metal | Helpers, travel | Gray, silver |
| Li | South | Fire | Fame, reputation | Red, orange |
How to Overlay Bagua on a Floor Plan
Compass Method
Determine the cardinal directions with a compass and align the corresponding Bagua zones with the actual directions of the space.
Three Gates Method (for beginners)
- Stand at the main entrance to the apartment or room, facing inward.
- The bottom of the Bagua map (Career, Knowledge, and Helpers zones) aligns with the wall where the entrance door is located.
- Divide the space into 9 equal sectors (3×3) and assign each the corresponding zone.
Activating Zones
Career (North)
Water — aquarium, small fountain, paintings with water. Color — black.
Prosperity (Southeast)
Live plants with rounded leaves, purple accents, fresh flowers.
Love (Southwest)
Paired objects (two candles, two crystals), pink and red tones, images of couples.
Fame (South)
Candles, bright lighting, diplomas and awards, triangular shapes, red color.
Family (East)
Live plants, wooden furniture, family photos, green color.
Children (West)
Metal decorative elements, white color, creative works, round shapes.
Knowledge (Northeast)
Books, crystals, a quiet place for meditation, yellow tones.
Helpers (Northwest)
Metal, gray color, images of mentors and patrons.
The character of each element in the zone table is covered in detail in "Five Elements of Feng Shui".
Important Notes
- The Prosperity zone should not be located in a bathroom or storage room — this is considered a "drain" of luck.
- The Love zone is not recommended for single figures or images of predatory animals.
- Cluttered zones "block" the corresponding area of life — clear clutter first of all.