Nine Stars, Eight Gates & Layout Methods

The Sanyuan Jing says: Tianfu (Celestial Assistant), Tianqin (Celestial Bird), and Tianxin (Celestial Heart) are the supreme auspicious stars. Tianchong (Celestial Charge) and Tianren (Celestial Benevolence) are the next auspicious — one must understand this principle. Greatly inauspicious are Tianpeng (Celestial Canopy) and Tianrui (Celestial Fragrance). Slightly inauspicious are Tianzhu (Celestial Pillar) and Tianying (Celestial Brilliance). Further consider the five-phase flourishing and vigorous qi — the weight of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness naturally divides itself. Greatly inauspicious in flourishing phase becomes only slightly inauspicious; slightly inauspicious in flourishing phase is rated as neutral. Auspicious stars in flourishing phase are incomparably auspicious; yet if they lack qi, they are also merely neutral. Even auspicious lodges require encountering flourishing and vigor; if they encounter rest, imprisonment, waste, and sinking, they likewise cannot be used.

Tianpeng (Celestial Canopy), zi-name Qin: suitable for pacifying borders and constructing fortifications. In spring and summer, commanding troops brings great victory; in autumn and winter, it is inauspicious — soldiers are lost. Benefits the host, not the guest. Marriage: inauspicious for both parties. Moving house, fires, conflicts, bloodshed, entering official compounds, fire-theft, constructing palace rooms, commerce — all inauspicious. The poem says: 'In litigation and court disputes, encountering Tianpeng — victory, triumph, and awesome power for ten thousand li. In spring and summer, using it brings great fortune; in autumn and winter, using it is most inauspicious. Marriage and distant travel yield small benefit; burial and construction also come to nothing. One must obtain Life Gate combined with Bing and Yi — then all affairs achieve flourishing glory.'

Tianrui (Celestial Fragrance), zi-name Cheng: suitable for honoring virtue and morality, making friends, and studying under teachers — auspicious. Not suitable for military use, marriage, litigation, moving house, or building. In autumn and winter: auspicious; in spring and summer: inauspicious. The poem says: 'Receiving the Way and forming bonds — this is the appropriate star. Traveling in the upright direction — this is hardest to discern. For travel and affairs, one should first retreat. Construction and burial bring calamity and punishment. Bandits cause panic; children suffer further. Inauspicious events and unexpected official troubles arise.'

Tianchong (Celestial Charge), zi-name Qu: suitable for going out and avenging wrongs. In spring and summer, military commanders achieve victory; in autumn and winter, no success. Not suitable for marriage, moving, entering office, building, ancestral worship, or commerce. The poem says: 'Even obtaining Wonder and Gate from this lodge — seeking auspicious matters yields only empty fame. Marriage and camp-making frighten women; all manner of affairs should be approached with hesitation. Travel and moving encounter obstacles; construction and burial are all unfavorable.'

Tianfu (Celestial Assistant), zi-name Xiang: suitable for nurturing the self, guarding the Way, establishing education, and repairing and managing affairs. Commanding troops in spring and summer brings victory, gaining territory of a thousand li. Marriage produces many descendants. Favorable for moving, entering office, construction, and maintenance — in spring and summer all bring joy. The poem says: 'Entering office and moving are both favorable. The Tianfu star is excellent for distant travel. Burial and construction add lasting blessings. Joy overflows; wealth enters; all affairs flourish.'

Tianqin (Celestial Bird), zi-name Gong: suitable for sacrificial worship, seeking blessings, and cutting off all calamities. Commanding troops: auspicious in all four seasons; a hundred blessings aid it. Without fighting, using strategy, the enemy fears and submits. Rewarding merit, bestowing titles, moving, entering office, ancestral worship, commerce, and marriage — all auspicious. The poem says: 'Tianqin is especially favorable for distant travel. Settled merchants and traveling traders alike find satisfaction. Visiting noble persons — both parties are fully gratified. Moreover, construction and burial both bring abundant success.'

Tianxin (Celestial Heart), zi-name Xiang: suitable for healing illness and compounding medicines. Commanding troops: victory in autumn and winter, gaining territory of a thousand li; in spring and summer, inauspicious. Not suitable for marriage, entering office, building, ancestral worship, or commerce [in spring/summer]; in autumn and winter: auspicious. Benefits the noble person, not the petty. The poem says: 'Seeking immortality and compounding medicines — see Tianxin. Commerce and travel bring renewed blessings. Moving and burial are both favorable. All affairs encountering it bring deep fortune and emolument.'

Tianzhu (Celestial Pillar), zi-name Zhong: suitable for confusing the enemy, self-fortification, and hiding traces. Commanding troops: carts are damaged and soldiers die. Not suitable for moving, entering office, or commerce. Suitable for marriage, construction, and sacrificial worship. The poem says: 'Tianzhu conceals form — guard carefully and uprightly. No need to go far out or be alarmed. All manner of plans bring benefit. Distant travel invites disaster and peril.'

Tianren (Celestial Benevolence), zi-name Zhang: suitable for paying visits and circulating wealth. Commanding troops: auspicious in all four seasons; ten thousand spirits aid it and the enemy submits of their own accord. Marriage produces many descendants. Entering office: auspicious. Moving and building: inauspicious. The poem says: 'Tianren — an auspicious lodge; all affairs succeed. Sacrificial worship, seeking office, and marriage are all alike. It cuts off and destroys all calamities in moving affairs. Commerce, construction, and burial bring repeated joy.'

Tianying (Celestial Brilliance), zi-name Wei: suitable for coming and going, distant travel, banqueting, and making merry — beneficial. Not suitable for marriage, deploying troops, moving, entering office, building, ancestral worship, or commerce. The poem says: 'The Tianying star — marriage is inauspicious. Distant travel and moving should not encounter it. Entering civil or military office — all suitable to depart. Commerce and seeking wealth are utterly empty.'