Most people with some knowledge of Feng Shui will have heard of Personal 8 Mansions or Ming Gua. It is the most talked about of the two 8 Mansions Methods and categorises each person as either East Group or West Group.

This is further fine-tuned by a Gua number (a number between 1 and 9) based on birth date and whether they are male or female. East Group Gua are 1, 3, 4 and 9. West Group Gua are 2, 5*, 6, 7 and 8.

5* is treated differently. In the original Luo Shu Grid the number 5 Earth Star was placed in the central palace. As this has no place directly in the 8 Mansions system any person who has this number based on their birth date takes the following alternative Earth Stars.

*Male with Gua 5 receives Gua 2 energy

*Female with Gua 5 receives Gua 8 energy

Four good and four bad personal directions are attributable to each Gua.

The Gua numbers have a set place around the compass based on the original Luo Shu Grid as well as an associated element:

Gua Numbers
1	North	Water
2	South West	Earth
3	East	Wood
4	South East	Wood
6	North West	Metal
7	West	Metal
8	North East	Earth
9	South	Fire
The Special Gua '5'
5 Male	Use South West	Earth
5 Female	Use North East	Earth

Personal Gua Numbers And Directions

Gua Number Good Directions

Gua	Life Generating	Heavenly Doctor	Longevity	Stability
	Sheng Qi	Tian Yi	Yan Nian	Fu Wei
1	South East	East	South	North
2	North East	West	North West	South West
3	South	North	South East	East
4	North	South	East	South East
5 Male use 2	North East	West	North West	South West
5 Female use 8	South West	North West	West	North East
6	West	North East	South West	North West
7	North West	South West	North East	West
8	South West	North West	West	North East
9	East	South East	North	South

Gua Number Bad Directions

Gua	Bad Luck	Five Ghosts	Six Killings	Total Loss
	Huo Hai	Wu Gui	Liu Sha	Jue Ming
1	West	North East	North West	South West
2	East	South East	South	North
3	South West	North West	North East	West
4	North West	South West	West	North East
5 Male use 2	East	South East	South	North
5 Female use 8	South	North	East	South East
6	South East	East	North	South
7	North	South	South East	East
8	South	North	East	South East
9	North East	West	South West	North West

The simplistic view of Personal 8 Mansions is that if you face one of your good directions and avoid one of your bad directions things will work out and by knowing your Gua number and the location it occupies around the compass you can use that location when you work and play.

In reality it is a little more complicated. Those with Gua number 1 for example. The location for 1 is the North yet in the above list North is only the fourth best direction for Gua 1. It would be helpful to them but not in every circumstance.

What would Gua 1 do if their main door was located in Jue Ming location? Move house or change office? This is where 8 Mansions Home comes in.

8 Mansions Personal Attributes

Personal Gua Numbers And Directions

Gua Number Good Directions

Gua Number Bad Directions