TL;DR: According to Bát Trạch, the West is the Đoài cung, belonging to Tây tứ trạch, so it suits people with Tây tứ mệnh and is unfavorable for people with Đông tứ mệnh; specific good or bad depends on cung phi. The method based on ngũ hành (comparing the nạp âm element with the Kim element of the direction) gives different conclusions for some ages, and does not distinguish between male and female. You can look up your cung phi and the eight directions in the house direction tool, remember to enter the lunar year.
Who does the West direction suit?
According to Bát Trạch (the eight-mansion school of feng shui), the West is the Đoài palace and belongs to the Tây tứ trạch (West group). For people in the Tây tứ mệnh group (Khôn, Càn, Đoài, Cấn), the West is one of the four favourable directions, while for people in the Đông tứ mệnh group (Khảm, Chấn, Tốn, Ly) it is an unfavourable direction. Exactly how favourable or unfavourable depends on each person's cung phi (trigram number), as shown in the table below.
| Cung phi | Group | West direction is | Good or bad | Men born in | Women born in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khảm (1) | Đông tứ mệnh | Họa Hại | bad | 1954, 1963, 1972, 1981, 1990, 1999, 2008 | 1950, 1959, 1968, 1977, 1986, 1995, 2004 |
| Khôn (2) | Tây tứ mệnh | Thiên Y | good | 1950, 1953, 1959, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1977, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2007 | 1951, 1960, 1969, 1978, 1987, 1996, 2005 |
| Chấn (3) | Đông tứ mệnh | Tuyệt Mệnh | bad | 1952, 1961, 1970, 1979, 1988, 1997, 2006 | 1952, 1961, 1970, 1979, 1988, 1997, 2006 |
| Tốn (4) | Đông tứ mệnh | Lục Sát | bad | 1951, 1960, 1969, 1978, 1987, 1996, 2005 | 1953, 1962, 1971, 1980, 1989, 1998, 2007 |
| Càn (6) | Tây tứ mệnh | Sinh Khí | good | 1958, 1967, 1976, 1985, 1994, 2003 | 1955, 1964, 1973, 1982, 1991, 2000, 2009 |
| Đoài (7) | Tây tứ mệnh | Phục Vị | good | 1957, 1966, 1975, 1984, 1993, 2002 | 1956, 1965, 1974, 1983, 1992, 2001 |
| Cấn (8) | Tây tứ mệnh | Diên Niên | good | 1956, 1965, 1974, 1983, 1992, 2001 | 1954, 1957, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2008 |
| Ly (9) | Đông tứ mệnh | Ngũ Quỷ | bad | 1955, 1964, 1973, 1982, 1991, 2000, 2009 | 1958, 1967, 1976, 1985, 1994, 2003 |
This table is calculated for people born between 1950 and 2009, following the method used by the house direction tool on this site. If you were born outside that range, you can work it out yourself using the instructions below or use the tool.
How is cung phi calculated, and which year should you enter?
Cung phi (also called quái số or mệnh quái) is calculated from the last two digits of the birth year, added together and reduced to a single digit. For men born before 2000, subtract that number from 10; for men born from 2000 onward, subtract from 9. For women born before 2000, add 5 to that number; for women born from 2000 onward, add 6. The result is again reduced to a single digit.
Two important notes. First, the year used is the lunar year: someone born in January or February of the solar calendar before Tết counts as the previous year. Second, cung phi 5 has no trigram of its own; men are assigned to Khôn (2) and women to Cấn (8).
Đông tứ mệnh comprises Khảm (1), Chấn (3), Tốn (4) and Ly (9). Tây tứ mệnh comprises Khôn (2), Càn (6), Đoài (7) and Cấn (8).
You can go to the house direction tool to look up your own eight directions, and remember to enter the lunar year.
Why do the five elements method and the Bát Trạch method give two different conclusions?
Because the two methods measure two different things. Bát Trạch relies on cung phi, calculated from birth year and gender, then compares that cung phi with the eight du niên (the eight directional influences). The five elements method only compares the nạp âm element of the birth year (stem and branch) with the element of the direction, and does not distinguish between men and women. So a husband and wife of the same age can have different cung phi, and the same person can be praised by one method and criticised by the other.
A few examples of divergence, where the five elements say favourable but Bát Trạch says bad:
- Man born 1970 (Canh Tuất, Thoa Xuyến Kim, Metal element): cung phi Chấn (3), Đông tứ mệnh; the West is Tuyệt Mệnh (bad), while by the five elements Metal with Metal is the same element.
- Woman born 1971 (Tân Hợi, Thoa Xuyến Kim, Metal element): cung phi Tốn (4), Đông tứ mệnh; the West is Lục Sát (bad), while by the five elements Metal with Metal is the same element.
- Woman born 1976 (Bính Thìn, Sa Trung Thổ, Earth element): cung phi Ly (9), Đông tứ mệnh; the West is Ngũ Quỷ (bad), while by the five elements Earth with Metal is mutually generating.
- Woman born 1977 (Đinh Tỵ, Sa Trung Thổ, Earth element): cung phi Khảm (1), Đông tứ mệnh; the West is Họa Hại (bad), while by the five elements Earth with Metal is mutually generating.
A few examples of divergence, where the five elements say clashing but Bát Trạch says good:
- Woman born 1972 (Nhâm Tý, Tang Đố Mộc, Wood element): cung phi Cấn (8), Tây tứ mệnh; the West is Diên Niên (good), while by the five elements Wood with Metal is mutually clashing.
- Woman born 1973 (Quý Sửu, Tang Đố Mộc, Wood element): cung phi Càn (6), Tây tứ mệnh; the West is Sinh Khí (good), while by the five elements Wood with Metal is mutually clashing.
- Woman born 1978 (Mậu Ngọ, Thiên Thượng Hỏa, Fire element): cung phi Khôn (2), Tây tứ mệnh; the West is Thiên Y (good), while by the five elements Fire with Metal is mutually clashing.
- Man born 1980 (Canh Thân, Thạch Lựu Mộc, Wood element): cung phi Khôn (2), Tây tứ mệnh; the West is Thiên Y (good), while by the five elements Wood with Metal is mutually clashing.
When the two methods disagree, the site's tool follows Bát Trạch. This article does not judge which method is correct.
What kind of trạch is a West-facing house, judged by sitting or by facing?
This is where the books differ, so both sides need to be stated clearly. Bát Trạch Minh Kính names the trạch after the sitting side (the back of the house). A house sitting North and facing South is a Khảm trạch. A West-facing house sits East, that is, its sitting palace is Chấn, so it is called a Chấn trạch and belongs to Đông tứ trạch. With this direction, the sitting and the facing fall into two different groups: judged by facing, the West suits people in the Đoài group, while judged by sitting, this house suits people in the Chấn group.
The common approach today, and the one used by the site's tool, considers the house direction (the main door direction) against the eight du niên of the cung phi. For the four directions East, West, Southeast and Northwest, these two approaches give opposite groups; for North, South, Northeast and Southwest they coincide. Anyone judging the trạch by its sitting side will get the opposite group from the tool.
What element is the West, and is it yin or yang?
The West is the Đoài palace in the Hậu Thiên Bát Quái (Later Heaven Bagua) and belongs to Tây tứ trạch. By the five elements of the trigram, Đoài belongs to Metal. To be clear: Đoài is a yin trigram, and the Thuyết quái truyện calls Đoài the youngest daughter; the yang trigram belonging to Metal is Càn in the Northwest. So it is best to write simply: Đoài, Metal element.
Geographically, a West-facing house receives afternoon sunlight, the strongest sunlight of the day. If it is not handled skilfully, the airflow can be dry and hot, causing discomfort in daily life. With sensible adjustment, the West can still be a favourable direction.
What does the five elements method say about a West-facing house?
In this second method, the nạp âm element of the birth year is compared with the Metal element of the West. This method does not distinguish between men and women and does not use cung phi.
| Element | Five elements relationship with the West | Degree of compatibility | Remedy according to the five elements method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth | Earth generates Metal | Compatible | |
| Metal | Metal with Metal | Compatible | |
| Water | Water drains the energy of Metal | Loss of energy, fatigue | Strengthen the Earth element with yellow and earth-brown colours |
| Wood | Metal clashes with Wood | Poorly compatible | Use the Water element in black and sea blue, or the Fire element in red and orange, and add indoor plants |
| Fire | Fire clashes with Metal | Conflict | Use the Earth element in yellow and brown, or the Metal element in white, grey and metallic tones |
This table belongs to the five elements method, not to Bát Trạch. The verdict of compatible or incompatible for a given element here holds only under the five elements method.
How can someone unsuited to the West direction remedy it?
According to Bát Trạch, people in the other group are advised to place the main door, bedroom and kitchen in their own four favourable directions, because Bát Trạch texts treat the door, the master bedroom and the kitchen as the three main factors of a dwelling (dương trạch tam yếu). For someone in Đông tứ mệnh living in a West-facing house, the main door, master bedroom and kitchen can be arranged in directions belonging to Đông tứ trạch such as East, South, North and Southeast.
Under the five elements method, colours, materials and plants can be used to balance things, as in the table above.
What should be kept in mind when arranging a West-facing house?
Reducing afternoon heat
The standout feature of a West-facing house is that it takes the harsh afternoon sun. You can use insulating materials, heat-reflective exterior paint, double glazing or reflective glass for the windows. Planting broad-canopied trees on the west side helps shade the house and soften the space. Arrange a skylight or a ventilation system so that hot air escapes and cooler air enters from another direction.
Balancing the five elements in the interior
Under the five elements method, neutral tones such as white, grey and ash can be used as the main colours (Metal element), combined with accents of yellow and earth brown (Earth element). Limit red, orange and pink (Fire element) because they can increase the feeling of heat. Materials such as brick, stone and ceramic (Earth element) or metal (Metal element) work for the main surfaces. Circles and arches (Metal element) and squares and rectangles (Earth element) are good choices.
Living room
The living room is where living energy gathers. The sofa should have its back against a solid wall and face open space in front. If it must have its back to the door, a mirror can be hung to see behind. Combine several layers of lighting: a ceiling light for the whole room, a floor or table lamp for accents; in the evening use soft yellow light. Place a few leafy plants with round leaves, such as pothos, kim tiền (money tree) or ngọc bích (jade plant), in the corners; avoid plants with sharp thorns. Keep the living room tidy and well ventilated.
Other areas
The Southeast corner is often regarded as the wealth palace, where a bookshelf, a safe or a wealth plant can be placed. The Southwest is the palace of love and marriage, where a painting showing a couple's love or family happiness can be hung. The Northeast is the palace of knowledge and learning; placing a study desk or bookshelf here may support study and research.
