Image: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / CC0)
TL;DR: The Nine Purple Star, one of the Nine Stars of Xuan Kong, belongs to Fire and governs prosperity, joy, wisdom, and luck when combined with auspicious stars, but can cause fires, disputes, and health issues when with inauspicious ones. Its position changes by period, year, month, day, and hour, so careful consideration of its palace and combinations is essential to enhance the good and resolve the bad.
What is the Cửu Tử star in Nine Star Flying Star Feng Shui?
Nine Star Flying Star (Cửu Tinh Huyền Không) is a school of feng shui belonging to the Kinh Dịch (I Ching) tradition, based on the principle of nine stars (Nhất Bạch, Nhị Hắc, Tam Bích, Tứ Lục, Ngũ Hoàng, Lục Bạch, Thất Xích, Bát Bạch, Cửu Tử) flying through the palaces of space and time. Each star carries an element and its own auspicious or inauspicious meaning, and the interaction between them shapes their influence on human life. Among them, the Cửu Tử star, also called Cửu Tử Hữu Tinh, is the last star in the Nine Star sequence, yet it plays a particularly important role, especially in Period 9 (from 2024 to 2043).
The Cửu Tử star belongs to the Fire element, and its representative colors are red, orange, pink and purple. In the five elements, Fire represents impulsiveness, energy and life, but it can also cause destruction if it is not controlled. Understanding the nature of Cửu Tử is therefore the key to using its energy in a harmonious way.
Where does the Cửu Tử star come from and where does it sit?
According to tradition, the Nine Stars were formed from the combination of the Hà Đồ (He Tu), the Lạc Thư (Luo Shu) and the Hậu Thiên Bát Quái (Later Heaven Bagua). Each star is linked to a trigram, a direction and an element. Cửu Tử is linked to the Ly trigram (☲), belongs to the South, and is of the Fire element. The Ly trigram is characterized as empty within and solid without, meaning hollow inside and firm outside, symbolizing light, wisdom and clarity. Cửu Tử is therefore also regarded as the star of intelligence, of insight, of culture and of the arts.
Nine Star Flying Star divides time into 9 periods, each lasting 20 years. The Cửu Tử star is the star of Period 9, which began in 2024 and runs until 2043. In this period, the energy of Cửu Tử is pushed to its highest, because it acts as the ruling star (the star of the current period), with a powerful influence on every aspect of life. Feng shui specialists hold that Period 9 will be a time of strong development in technology, intellect and the arts, and in professions related to Fire such as energy, electronics, media and entertainment.
What are the five element traits and meanings of Cửu Tử?
The Fire element and the energy of the Cửu Tử star
Cửu Tử belongs to the Fire element, and therefore carries the full characteristics of Fire: fast, strong, passionate, but also prone to eruption and hard to control. When Cửu Tử sits in a good palace and combines with good stars, it brings good fortune in reputation, wealth, affection, and advancement in career. People often say that Cửu Tử governs hỷ khí, meaning joy, delight and happiness. It is also the star of love and marriage, because Fire symbolizes burning passion and romance.
However, when Cửu Tử meets inauspicious stars, or sits in an unsuitable position, Fire energy can become the cause of fires, accidents, explosions, or problems related to blood, the heart and the eyes. In addition, Fire also causes irritability, anger, gossip, lawsuits, and disputes within the family and in society.
What good does Cửu Tử bring when it meets auspicious stars?
When Cửu Tử sits in a good palace, or combines with auspicious stars such as Nhất Bạch (Tham Lang), Lục Bạch (Vũ Khúc) and Bát Bạch (Tả Phụ), it will bring out its positive sides to the fullest. Specifically:
- Supporting intellect and learning: Cửu Tử belongs to the Ly trigram, the trigram of light and wisdom, so it is very good for study, examinations and research. Placing a study desk, a workspace or an altar in an area where the ruling Cửu Tử is present will help increase concentration, creativity and thinking ability.
- Bringing fame and career: Fire governs reputation and status. When Cửu Tử is activated properly, it can help the household head become well known, widely recognized, and advance in rank and position. Especially in Period 9, those working in the fields of art, media, education and technology will reap much success.
- Strengthening affection and marriage: Cửu Tử is also called the romance star, with the ability to attract love and improve the relationship between husband and wife. If you are single and looking for a partner, or if you want to warm up family affection, pay attention to activating Cửu Tử energy in palaces such as the Southwest (the palace of Love) or the South.
What risks does Cửu Tử carry when it meets inauspicious stars?
Conversely, when Cửu Tử combines with inauspicious stars such as Nhị Hắc (Cự Môn), Tam Bích (Lộc Tồn), Thất Xích (Phá Quân) or Ngũ Hoàng (Liêm Trinh), it becomes a destructive force. The consequences can include:
- Fires and accidents: Cửu Tử meeting Ngũ Hoàng (which also belongs to Fire) will create extremely strong fire energy, easily causing explosions, fires, or accidents involving fire and electricity. In addition, it can also cause problems with blood, blood pressure and the heart.
- Gossip and lawsuits: Excessively strong fire energy makes people irritable and prone to quarrels and arguments, leading to lawsuits and gossip. This is especially dangerous if Cửu Tử sits in a palace in the home that the household members frequently use.
- Declining health: Fire controls Metal, so Cửu Tử will harm the Metal organs in the body such as the lungs and respiratory tract. In addition, Fire also affects the eyes, the heart and the nervous system. If there are elderly people or young children in the home, extra care is needed.
What does Cửu Tử mean when combined with other stars?
In Huyền Không feng shui, no star is entirely good or entirely bad, and the final result depends on the interaction between the stars. Below are some common combinations of Cửu Tử:
| Combined star | Element | Five element interaction | Influence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nhất Bạch (Tham Lang) | Water | Water controls Fire, and can regulate Fire | If Water is strong, it can extinguish Fire, reducing the inauspicious nature of Cửu Tử. Conversely, if Fire is too strong, it can dry up Water, causing imbalance. In many cases this combination is considered fairly good, because Water governs wealth and Fire governs reputation, and the two support each other. |
| Nhị Hắc (Cự Môn) | Earth | Fire generates Earth | Cửu Tử adds strength to Nhị Hắc, making illness and misfortune more serious. This is a bad combination and should be avoided. If they sit together in one palace, the household members may face health problems, especially illnesses related to digestion and the stomach (Earth), or the heart (Fire). |
| Tam Bích (Mộc) | Wood | Wood generates Fire | Tam Bích strengthens the energy of Cửu Tử. If Cửu Tử is in a good state, Tam Bích helps it manifest more strongly. But if Cửu Tử is inauspicious, Tam Bích makes it worse. Tam Bích is inherently a star that causes disputes and lawsuits, so when combined with Cửu Tử, the risk of gossip and conflict increases. |
| Ngũ Hoàng (Liêm Trinh) | Earth | Fire generates Earth | Cửu Tử reinforces Ngũ Hoàng, creating an extremely powerful destructive force. This is one of the worst combinations in Huyền Không, capable of causing great disasters such as fires, loss, severe illness, or unexpected upheaval. It should be resolved immediately if detected. |
| Lục Bạch (Vũ Khúc) | Metal | Fire controls Metal | Cửu Tử can weaken Lục Bạch. Lục Bạch is the star of military office, governing power, but when controlled by Fire it loses its strength. However, if Lục Bạch is the ruling star, it can withstand Fire, and this combination may bring stability, but it can also cause conflict among family members, especially over power and money. |
| Thất Xích (Phá Quân) | Metal | Fire controls Metal | Thất Xích is controlled by Fire. Thất Xích is the Phá Quân star, governing romance, but it also causes theft and loss. When combined with Cửu Tử, romance can become excessive, leading to extramarital relationships and love scandals. At the same time, Fire controlling Metal can cause financial damage, or problems related to metal and machinery. |
| Bát Bạch (Tả Phụ) | Earth | Fire generates Earth | Cửu Tử supports Bát Bạch, making it stronger. Bát Bạch governs wealth and good fortune, so this combination is very good, especially in terms of money and prosperity. In Period 9, when Bát Bạch has already left its period but still retains influence, Cửu Tử can help it bring out the good things that remain. |
How do you find the Cửu Tử position and use it?
What is flying star by period, year, month, day and hour?
Cửu Tử does not stay in one place, but flies to different palaces depending on time. To determine the position of Cửu Tử at a specific moment, people use the flying star method, based on the Lạc Thư and the Hậu Thiên Bát Quái. Each period, each year, each month, each day and each hour has its own flying star chart, in which Cửu Tử sits in a particular palace.
For example, in Period 9 (2024-2043), Cửu Tử is the ruling star, so it sits in the central palace of a house, and from there it flies to other palaces in each year. Specifically, in the year Giáp Thìn 2024, which palace Cửu Tử flies to can be looked up in the perpetual calendar or in feng shui software.
How to apply Cửu Tử in arranging homes and offices
Once you know the position of Cửu Tử, you can make use of it to increase good fortune, or resolve it if it causes harm. Specifically:
- If Cửu Tử is in a good palace: You can place items of the Fire or Wood element, such as lamps, candles, green plants (Wood generates Fire), and objects in red, orange, pink or purple, to activate good energy. For example, if Cửu Tử is in the South palace (the palace of reputation), you can hang a lamp or place a desk lamp there to strengthen career and reputation.
- If Cửu Tử is in a bad palace: You need to weaken it, by using items of the Water element (Water controls Fire) such as an aquarium, a basin of water, or objects in black and blue. However, note that you should not use too much Water, because if Fire becomes too weak, it loses its inherent good qualities. In addition, you can also use the Earth element to drain Fire energy, such as placing objects made of ceramic, porcelain or stone, in yellow and earth brown.
How do you resolve Cửu Tử meeting inauspicious stars?
When Cửu Tử sits in a bad position, or combines with inauspicious stars, you need to carry out the following remedies:
- Use the Water element: As mentioned, Water can control Fire, reducing the strength of Cửu Tử. You can place an aquarium, a basin of water, or feng shui items of the Water element in that area. However, avoid placing them in places such as the bedroom, because Water can cause coldness and affect sleep.
- Use the Earth element: Earth can drain Fire energy, reducing its inauspicious nature. You can place items made of stone, ceramic or porcelain, or objects in yellow and earth brown.
- Avoid placing items of the Wood element: Because Wood generates Fire, it will strengthen the energy of Cửu Tử. If Cửu Tử is inauspicious, you should absolutely not place green plants or wooden objects in that area.
- Use talismans and feng shui items: Some items such as the bagua mirror, wind chimes, or specialized talismans can be used to resolve the situation, but this needs to be done by someone with expertise, to avoid doing it incorrectly and causing a backlash.
Which palaces are important and how does Cửu Tử affect them?
The South palace (Ly trigram)
The South palace is the native palace of Cửu Tử, where it has its strongest power. In Period 9, if Cửu Tử flies back to the South palace, it will be very prosperous, bringing much good fortune in reputation and intellect. You should activate this palace by placing lamps, or objects that give off light.
The Southwest palace (Khôn trigram)
The Southwest palace belongs to the Earth element, and Fire generates Earth, so Cửu Tử will strengthen the energy of this palace. The Southwest palace is the palace of love and marriage, so if Cửu Tử is here, it will help improve romantic relationships and attract healthy romance. However, if it meets Nhị Hắc, it can cause illness, especially in women.
The Northeast palace (Cấn trigram)
The Northeast palace also belongs to the Earth element, so Cửu Tử generates Earth, helping this palace become prosperous. The Northeast palace is the palace of knowledge and study, so Cửu Tử here will be good for learning, research and examinations.
The Northwest palace (Càn trigram)
The Northwest palace belongs to the Metal element, and Fire controls Metal, so Cửu Tử will harm this palace. The Northwest palace is the palace of the father, the household head, or the leader. If Cửu Tử sits here, it can cause health problems for the father, or weaken the authority and career of the household head. It needs to be resolved by using the Earth element.
How do other feng shui schools view Cửu Tử?
Besides Flying Star Huyền Không, Cửu Tử is also mentioned in other feng shui schools, such as Bát Trạch, Huyền Không Đại Quái, or Tử Vi Đẩu Số (Vietnamese astrology). However, its meaning can differ somewhat.
- In Bát Trạch: Cửu Tử is not used directly; instead, concepts such as Sinh Khí, Thiên Y, Diên Niên and Phục Vị are used. However, it can be regarded as a type of energy similar to Sinh Khí, since both bring good fortune.
- In Huyền Không Đại Quái: Cửu Tử is considered one of the important stars in determining the fortune of a house, but the method of calculation is more complex.
- In Tử Vi Đẩu Số: Cửu Tử is not a star in Tử Vi, but the concept of the Nine Stars can be linked to stars in Tử Vi, such as Liêm Trinh, Tham Lang, and so on. However, this link is only relative and does not match exactly.
Despite the differences, the schools all acknowledge that Cửu Tử is a powerful energy that needs to be considered carefully.
However, remember that feng shui is only a supporting factor, and cannot fully determine a person's destiny. One's own effort and perseverance remain the most important factor. The article above is for reference only, and does not encourage absolute belief in feng shui. If you need specific advice, seek out reputable experts for detailed guidance.
