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TL;DR: Tan Mountain belongs to the Metal element, located in the West (slightly west-southwest), carrying the energy of purity, decisiveness, and wisdom. In feng shui, Tan Mountain is often used to assess wealth, fame, and career, especially when combined with other mountains like Hai, Mao, or important house directions.
What is the Xin mountain direction?
In the feng shui system of 24 mountain directions (also called 24 mountains or 24 positions), each position is divided into 3 mountains, and each mountain occupies 15 degrees of the 360-degree circle. The entire compass ring is divided into 24 sectors, corresponding to the 12 earthly branches, the 10 heavenly stems (except Wu and Ji), and the 4 trigrams of the Bagua (Qian, Kun, Gen, Xun).
The Xin (辛) mountain is one of the 3 mountains belonging to the West (due West), alongside the Geng (庚) mountain and the You (酉) mountain. Specifically, the western zone is divided as follows:
| Mountain | Degree range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geng | 247.5 degrees to 262.5 degrees | west-southwest, slightly leaning southwest |
| You | 262.5 degrees to 277.5 degrees | due west |
| Xin | 277.5 degrees to 292.5 degrees | west-northwest, slightly leaning northwest |
Thus, the Xin mountain sits at the transition point between the West and the Northwest, belongs to the You sector (since You is the earthly branch of the West), and is closely related to the Dui trigram in the Later Heaven Bagua.
What are the Five Elements of the Xin mountain?
What does the Metal element mean?
The Xin mountain belongs to the Metal element. In the Five Elements, Metal represents metal, hardness, sharpness, decisiveness and purity. In terms of weather, Metal corresponds to autumn, when the air turns cool and all things begin to contract inward. In terms of color, Metal is often associated with white, silver-gray, and metallic gold. In terms of direction, Metal corresponds to the West.
In nature, Metal is the product of refining raw ore, so it symbolizes essence, sifting, and removing impurities to reach purity. The ancients compared people of the Metal destiny to a sharp sword, capable of cutting through tangles, but also prone to causing harm if used incorrectly.
Position and corresponding trigram
The Xin mountain lies in the You sector (one of the 12 earthly branches), and the You sector corresponds to the Dui (兑) trigram in the Later Heaven Bagua. The Dui trigram has the quality of "pleasure" (joy, harmony), symbolizes the mouth, communication, and is also the trigram of the youngest daughter, of intelligence and quick wit. Therefore, the Xin mountain is not purely hard Metal, but also carries the energy of communication, persuasion, and expressive ability.
In the I Ching, the Dui trigram is the only trigram with two yang lines below and one yin line above, symbolizing openness, joy and attraction. Therefore, when interpreting the Xin mountain, people often emphasize the aspects of social communication, business, public relations, and the ability to create influence.
What does the Xin mountain mean in feng shui?
Wealth and career of the Xin mountain?
Because it belongs to Metal, the Xin mountain is often considered related to money, property, and professions involving metal, machinery, jewelry, finance, and banking. In landform feng shui (examining terrain, mountain and river configurations), if the Xin mountain side has water (river, lake, pond) or a winding road, it is considered capable of bringing good fortune, because Metal generates Water, and Water symbolizes money.
However, it should be noted that water is not always good. If the water comes too strongly, chaotically, or in a bad position (such as water flowing straight into the house, or stagnant, filthy water), it can cause loss of wealth and losses. Therefore, interpreting the Xin mountain must be combined with the overall layout of the house.
Reputation and status
The Xin mountain lies in the Dui sector, and the Dui trigram also symbolizes fame and renown (since Dui is the "mouth", it is publicity and promotion). Therefore, a house with a good Xin mountain (illuminated by prosperous mountain stars and facing stars) is often considered beneficial for people working in fields related to media, journalism, education, diplomacy, or those who need fame and social prestige.
Intelligence and education
Metal also symbolizes the sharpness of intellect, analytical ability, and logic. In feng shui, a good Xin mountain can support study, examinations, and research. In particular, if the household has someone born in the year of the Rooster or someone of the Metal destiny, activating the Xin mountain may bring them good luck.
How do you interpret the Xin mountain in feng shui schools?
Eight Mansions feng shui (Bát Trạch minh kinh)
In Eight Mansions feng shui, the 24 mountains are divided into 8 sectors (each sector has 3 mountains), and each sector belongs to a trigram. The Xin mountain belongs to the Dui sector, the Dui trigram. Therefore, when determining the house direction, if the house sits on the Xin mountain (seated at the Xin mountain) or faces Xin (looking toward the Xin mountain), then that sector belongs to Dui.
The Dui sector in Eight Mansions has the following auspicious and inauspicious qualities:
| Sector | Position | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fu Wei | Qian sector | good for health and spirit |
| Tian Yi | Kun sector | good for health |
| Yan Nian | Gen sector | good for affection, marriage |
| Sheng Qi | Kan sector | good for wealth, career |
| Huo Hai | Xun sector | to be avoided |
| Liu Sha | Zhen sector | to be avoided |
| Wu Gui | Li sector | to be avoided |
| Jue Ming | Dui sector | to be avoided |
However, determining auspiciousness and inauspiciousness also depends on the household head's destiny trigram (East Four Destinies or West Four Destinies). People belonging to the West Four Destinies (Qian, Kun, Gen, Dui sectors) will be compatible with west-facing houses, including the Xin direction.
Xuan Kong feng shui (Flying Stars)
In Xuan Kong Flying Stars, the 24 mountains are used to determine the sitting and facing of the house, from which a Flying Stars chart is set up for each period (each period lasts 20 years). The Xin mountain is one of the 24 mountains, and when setting up the star chart, people use the Xin mountain to determine the position of the Mountain Star (the star governing the mountain) and the Facing Star (the star governing the facing).
For example, in period 8 (2004-2023), if a house sits at Xin and faces Yi (that is, seated on the Xin mountain, looking toward the Yi mountain), then this is one of the directions considered good, because both the Xin mountain and the Yi direction belong to the West Four Destinies, and can receive the life energy of period 8. However, the degree of auspiciousness still depends on the combination of flying stars in each sector.
Landform feng shui (terrain)
Landform is the school that examines the terrain and land configuration around the house. With the Xin mountain, people observe what is in the west-northwest of the house:
- If there are high mountains, high ground, or solid architectural structures (such as buildings, large trees) on the Xin mountain side, it is considered to have "mountain" support, good for the people living in the house, especially men or the family breadwinner.
- If there are rivers, lakes, roads, or open space on the Xin mountain side, it is considered to have "water", which can bring wealth but can also cause loss if the water configuration is bad.
The ancients had a saying: "Mountains govern people, water governs wealth" (mountains govern people, water governs wealth). Therefore, if the Xin mountain side has majestic mountains, the family may have many healthy descendants; if it has good water, then wealth and prosperity in business.
What are common cases of the Xin mountain in feng shui?
A house sitting at Xin and facing Yi
This is a fairly common house direction in feng shui, belonging to the "sitting West facing East" type. This house has the Xin mountain at the back (sitting), and the Yi direction at the front. According to Eight Mansions feng shui, a house sitting at Dui and facing Zhen belongs to the West Four Destinies, compatible with people of West Four Destinies. In terms of Xuan Kong, if the current period (period 9, 2024-2043) has good flying stars reaching this mountain and facing, then the house can bring its effects into play.
A house sitting at Xin and facing Xin (double stars reaching the facing)
When both the sitting and the facing are Xin, that is, the house sits at the west-northwest direction and also looks toward the west-northwest, this case is called "double stars reaching the facing" (two stars reaching the facing) if there are good flying stars in Xuan Kong. However, it must be examined carefully, because if both the facing star and the mountain star are bad, it will be very dangerous.
The Xin mountain combined with the Hai mountain and the Ren mountain
In feng shui, people often consider the relationship between mountains, especially in determining the positions of the door, kitchen, and bedroom. The Xin mountain (Metal) combined with the Hai mountain (Water) forms a Metal-generates-Water configuration, beneficial for wealth. The Xin mountain combined with the Ren mountain (Water) is similar. Conversely, the Xin mountain combined with the Mao mountain (Wood) forms Metal-controls-Wood, which can harm health or children if not resolved.
What should you note when applying the Xin mountain?
Why should one not rely too much on a single mountain?
Feng shui is a complex system, and one cannot rely on just one mountain direction to conclude the entire auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of a house. It is necessary to combine many factors such as: house direction, the household head's destiny trigram, the year the house was built, the surrounding environment, interior layout, and even the time factor (period energy).
Considering the accuracy of the direction
When measuring the house direction, one should use a specialized compass and measure multiple times to determine the coordinates accurately. A small error (a few degrees) can change the mountain direction, leading to incorrect interpretation.
The Xin mountain and the destiny of the occupant
According to the Five Elements theory, people of the Metal destiny (birth years whose stem and branch belong to Metal, such as Ren Shen, Gui You, Geng Chen, Xin Si, Jia Wu, Yi Wei...) may have their energy strengthened when living in a house with the Xin mountain or Xin direction. Conversely, people of the Wood destiny (Wood controls Metal) may face disadvantages if the house direction is too strongly Metal.
Combining with other methods
Besides feng shui, one can also consult Tử Vi (Vietnamese astrology), Four Pillars, or divination for a more comprehensive view of the household head's destiny. One should not absolutize a single school.
