Traditional culture in plain words
Kua 8 · Gen
Life Gua 8 is the Gen trigram — Earth — in the West group.
At a glance
Four favourable directions
- SouthwestSheng Qi (生氣) · Prosperity
- NorthwestTian Yi (天醫) · Health
- WestYan Nian (延年) · Relationships
- NortheastFu Wei (伏位) · Stability
Four directions for care
- SouthHuo Hai (禍害) · Mishaps
- EastLiu Sha (六煞) · Six Killings
- NorthWu Gui (五鬼) · Five Ghosts
- SoutheastJue Ming (絕命) · Total Loss
When the Kua calculation gives 5, tradition reads it as 2 (Kun) for men and 8 (Gen) for women.
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About this trigram
Gen stands for the mountain: solid and still. People with Gua 8 are traditionally called Gen-life.
Gua 8's four favourable directions are southwest, northwest, west and northeast.
Traditional use
Gen life is grounded: tradition puts the bed-head against a solid wall, facing a favoured direction, for steady sleep. The detail is on the Character Card.
Direction groupings are a traditional Eight Mansions reference, not a rule; safety, comfort and practical needs come first in the home.