Three Yuan Nine Cycles and Nine Purple Fire Cycle

"Three Yuans and Nine Cycles" is a core time theory in Feng Shui. Simply put, it divides time into regular cycles. Beyond the spatial pattern, changes over time are also crucial to determine the rise and fall of a home's fortune.

The Sanyuan is divided into Shangyuan, Zhongyuan and Xiayuan. Each Yuan is 60 years, and the three Yuans total 180 years, which constitutes a complete cycle.

In the traditional calendar, every 60 years is called a "jiazi". A jiazi is divided into three periods of luck, for a total of nine periods, namely:

  • Yibaikan Water Transport
  • Second Black Kun Earth Luck
  • Three Green Zhen Wood
  • Four Green Xun Wood
  • Five Yellow Middle Earth Luck
  • Six White Qian Gold Luck
  • Seven Red Gold Luck
  • Eight White Gen Earth Luck
  • Nine Purple Fire Luck

The current period (2024–2043) is the Lower Yuan Jiu Zi Li Fire period. Jiu Zi is an auspicious star in the Xuan Kong Flying Stars, belonging to the fire element and represented by red and purple. In the Later Heaven Bagua, Jiu Zi corresponds to the Li Trigram in the south, hence the name "Jiu Zi Li Fire."


The symbolic meaning of Jiu Zi Li Huo

Symbolically, the person represented by the Nine Purple Fire is often a daughter of the family, but can also include scholars or people of exceptional talent. Their personality traits are characterized by intelligence, agility, beauty, and talent.

The corresponding parts of the human body are mainly the heart, blood and eyes, so health is prone to cardiovascular diseases, eye diseases, and even certain epidemic diseases.

In terms of objects, it is related to light and fire energy, such as electric lamps, flashlights, microwave ovens, mirrors, compasses, crystal lamps, stained glass, cosmetics (things related to beauty), and even airplanes, gun models, wars, etc., all fall within its scope.

Its representative forms are mostly sharp objects, such as pointed tables and chairs, cabinets, computers and lamps. In terms of color, it is mainly red, purple and other fire colors.


The difference between the eighth and ninth cycles

Gen Luck belongs to the Eighth Luck (2004–2023). Its main star is the Eight White Zuo Fu Star, and its element is Earth. Its core influence falls on land, property, and real estate capital, making it a period highly related to real estate.

Similarly, the Li Luck belongs to the Ninth Luck (2024–2043), with the main star being the "Nine Purple Right Bi Star," which belongs to the Fire element. Its power is primarily manifested in the areas of brightness, civilization, communication, interpersonal relationships, and joy. Known as the Joy Star among the Flying Stars, the Nine Purple Star is directly associated with marriage, childbirth, promotion, fame, and reputation. The Fire it symbolizes also represents the digital, imaging, information, media, and internet technology sectors.

If the Eighth Cycle (Earth) emphasizes the accumulation of wealth through real estate, land, and fixed assets, the Ninth Cycle (Fire) emphasizes the influence of reputation, communications, and the digital industry. The next twenty years will be particularly favorable for those and industries that master the internet, media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and brand management.

  • Eighth Luck (Earth): Wealth is concentrated in "tangible" real estate, emphasizing land and real estate assets.
  • Ninth Luck (Fire): Wealth comes more from "intangible" reputation and communication power, emphasizing digital, social, network technology and personal influence.


Feng Shui layout of the Nine Yun

In the Feng Shui layout of the Ninth Period (2024–2043), it is necessary to adjust the environment in accordance with the characteristics of “Li Gua·Fire”, because the Nine Purple Star is the most prosperous at this time.

When it comes to home feng shui layout, most people can make some simple adjustments. For example, keep the south (the Li Gua position) of the house bright and airy. If conditions permit, it's best to open windows to let in natural light. This not only boosts the Fire element but also adds vitality to the entire space. If the south lacks natural light, bright lamps can be placed to compensate for the lack of light.

Alternatively, you can place green or blue plants in the south to create a fire and boost your luck. Plants belong to the element of wood, and wood generates fire. This arrangement is both natural and easy to implement, echoing the fire element of the Ninth Lucky Period and enhancing the home's aura. However, the suitability of plant placement and the specific arrangement should be considered in conjunction with the overall feng shui layout.

Feng Shui emphasizes the overall layout and aura, rather than adjustments to a single corner.


The warnings and hidden concerns of the Ninth Cycle

The energy of the Ninth Cycle isn't simply "good"; it also carries the potential for disasters and misfortunes that require vigilance. For example, the frequent fires of recent years perfectly align with the fire element of the Ninth Cycle. Furthermore, many of these fires spread rapidly.

In addition to the real fire hazards, there may also be some negative fire-related phenomena:

  • Excessive heart fire: The mood becomes easily irritable, the temper fluctuates greatly, and family conflicts are more likely to occur.
  • Fire and accidents: Electrical short circuits and kitchen fires require special attention.
  • The image of false fire: Internet fraud, false information, and public opinion attacks are also manifestations of fire at the social level.

In home feng shui, more attention should be paid to fire prevention.

Modern households increasingly use induction cookers and various electrical appliances, seemingly reducing the use of open flames, but increasing potential risks such as short circuits and overheating. With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, fires caused by improper charging are also on the rise. These phenomena closely resonate with the fire element of the Ninth Cycle. Therefore, the layout of your home and the placement of electrical appliances require careful consideration.


The impact of the missing corner in the south

The Ninth Luck represents the south, so if a house has a missing corner here, special attention is warranted. The south is the most prosperous position in the Ninth Luck, and a missing corner means that the energy of this direction is not fully utilized, which can lead to a lack of fortune. The most direct impact is on interpersonal relationships, happy events, and reputation. Family members may have fewer children or happy events, interpersonal interactions may be less smooth, and career and social exposure may decrease.

Furthermore, the Li hexagram corresponds to the heart, blood, and eyes, so a missing corner in the south can also present health concerns, such as cardiovascular problems or impaired vision. Common mitigation strategies include using lighting, color, plants, or symbolic displays to compensate for the deficiency. While these methods can provide some relief, they are generally supplementary and have limited effectiveness, often serving as a supplement rather than a cure.

Truly effective improvements must be made by examining the overall layout of the home. Feng shui emphasizes the overall airflow and layout of the entire house, not just the tinkering with a single corner. If the layout is significantly flawed or airflow is blocked, local adjustments alone will not completely correct the problem. A more ideal approach is to consider the apartment structure, space usage, and the external environment. When necessary, replanning traffic flow or adjusting the location of key functional areas, or even leveraging changes in the external environment, can truly achieve a remedy.

*Some of the information is from Shen's Xuankong Studies