Free Online Tool

Kua Number Calculator

Calculate your Feng Shui Kua number based on your gender and year of birth. Discover your lucky directions, element, and East/West group for better life energy.

Gender

Year of Birth

What is a Kua Number?

A Kua number (also called Pa Kua or Ming Gua) is a personal Feng Shui number derived from your birth year and gender. It belongs to the Eight Mansions (Ba Zhai) school of Feng Shui, one of the most practical and widely used systems in classical Chinese geomancy. Your Kua number determines your lucky and unlucky directions, your elemental type, and whether you are in the East Group or West Group. By understanding your Kua number, you can align your living and working spaces to support your well-being, prosperity, and relationships.

The Kua system is based on the Lo Shu magic square, a 3x3 grid of numbers that appeared in ancient Chinese mythology. Each of the eight directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) plus the center is associated with one of these numbers. Your personal Kua number connects you to specific directions that are naturally harmonious with your energy. This ancient system has been used for over a thousand years to help people create more supportive environments for themselves and their families.

How to Calculate Your Kua Number

The formula for calculating your Kua number differs by gender. Here is the exact method:

For Males:

Take the last two digits of your birth year (e.g., 1990 → 90)
Add these two digits together: 9 + 0 = 9
If the result is a two-digit number, reduce to a single digit (e.g., 1995: 9+5=14 → 1+4=5)
Subtract this single digit from 10: 10 - 9 = 1
Your Kua number is the result. In this example: Kua 1

For Females:

Take the last two digits of your birth year (e.g., 1990 → 90)
Add these two digits together: 9 + 0 = 9
If the result is a two-digit number, reduce to a single digit
Add 5 to this single digit: 9 + 5 = 14
Reduce to a single digit: 1 + 4 = 5
Your Kua number is the result. In this example: Kua 5 → converts to Kua 8 for females

Important exception: If the result is 5 for males, use Kua 2. If the result is 5 for females, use Kua 8. This is because 5 represents the center of the Lo Shu grid and has no specific direction.

East Group vs West Group Explained

People with Kua numbers 1, 3, 4, and 9 belong to the East Group. Their favorable directions are in the eastern half of the compass: east (3), southeast (4), north (1), and south (9). People with Kua numbers 2, 6, 7, and 8 belong to the West Group, with favorable directions in the western half: west (7), northwest (6), southwest (2), and northeast (8).

Understanding your group helps determine the best placement for your bed (sleeping direction), desk (working direction), and the main entrance of your home. For example, a person with Kua 1 (East Group) should ideally sleep with their head toward the east or southeast. A person with Kua 6 (West Group) should ideally sleep with their head toward the west or northwest. Aligning your body with your favorable directions while sleeping is believed to allow you to absorb beneficial energy during rest.

The Four Lucky Directions of Your Kua Number

Each Kua number has four auspicious directions, ranked from most to least favorable:

Sheng Chi (Best - Wealth & Success): This is your most favorable direction. Sleeping with your head toward Sheng Chi attracts wealth, success, and abundance. It is ideal for your bed, main desk, and front entrance.

Tien Yi (Second - Health & Relationships): This direction promotes good health, healing, and harmonious relationships. Sleeping toward Tien Yi can improve your physical well-being and social connections.

Nien Yen (Third - Love & Harmony): This direction supports romantic relationships, family harmony, and emotional balance. It is particularly beneficial for the bedroom and living room.

Fu Wei (Fourth - Personal Growth): This direction is ideal for study, meditation, self-development, and independent work. It supports focus, clarity, and personal improvement.

The Four Unlucky Directions to Avoid

Equally important are the four unfavorable directions for each Kua number:

Ho Hai (Bad Luck - Least Harmful): Avoid facing this direction for important activities. It can bring minor accidents, small losses, and general bad luck.

Wu Gwei (Obstacles - Moderate): This direction brings obstacles, disagreements, and misunderstandings. Avoid sleeping toward Wu Gwei, as it can create conflicts in relationships.

Lui Sha (Conflicts - Severe): This direction attracts arguments, legal problems, and interpersonal conflicts. Avoid facing Lui Sha for work or important meetings.

Chueh Ming (Total Loss - Most Harmful): This is your worst direction. Avoid sleeping, working, or facing this direction whenever possible. It is associated with financial loss, health crises, and serious misfortune.

Applying Your Kua Number in Daily Life

Your Kua number can be applied in many practical ways. When arranging furniture, orient your bed so your head points toward your Sheng Chi or Tien Yi direction. Place your desk so you face your Sheng Chi or Fu Wei direction. If you have a home office, working facing your best direction can enhance productivity and success. For dining tables, arrange seating so each person faces a favorable direction if possible.

When choosing a home or apartment, consider the direction the main entrance faces. A front door facing one of your favorable directions is considered very auspicious. Even if you cannot change where your door faces, you can orient your bed and desk correctly within your room. In shared homes, each person can orient their personal space according to their own Kua number while common areas can be balanced for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to calculate Kua number?

Kua number (also called Pa Kua or life number) is calculated using your year of birth and gender. Formula for Males: Add the last two digits of your birth year → reduce to single digit → subtract from 10. For Females: Add the last two digits of birth year → reduce to single digit → add 5 → reduce to single digit. Example: Male born 1985: 8+5=13 → 1+3=4 → 10-4=6. Kua = 6. Female born 1985: 8+5=13 → 1+3=4 → 4+5=9. Kua = 9.

What is a Kua number?

A Kua number is a personal Feng Shui number from 1 to 9 (excluding 5) that reveals your lucky and unlucky directions. It is based on your birth year and gender and determines whether you belong to the East Group (Kua 1, 3, 4, 9) or West Group (Kua 2, 6, 7, 8). Each group has specific favorable directions for sleeping, working, and important activities. Kua 5 converts to 2 for males and 8 for females. Your Kua number also relates to the Lo Shu grid and the five elements.

What are East Group and West Group in Kua?

East Group Kua numbers (1, 3, 4, 9) have favorable directions in the east, southeast, north, and south. Their best directions for sleep, work, and important activities are generally in this quadrant. West Group Kua numbers (2, 6, 7, 8) have favorable directions in the west, northwest, southwest, and northeast. Sleeping with your head pointing toward your favorable direction is said to bring better luck. Kua 5 individuals join the West Group.

What are the four favorable directions for my Kua number?

For Kua 1 (North): Sheng Chi (Southeast) wealth, Tien Yi (East) health, Nien Yen (South) love, Fu Wei (North) personal growth. Kua 2 (Southwest): Sheng Chi (NE), Tien Yi (W), Nien Yen (NW), Fu Wei (SW). Kua 3 (East): Sheng Chi (S), Tien Yi (N), Nien Yen (SE), Fu Wei (E). Kua 4 (SE): Sheng Chi (N), Tien Yi (S), Nien Yen (E), Fu Wei (SE). Kua 6 (NW): Sheng Chi (SW), Tien Yi (NE), Nien Yen (W), Fu Wei (NW). Kua 7 (W): Sheng Chi (NW), Tien Yi (SW), Nien Yen (NE), Fu Wei (W). Kua 8 (NE): Sheng Chi (W), Tien Yi (NW), Nien Yen (SW), Fu Wei (NE). Kua 9 (S): Sheng Chi (E), Tien Yi (SE), Nien Yen (N), Fu Wei (S).

What are the unlucky directions for my Kua number?

Each Kua number has four unfavorable directions: Ho Hai (accidents/bad luck), Wu Gwei (obstacles), Lui Sha (conflicts/legal), and Chueh Ming (total loss). Kua 1: Ho Hai (W), Wu Gwei (NE), Lui Sha (NW), Chueh Ming (SW). Kua 2: Ho Hai (N), Wu Gwei (SE), Lui Sha (E), Chueh Ming (S). Kua 3: Ho Hai (NW), Wu Gwei (SW), Lui Sha (NE), Chueh Ming (W). Kua 4: Ho Hai (NE), Wu Gwei (NW), Lui Sha (W), Chueh Ming (SW). Kua 6: Ho Hai (S), Wu Gwei(N), Lui Sha(SE), Chueh Ming(E). Kua 7: Ho Hai(E), Wu Gwei(SE), Lui Sha(N), Chueh Ming(S). Kua 8: Ho Hai(SE), Wu Gwei(E), Lui Sha(S), Chueh Ming(N). Kua 9: Ho Hai(SW), Wu Gwei(W), Lui Sha(NE), Chueh Ming(NW).

How do I use my Kua number for better Feng Shui?

Use your Kua number to orient yourself favorably: 1) Sleep with your head pointing toward your Sheng Chi or Tien Yi direction. 2) Place your desk so you face your favorable direction. 3) Most importantly, orient your bed and main door in positive directions. Avoid sitting or sleeping facing your Chueh Ming direction. The front door facing a favorable direction is considered highly auspicious for the occupants.

Does my Kua number change every year?

No, your Kua number remains the same throughout your life. It is calculated from your birth year and is a fixed personal energy number in Feng Shui. However, your annual flying stars (a different Feng Shui system) change every year and interact with your fixed Kua number. Annual flying stars determine the favorable and unfavorable sectors of your home for a given year.

What if my Kua number is 5?

In traditional Feng Shui, the number 5 is associated with the center of the Lo Shu grid and is not assigned personal directions. Kua 5 for males is converted to Kua 2 (West Group), and for females to Kua 8 (West Group). So a male born in a year that gives 5 gets Kua 2, and a female gets Kua 8. Both belong to the West Group with lucky directions in the west, northwest, southwest, and northeast.

What is the relationship between Kua number and the five elements?

Each Kua number corresponds to one of the five elements: Kua 1 (Water - North), Kua 2 (Earth - Southwest), Kua 3 (Wood - East), Kua 4 (Wood - Southeast), Kua 5 (Earth - Center), Kua 6 (Metal - Northwest), Kua 7 (Metal - West), Kua 8 (Earth - Northeast), Kua 9 (Fire - South). Understanding your element helps balance your environment. For example, a Kua 1 (Water) person benefits from adding water elements to their space and avoiding too much earth (which controls water).

How to find the best direction for my bed using Kua?

To find the best sleeping direction: Calculate your Kua number, then identify your Sheng Chi (wealth/health) direction and Tien Yi (health/relationship) direction. Ideally, sleep with your head pointing toward one of these directions. The best is Sheng Chi direction for overall prosperity, followed by Tien Yi for health. Avoid sleeping with your head toward Chueh Ming (total loss) direction. For example, Kua 1 (North person) should ideally sleep with head toward Southeast (Sheng Chi) or East (Tien Yi).

How to determine the best direction for my desk using Kua?

For your desk or workspace, face your Nien Yen (harmony/love) or Fu Wei (personal growth) direction. Nien Yen is ideal for jobs requiring collaboration and client interaction. Fu Wei is best for independent work, studying, and meditation. The Sheng Chi direction is also excellent for work involving finances. Avoid facing your Chueh Ming or Ho Hai direction when working. If your desk cannot face a good direction, at least ensure it is not directly in line with a bad direction.

Can two people with different Kua numbers live together harmoniously?

Yes, absolutely. In Feng Shui, each person's Kua number is personal. When sharing a home, you can orient individual spaces (bedroom, desk) according to each person's Kua directions. Common areas should be balanced for all occupants. The most common approach: prioritize the Kua of the primary breadwinner or the person who spends the most time at home for the main living areas. For the bedroom, the couple's shared space can be oriented to benefit both, or use the female partner's Kua for the bedroom.

What is the history of the Kua number system?

The Kua number system originates from the Eight Mansions (Pa Chai / Ba Zhai) school of Feng Shui, which dates back over 1,000 years in Chinese geomancy. It is based on the Lo Shu grid — a 3x3 magic square discovered in ancient Chinese mythology where numbers 1-9 are arranged so each row, column, and diagonal sums to 15. The Kua number system divides people into East and West groups based on the trigrams of the I Ching. It remains one of the most accessible and widely practiced Feng Shui systems worldwide.

How is Kua different from the Lo Shu grid?

Kua number is your personal Feng Shui number based on your birth year and gender, used to determine your lucky directions. The Lo Shu grid (also called the magic square) is a 3x3 grid of numbers 1-9 that represents the energies of the eight directions plus the center. Your Kua number is placed in the Lo Shu grid to determine your personal direction associations. The Lo Shu grid is also used in Chinese numerology independently for analyzing birth dates and naming.

Is Kua number used in annual Feng Shui renovations?

Yes, Kua numbers interact with annual flying stars. Each year, specific flying stars occupy different sectors of the Lo Shu grid. When a favorable annual star lands in a sector that aligns with your personal Kua direction, it is a powerful time for that aspect of your life. Conversely, if an unfavorable star visits your personal Kua direction, you should be cautious and apply remedies. Your Kua provides a personal overlay to the annual Feng Shui energies.