The nine life areas.

The Bagua names nine areas of life. Eight sit around the edges of a floor plan, one sits in the middle. Each is tied to a compass direction and to one of the five elements. The labels below are consistent across most traditions, one of the few points where schools tend to agree.

Before the walk, a quick orientation. The elements named here (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) form a working vocabulary, not a mystical code. The five elements as a design language page covers that vocabulary on its own. The sector layout sits on top of the elements, and what the map layer actually is belongs on its own page. For how to orient the map over your home, the methods page is the right read.

Now the walk, starting in the south and turning clockwise through the corners.

South

Fame and reputation sits in the south. The trigram is Li, "fire". The element is Fire. The tradition associates this sector with visibility, recognition, and the way the household is seen from the outside. The Fame sector deep dive walks the corner with the question of what the home is publicly known for.

South-west

Love sits in the south-west. The trigram is Kun, "earth". The element is Earth. The tradition associates this sector with partnership, openness, and the conditions that hold a relationship steady. Many readers find this is the corner that holds the bedroom, or the one they wish did. The Love sector deep dive takes the walk room by room.

West

Creativity sits in the west. The trigram is Dui, "lake". The element is Metal. The tradition associates this sector with children, projects, and the things the household is making. The Creativity sector deep dive covers what it means to read this corner well.

North-west

Travel and helpful people sits in the north-west. The trigram is Qian, "heaven". The element is Metal. The tradition associates this sector with mentors, allies, journeys, and the network around the home. The Travel sector deep dive walks the corner with the question of who arrives to help.

North

Career sits in the north. The trigram is Kan, "water". The element is Water. The tradition associates this sector with the path of one's working life and how work enters the home. The Career sector deep dive covers the desk, the office layout, and the sector wall.

North-east

Knowledge and study sits in the north-east. The trigram is Gen, "mountain". The element is Earth. The tradition associates this sector with study, learning, and quiet ground. The Knowledge sector deep dive takes the walk for readers, students, and anyone whose work is mostly thinking.

East

Health and family sits in the east. The trigram is Zhen, "thunder". The element is Wood. The tradition associates this sector with air, light, sleep, growth, and the family line going back. The Health sector deep dive covers the corner that often touches the kitchen and the family room.

South-east

Money sits in the south-east. The trigram is Xun, "wind". The element is Wood. The tradition associates this sector with the wallet, the stove, and the things that feed the household. The Money sector deep dive walks the corner room by room, and the main wealth-corner article is the longer read.

Centre

Wellbeing and balance sits in the centre. The classical name is the tai chi, "great pole". The element is Earth. The tradition associates the centre with the quiet ground that the other eight sectors sit around. Keep it open. When timing enters the picture, the annual feng shui planner for 2026 uses these nine sectors as the spine of the year's chart. The Centre deep dive covers the room or hallway that usually lands here.

Where to go next

Ten seconds: find the directions that suit you best with the Kua calculator.

An afternoon: pick the sector that matched you and read its life-area page above, whether that is Fame, Love, Creativity, Travel, Career, Knowledge, Health, Money, or Centre.

Deeper read: how to orient the Bagua over your home.