Cures, rooms, and the five elements

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This glossary page covers the Five Elements, their cycles, the Eight Mansions directions other than Sheng Qi, the command position rule, and the folk-traditional objects most often sold as feng shui cures. Use it as a rescue index: get oriented in two sentences, then click the canonical page for the full treatment.

Bagua Mirror. Ba gua jing, "eight-trigram mirror". A small octagonal mirror painted with the eight trigrams, traditionally hung outside above a front door so it reflects external sha qi back toward its source. It is an exterior tool, not interior decoration, despite the gift-shop version. See Bagua mirrors in the cures cluster.

Chan Chu. Chan chu, also jin chan, "toad" or "golden toad". The three-legged money frog, a folk-traditional wealth object placed near the front door facing inward, often shown with a coin in its mouth. It marks the wealth intention of the entry rather than doing anything on its own. See symbolic cures on the cures page.

Command Position. The practice of placing a bed, desk, or sofa with solid backing, a clear view of the room's entrance, and the door not directly in line with the body. It is the single most repeated rule across room-by-room feng shui work. See command position in the room rules.

Controlling Cycle. Ke, "the controlling cycle". The Five Elements cycle in which each element restrains another: Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water quenches Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood. It is the lever you reach for when one element is overdone in a room and you want to soften it. See the controlling cycle.

Earth. Tu, "earth". One of the Five Elements, sitting in the southwest, northeast, and centre of the bagua. Read it through square shapes, yellow and earth tones, and ceramic or stone materials. See the Earth element.

Fire. Huo, "fire". One of the Five Elements, linked to the south and to summer. Read it through triangular and pointed shapes, red and bright orange, and candles or lighting. See the Fire element.

Five Elements. Wu xing, "five phases". The five symbolic phases of qi: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, linked by productive, controlling, and weakening cycles. They function as a design language for reading and adjusting a room. See the Five Elements as a design language.

Fu Dogs. Paired guardian-lion statues placed at an entrance, with the male holding a ball and the female cradling a cub. They are folk-traditional protectors that mark a threshold rather than a classical Compass School tool. See symbolic cures on the cures page.

Fu Wei. Fu wei, "stability". The mildest of the four favourable Eight Mansions directions, associated with peace, study, and slow steady accumulation. It is often used for desks and reading chairs when the stronger favourable directions are taken by the bed. See the four favourable Kua directions.

Huo Hai. Huo hai, "mishap". The mildest of the four unfavourable Eight Mansions directions, associated with low-level setbacks and irritation. It is the least severe of the unfavourable group and is sometimes accepted for minor furniture when no better option exists. See the four unfavourable Kua directions.

Jue Ming. Jue ming, "total loss". The most inauspicious of the four unfavourable Eight Mansions directions. It is traditionally avoided as a sleeping direction and as the direction of primary seating at a desk. See the four unfavourable Kua directions.

Liu Sha. Liu sha, "six killings". One of the four unfavourable Eight Mansions directions, associated with legal trouble, scandal, and emotional volatility. It belongs to the unfavourable group used to decide where the bed and main chair should not point. See the four unfavourable Kua directions.

Lucky Bamboo. Fu gui zhu, "wealth and honour bamboo". Dracaena sanderiana, sold worldwide as a folk Wood-element object, despite not actually being bamboo. Stalk count carries numerological meaning in the folk tradition. See plants on the cures page.

Mandarin Ducks. Yuan yang, "mandarin ducks". Aix galericulata, used as a folk-traditional Relationships-sector object always shown as a pair. This is folk vocabulary, not classical Compass School method. See symbolic cures on the cures page.

Metal. Jin, "metal". One of the Five Elements, linked to the west and northwest and to autumn. Read it through round and dome shapes and white or metallic tones. See the Metal element.

Productive Cycle. Sheng, "the productive cycle". The Five Elements cycle in which each element feeds the next: Wood feeds Fire, Fire makes Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water, Water grows Wood. It is the lever you reach for when an element is missing or weak in a room and you want to strengthen it. See the productive cycle.

Three Secrets Reinforcement. San mi, "three secrets". A BTB ritual that uses body (mudra), speech (mantra), and mind (visualisation) to mark a placement with intention. It is BTB-specific and not classical Compass School practice. See the BTB section on the schools page.

Tian Yi. Tian yi, "heavenly doctor". The health direction in Eight Mansions, one of the four favourable directions, associated with recovery and stable wellbeing. It is commonly used for the head of the bed when the strongest favourable direction is unavailable. See the four favourable Kua directions.

Water. Shui, "water". One of the Five Elements, linked to the north and to winter. Read it through wavy and irregular shapes, black and deep blue, and glass or reflective surfaces. See the Water element.

Wood. Mu, "wood". One of the Five Elements, linked to the east and southeast and to spring. Read it through tall rectangular shapes, greens and teals, living plants, and wooden materials. See the Wood element.

Wu Gui. Wu gui, "five ghosts". One of the four unfavourable Eight Mansions directions, associated with arguments, betrayal, theft, and hidden enemies. It is part of the unfavourable group used to steer the bed and main desk seat away from trouble. See the four unfavourable Kua directions.

Yan Nian. Yan nian, "longevity". The relationship direction in Eight Mansions, one of the four favourable directions, associated with stable partnerships. It is a common choice for the head of the bed in a shared bedroom. See the four favourable Kua directions.

Where to go next

• Start at the beginning with the core feng shui terms.
• Cross-check school and bagua language in the schools, directions, and bagua glossary.
• Close the loop with the timing and sister disciplines glossary.
• For how all of this fits together as a method, see our feng shui methodology.