Qimen Dunjia
奇門
In simple terms
an Eastern art that maps time and direction onto a nine-square board to read “right now, which direction’s energy is favorable.” It was long used as a strategy of choosing the right time and place.
At a glance
A little deeper
Qimen arranges heavenly energy (the Heaven Plate), earthly positions (the Earth Plate), and the Eight Gates, Nine Stars and Eight Spirits across nine palaces to judge the fortune and direction of a moment. If Saju reads “who you were born as,” Qimen reads “the board of this very moment” to guide choice and timing.
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Related terms
the complete board that captures a single moment in Qimen. By solar term and time it divides into “yang escaping” and “yin escaping,” and the layout of the nine squares changes accordingly.
the moving upper layer over the nine palaces that shows heavenly energy — which heavenly force turns in which direction at that moment.
the fixed lower layer across the nine palaces that shows earthly positions — the underlying frame of energy for that board, unlike the moving Heaven Plate.
the very center square of the nine palaces. A central seat with no direction of its own, it acts like the axis that coordinates the whole board.
the three noble energies Yi (乙), Bing (丙) and Ding (丁). Likened to sun, moon and stars, the directions where these turn are generally read as auspicious.
the six energies Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren and Gui — the remaining framework that, paired with the Three Marvels, fills the nine palaces.