The Mysterious Qimen Dunjia, Part 3: Key Terms

Lecture 3: The Nine Palaces, Six Instruments, and Three Wonders

1. The Nine Palaces

The Nine Palaces form the layout and battleground for deployment; they combine the Luo Shu with the Later Heaven Eight Trigrams. The central palace is represented by the number five and is associated with the Kun Palace. In order, they are: first palace Kan (North), second palace Kun (Southwest), third palace Zhen (East), fourth palace Xun (Southeast), fifth palace Center (associated with Kun), sixth palace Qian (Northwest), seventh palace Dui (West), eighth palace Gen (Northeast), and ninth palace Li (South). Since the Nine Palaces provide the structure and arena for deployment, what is actually deployed? This is where the Six Instruments and Three Wonders come into play.

2. The Six Instruments

The Six Instruments are: Wu (Jiazi), Ji (Jiaxu), Geng (Jiashen), Xin (Jiawu), Ren (Jiachen), and Gui (Jiayin).

• Wu represents Jia’s wealth and thus signifies money. Jiazi is concealed under Wu; Zi is Jia’s resting stage, so Wu also signifies a house. Wu is born from Zi. Therefore, when the Deity combines with Wu (deity + Wu), it indicates initiative and latent potential, but still immature.
• Jia “dies” in Wu, while Yi flourishes in Wu. Jia is Yang—when Yang dies, Yin is born. After Jia dies, it turns into Yin (Yi), which is stored in Xu. Ji, being Yin Earth, suggests low-lying earth and thus a burial ground. Xu is also Jia’s nurturing stage, meeting Jia’s needs; therefore Ji symbolizes needs, desires, and aspirations. Ji also nurtures in Xu, so when the Deity combines with Ji (deity + Ji), it indicates forethought and planning.
• Geng is Jia’s “killing star,” representing opponents and adversaries. Encountering enemies brings obstacles, so Geng signifies hindrance and obstruction. Jiashen is concealed under Geng; Jia is “cut” in Shen, meaning old behaviors end and new ones must begin. Thus Geng also signifies transformation and change. Geng holds authority in Shen, so when the Deity combines with Geng (deity + Geng), it indicates strength, vigor, and capability.
• Jiawu is concealed under Xin; Jia “dies” in Wu, marking the end of action—signaling a halt or conclusion. Xin is “ill” in Wu, so when the Deity combines with Xin (deity + Xin), it indicates problems or mistakes arising.
• Jiachen is concealed under Ren; Jia is “ill” in Chen, so Ren signifies multiple troubles. Ren is “buried” in Chen; when the Deity combines with Ren (deity + Ren), it indicates wanting to act but being unable to—ineffective or encumbered.
• Jiayin is concealed under Gui; Jia holds authority in Yin, so Gui signifies youth and vitality. Gui “bathes” in Yin; when the Deity combines with Gui (deity + Gui), it indicates sexuality, rest, leisure, and vulnerability.

3. The Three Wonders

In Dun Jia, Jia symbolizes the Supreme Ruler, the head of the Ten Heavenly Stems, and is often hidden beneath the Six Instruments—hence the name “Dun Jia” (to hide Jia). The one most feared is Geng Metal: Metal overcomes Jia Wood, and Geng is the leader of the Seven Killings. Yi is Jia’s sister; Jia “marries” Yi to Geng, allowing Yi to unite with Geng and thereby save Jia—so Yi is one Wonder. Bing is Jia’s son; Bing Fire can overcome Geng Metal and save Jia—so Bing is the second Wonder. Ding is Jia’s daughter; Ding Fire likewise overcomes Geng Metal and saves Jia—so Ding is the third Wonder. Therefore, the Three Wonders are Yi Wonder (Sun Wonder), Bing Wonder (Moon Wonder), and Ding Wonder (Star Wonder).

The sequence of arrangements is: Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui, Ding, Bing, Yi. Here, “arrangements” refer to the placement of Jiazi under Wu in the palaces: the first arrangement places Jiazi (under Wu) in the Kan first palace, the second arrangement places Jiazi (under Wu) in the Kun second palace, and so on through the remaining palaces.

Lecture 4: The Eight Gates, Nine Stars, and Eight Deities

1. The Eight Gates

These are the Rest Gate, Birth Gate, Injury Gate, Du Gate, Scenic Gate, Death Gate, Shock Gate, and Open Gate.

2. The Nine Stars

These are the Tianpeng Star, Tianren Star, Tianchong Star, Tianfu Star, Tianying Star, Tianrui Star, Tianzhu Star, Tianxin Star, and Tianqin Star.

Before the active plate rotates, the positions of the Eight Gates and Nine Stars in the Yin–Yang Eighteen Arrangements are fixed; within each arrangement, the gate and star positions are the same. In general, the order of the gates and stars starts from the Kan first palace—Rest Gate and Tianpeng Star—and proceeds clockwise as follows:

Rest, Birth, Injury, Du, Scenic, Death, Shock, Open.

Peng, Ren, Chong, Fu, Ying, Rui, Zhu, Xin, Qin.

3. The Eight Deities

These are the Direct Symbol, Tengshe, Taiyin, Liuhe, Goucheng (Yin Dun uses Baihu), Zhuque (Yin Dun uses Xuanwu), Jiudi, and Jiutian. On the active plate, the Eight Deities are placed in the Eight Palaces on the topmost small plate, known as the Deity Plate. The arrangement of the Eight Deities differs between Yang Dun and Yin Dun; Yang Dun moves forward with the wheel, while Yin Dun moves in reverse.