Glossary
Every classical term that appears in your DwellSoul reading, with romanization and a layperson explanation. Same content as the in-line tooltips on the reading pages — collected here for browsing and bookmarking.
wind-water (Feng Shui)
Literally 'wind and water' — the classical East Asian study of how landform, direction, and time interact with built space to affect the people living there. Two main schools: Form (巒頭, landform-based) and Compass (理氣, direction-and-time-based).
qi (energy)
The classical East Asian concept of 'vital energy' that flows through landscapes, buildings, and bodies. Feng shui practice is fundamentally about supporting good qi flow and remediating disrupted or hostile qi.
backing mountain
The landform behind the home, which provides 'support' like the back of a chair. A solid, proportional rear hill or rise stabilizes qi flow — the foundational positive of Form-school Feng Shui.
bright hall
The open space in front of the home where qi gathers before entering. A wide, level, unobstructed bright hall (a park, plaza, or distant horizon) lets favorable energy collect and settle — a premium classical condition.
Black Tortoise (rear)
The classical 'rear-guardian' direction. A strong Black Tortoise — backing landform behind the home — anchors qi and represents stability and protection.
Vermillion Bird (front)
The classical 'front-receiving' direction. A balanced Vermillion Bird — the open space and approach in front — receives qi without being either obstructed or attacked.
Azure Dragon (left flank)
The classical 'left-flank guardian'. A strong Azure Dragon — protective landform on the home's left side — represents masculine yang energy, action, and growth.
White Tiger (right flank)
The classical 'right-flank guardian'. A balanced White Tiger — landform on the home's right side that supports without dominating — represents yin energy, receptivity, and refinement.
Four Animals harmony
The classical 'armchair' formation: Black Tortoise behind, Vermillion Bird in front, Azure Dragon left, White Tiger right — all in proportion. The most prized landform configuration.
embracing water
Water (lake, river, pond) that curves toward the home in a 'embracing' arc rather than fleeing past or piercing toward the door. Embracing water gathers wealth-supportive qi at the front of the home.
road attack (T-junction)
A road or path that aims directly at the home's front door (most often a T-junction dead-end). Classical 'sha' — sends concentrated, hostile qi straight at the entrance. Major Form-school concern.
piercing-hall sha
When the front door, back door (or large back window), and a clear interior corridor are all aligned — qi enters the front and exits the back without circulating. Treats the home like a tunnel rather than a settled space.
Flying Stars
A Compass-school technique that places 9 stars (numbered 1-9) into a 9-palace grid based on the home's construction period and facing direction. Each star carries a quality (auspicious / inauspicious) that activates rooms in different sectors.
prosperous mountain, prosperous facing
The most prized Flying Stars chart constellation — both the Mountain Star (governing health/relationships) and the Water Star (governing wealth) sit in their ideal positions. Rare and excellent.
5-Yellow Misfortune
The most inauspicious of the 9 Flying Stars — universally treated as a concern regardless of period. Sectors carrying 5-Yellow this year/month/day should avoid drilling, renovation, deep cleaning, and prolonged time spent.
5-Yellow Misfortune (full name)
The full classical name of the 5-Yellow star — 五黃 (the number-and-color designation) plus 廉貞 (its Nine-Star / 九星 name, Lián Zhēn). The most inauspicious of the 9 Flying Stars, treated as a concern regardless of period; avoid drilling, renovation, deep cleaning, and prolonged time in its sector.
9-Purple Future Wealth
Period 9's TIMELY star (the current era runs 2024-2043) and the strongest current-era marker. Sectors with 9-Purple are favored for ambitious work, recognition pursuits, and breakthrough decisions.
Eight Mansions
A Compass-school system that divides every home into 8 directional sectors and labels 4 of them favorable (and 4 unfavorable) based on the home's sitting trigram. Each PERSON also belongs to one of two groups (East / West) based on their Kua number.
vitality (most auspicious)
The MOST favorable of the 4 auspicious directions in Eight Mansions. Best for the main door, your bedroom, or workspace — supports career, ambition, and overall life energy.
Five Ghosts (concerning)
One of the 4 inauspicious Eight Mansions directions. Bedrooms in this sector are classically tied to disturbed sleep, partner disputes, and mental restlessness. Often the first interior placement to remediate.
East Group home
One of the two classifications in Eight Mansions. East Group homes (sitting trigrams Kan / Zhen / Sun / Li) are best matched with East Group people (Kua 1, 3, 4, 9).
West Group home
One of the two classifications in Eight Mansions. West Group homes (sitting trigrams Kun / Dui / Qian / Gen) are best matched with West Group people (Kua 2, 6, 7, 8).
Eight Characters
A person's classical four-pillar chart (4 pillars × 2 characters each = 8 characters), derived from year + month + day + hour of birth. Reads constitutional fit between a person and their environment.
Day Master
The heavenly stem of the day pillar — the single character that represents YOU as a person in BaZi reading. Its element (Wood / Fire / Earth / Metal / Water) and yin/yang polarity define your constitutional type.
useful god
The five-element your constitution NEEDS MORE of to come into balance. For a strong Day Master it's the element that drains excess; for a weak Day Master it's the element that feeds the deficiency.
harmful god
The five-element to AVOID — it amplifies what you already have too much of, or further depletes what you're lacking. The opposite of your useful god.
10-year luck cycle
A 10-year luck pillar that overlays your natal chart — like 'decade-long weather' for your constitution. Compared against your useful/harmful god, it shows whether the current decade is supportive (a long tailwind) or stressful.
annual luck pillar
Each calendar year carries its own pillar (stem-branch pair) that overlays your natal chart. Reads whether THIS year supports or stresses your constitution.
monthly luck pillar
Each BaZi month (boundaries on solar terms ~Feb 4, Mar 6, etc.) carries its own pillar. Reads how this month's energy interacts with your constitution.
daily luck pillar
Each day carries its own pillar — the finest-granularity luck overlay. Compared against your useful/harmful god, indicates whether today is a tailwind or headwind for major decisions.
Five Elements
The classical East Asian elemental cycle — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. Each element generates the next (木→火→土→金→水→木) and controls a different one (木剋土, 土剋水, etc.). Drives BaZi compatibility readings.
Yellow Calendar / daily almanac
The classical East Asian daily almanac that publishes 宜 (auspicious for) and 忌 (avoid) activity lists for every day. Consulted before scheduling weddings, business openings, travel, surgery, and other major decisions.
12 Day Officers
The cycle of 12 'officers' (建 除 滿 平 定 執 破 危 成 收 開 閉) that rotate one per day. Each carries classical 宜/忌 activity associations — the core data behind the daily almanac.
solar terms
The 24 astronomical events that mark the seasonal cycle — keyed to the Sun's ecliptic longitude. 12 are 'junction' terms (節) that shift the BaZi month pillar; the other 12 are mid-month markers (氣).