library

Jiu Gong Ming Li: An Introduction To 9 Palace Fate Calculations

The Philosophical Roots Of 9 Star Ki

It is believed that many thousands of years ago, the constellation we call the Great Dipper consisted of 9 stars: the 7 stars that form the dipper, Polaris and Vega. The Sages of ancient times correlated these stars with 9 types of Qi (Ki) or life-force energy, and the 9 "palaces" or houses of the mystic diagram known in China as the Luo Shu. They understood the cyclic waxing and waning of these 9 forces and their particular expressions of the attributes Yin and Yang and the Wuxing (commonly called the 5 elements). From this understanding, they devised a simple system of fate calculation that could be calculated with knots or finger joints, and applicable to almost any situation.

This system was called Jiu Gong Ming Li, or 9 Palace Fate Calculation, and it was fully developed ages before other forms of astro-numerology appeared on the scene. It was brought to Japan in very ancient times, where it was called Kyu Sei Ki Gaku, Kigaku, or 9 Star Ki.

Tradition tells us that Jiu Gong Ming Li came into use shortly after Yu the Great discovered the Luo Shu while bringing the Yellow River under control. He was the legendary founder of the Xia Dynasty, which existed from 2183 to 1752 BC.

Yu saw a great tortoise emerging from the Yellow River with a strange pattern on its shell. This diagram, consisting of dots on the shell, was called the Luo Shu and is the basis of the science Feng Shui, as well as the Yijing (I Ching). From the revelation he received during the interpretation of these diagrams, he was able to devise a system of canals that diverted the power of the river, fertilizing the valleys and freeing the people of the area from the periodic floods.

King Wen, founder of the Zhou Dynasty (1027 to 221 BC) used the Luo Shu as the basis of what is known as the Later Heaven Sequence of the Eight Trigrams, very important in the study of Yijing and other esoteric sciences.

As other, more complex forms of fate calculation such as Zi Ping Ba Zi (known as Four Pillars), Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star System) were developed, the older forms were abandoned or hidden away in the imperial palace. It's certainly true that they may have been sequestered as private tools for the benefit of the ruling dynasty. It's also possible that the ancient scientists were seduced by their new toys, and left the old ones in the trunks and closets that are the repository of worn out things. It has been found though, that Kyusei is not a worn out tool, but a living and vital system of "fate calculation". In fact, it has more symmetry and simplicity of design than many of the modern systems, and it will prove itself to you over and over again once you begin to use it.