The 24 Directions (or 24 Mountains) is is an ancient Chinese geomantic (feng shui compass) concept used determine spatial orientations. It integrates principles from Chinese geography and astrology to guide architectural design, site selection, and other spatial arrangements.
24 Directions
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4 TRIGRAMS, 8 HEAVENLY-STEMS and 12 EARTHLY BRANCHES form a total of 24 directions. The Yin-Yang practitioners call these the 24-MOUNTAINS. The term MOUNTAIN implies that its ORIENTATION is included within it. For example, if B0子NORTH MOUNTAIN, it must correspond to the B6午SOUTH ORIENTATION, if B6午SOUTH MOUNTAIN, it must correspond to the B0子NORTH ORIENTATION. Similarly, the if S8壬⊕WATER MOUNTAIN, it must correspond to the S2丙⊕FIRE ORIENTATION, if S2丙⊕FIRE MOUNTAIN it must correspond to the S8壬⊕WATER ORIENTATION. This pattern applies consistently.
Among the EIGHT-TRIGRAMS, only the four corner directions are used, while the four cardinal directions are not. This is because the four cardinal TRIGRAMS align directly with the EARTHLY-BRANCHES at the positions of B0子NORTH, B6午SOUTH, B3卯EAST, and B9酉WEST. Therefore, instead of using the TRIGRAMS for the cardinal directions, the EARTHLY-BRANCHES are used. However, using the EARTHLY-BRANCHES inherently involves using the TRIGRAMS.
Once the EIGHT-TRIGRAMS are established, the four cardinal directions are supplemented by the eight HEAVENLY-STEMS. S0甲⊕WOOD and S1乙⊖WOOD flank ☳THUNDER, S2丙⊕FIRE and S3丁⊖FIRE flank ☲FIRE, S6庚⊕METAL and S7辛⊖METAL flank ☱LAKE, S8壬⊕WATER and S9癸⊖WATER flank ☵WATER, the four corner directions are supplemented by the eight EARTHLY-BRANCHES: BA戌W30N and BB亥N30W flank ☰HEAVEN, B1丑N30E and B2寅E30N flank ☶MOUNTAIN, B4辰E30S and B5巳S30E flank ☴WIND, B7未S30W and B8申W30S flank ☷EARTH.
Together, the four corner directions, eight HEAVENLY-STEMS, and twelve EARTHLY-BRANCHES form the 24 directions. The HEAVENLY-STEMS S4戊⊕EARTH and S5己⊖EARTH are not used because S4戊⊕EARTH and S5己⊖EARTH represent the central ㊏EARTH element, which has no fixed position.
When the 24 MOUNTAINS are assigned to the EIGHT-TRIGRAMS, each TRIGRAMS governs three MOUNTAINS:
- BA戌W30N, ☰HEAVEN, and BB亥N30W belong to ☰HEAVEN
- S8壬⊕WATER, B0子NORTH, and S9癸⊖WATER belong to ☵WATER
- B1丑N30E, ☶MOUNTAIN, and B2寅E30N belong to ☶MOUNTAIN
- S0甲⊕WOOD, B3卯EAST, and S1乙⊖WOOD belong to ☳THUNDER
- B4辰E30S, ☴WIND, and B5巳S30E belong to ☴WIND
- S2丙⊕FIRE, B6午SOUTH, and S3丁⊖FIRE belong to ☲FIRE
- B7未S30W, ☷EARTH, and B8申W30S belong to ☷EARTH
- S6庚⊕METAL, B9酉WEST, and S7辛⊖METAL belong to ☱LAKE
This division is called the EIGHT-HALLS. The assignment of the 24 MOUNTAIN to the FIVE-PHASES varies among different schools, each with its own interpretations and justifications.
TRUE FIVE-PHASES
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DOUBLE-MAINTAIN TRIO-HARMONY FIVE-PHASE
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The outer layer of the diagram displays the TRUE-COMPASS, representing the exact positions of the 24-MOUNTAINS. The inner layer shows the MID-COMPASS. The possition of B0子NORTH is located between the position of S8壬⊕WATER and position of B0子NORTH of the TRUE-COMPASS, preceding the TRUE-COMPASS by half a position.
The double selection refers to the double mountains, while the triple harmony selection refers to the double mountains corresponence with FIVE-PHASES. Geomancy practitioners use it to determine the dragon vein (the source of energy flow). Since the dragon represents the coming vein, it is essential to use the early-arriving positions to receive it, ensuring no errors in alignment.
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The outer layer of the diagram displays the TRUE-COMPASS. The inner layer shows the SEAM-COMPASS. The position of B0子NORTH is located between the position of B0子NORTH and position of S9癸⊖WATER of the TRUE-COMPASS, lagging behind the TRUE-COMPASS by half a position.
The double selection and triple harmony are based on the FIVE-PHASES, aligning with the double mountains, differing only by one position relative to the MID-COMPASS. Geomancy practitioners use it for dispersing sand (negative energy) and receiving water (positive energy). Since sand and water represent going paths, it is essential to use the later-arriving positions to collect them, ensuring nothing is missed.
HONG-FAN FIVE-PHASES
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