Kua number 3: best desk direction for working
Kua 3 belongs to the East group and the Zhen (Thunder) trigram, whose element is Wood. In Compass School feng shui, that gives you four favourable and four challenging directions for working.
Sit facing S (Sheng Qi, traditionally vitality and success) or E (Fu Wei). Avoid facing W. Keep the door in view first; direction is a refinement on top.
Both plans are scored live by the same rules engine we use on your own room. “Harmony” is a 0–100 layout score.
Green: favourable directions. Red: challenging directions. Darker shades mark the strongest of each.
Your eight directions as a Kua 3
| Direction | Traditional name | What it’s associated with |
|---|---|---|
| S | Sheng Qi (favourable) | Traditionally the direction of vitality and success; the classic choice to face while you work |
| N | Tian Yi (favourable) | Traditionally linked with health and recovery; a favourite for the head of the bed |
| SE | Nian Yan (favourable) | Traditionally linked with relationships and harmony; the other classic bed direction, especially for couples |
| E | Fu Wei (favourable) | Traditionally the direction of stability and personal growth; calm and steady |
| SW | Huo Hai (challenging) | Traditionally the mildest of the four challenging directions, associated with small setbacks |
| NW | Wu Gui (challenging) | The “five ghosts” direction, traditionally associated with friction and restlessness |
| NE | Liu Sha (challenging) | The “six killings” direction, traditionally associated with scattered energy and delays |
| W | Jue Ming (challenging) | The “total loss” direction, traditionally the one to avoid for sleeping and working |
How to use this in your office
“Direction” here means the way you face when seated at the desk. Sit in your chair and take a compass reading on your phone, pointed straight ahead.
- First make sure you can see the door and have a wall behind you (see desk with your back to the door).
- Then prefer facing S or E.
- If you can only get one, choose the door view. It matters more day to day.
Which birth years are Kua 3?
Kua is calculated from your birth year, using the Chinese solar year, which begins around 4 February. If you were born in January or early February, use the previous year. The traditional calculation has two formulas: the yang formula (traditionally used for men) and the yin formula (traditionally used for women). We let you choose whichever feels right for you.
Yang formula: Kua 3 if born in
1943, 1952, 1961, 1970, 1979, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2015, 2024
Yin formula: Kua 3 if born in
1943, 1952, 1961, 1970, 1979, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2015, 2024
Years 1940–2025, counting from 4 February.
Wood: your Kua element
The Zhen trigram is associated with wood (growth, vitality, new beginnings). Many consultants suggest a little of your element in the rooms you use most: greens, teals, and tall columns, stripes. It’s a gentle personal touch, not a rule. See wood element in the bedroom.
Is your desk facing a good direction for Kua 3?
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Questions people ask
What group is Kua 3?
East group. East group numbers are 1, 3, 4 and 9; they share the same four favourable directions, in a different order.
Does my Kua number change?
No, it’s fixed by your birth year. The feng shui year starts around 4 February, so January and early-February birthdays use the previous year.
Is Kua more important than the command position?
Most consultants put Form School first: the command position and a solid wall behind you. Kua directions are a personal refinement on top of a good layout.
My partner and I have different Kua numbers. What now?
If you’re in the same group, you share favourable directions. If not, pick a direction that is favourable for one and neutral-to-mild (Huo Hai) for the other rather than anyone’s Jue Ming.
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