Compass School
The Compass School (Chinese: Li Qi) is the younger of the two main schools of Feng Shui. It works with measured cardinal directions and builds systems such as the Gua number, the Bagua, and the Flying Stars upon them. In practice, both schools are combined—with the Form School traditionally serving as the foundation.
What is the Compass School?
The Compass School—Li Qi in Chinese, meaning “Principle of Energy”—is the younger of the two major Feng Shui traditions. While the Form School relies on visual observation, the Compass School supplements this with measurement and calculation. The starting point is always the precisely determined orientation of a building or property—and this requires a compass, ideally used with the necessary care.
The most important tools of the Compass School
Gua Number: Based on the year of birth and gender, a personal number from 1 to 9 (excluding 5) is calculated. It assigns a person to one of two groups—the East or West group—and indicates favorable and less favorable directions for sleeping, working, and the entrance.
Bagua: This eight-sector energy grid is overlaid on the floor plan and links areas of a space to life themes such as career, relationships, or health. Depending on the school, the Bagua is oriented according to the compass or relative to the front door.
Flying Stars (Xuan Kong Fei Xing): The most sophisticated system of the Compass School. It creates a star chart based on a building’s construction date and orientation, showing where specific energy patterns are concentrated within the home—and how they change over time.
Important to understand: The Compass School always builds upon the Form School. Only when a location meets basic form-related criteria do Compass calculations reach their full potential. Together, both schools enable a multi-layered analysis—each on its own remains incomplete.
Calculate Your Qua Number
Your birth year and gender determine your personal Qua number—and thus the four cardinal directions that are traditionally considered auspicious for you. You can determine them directly using the calculator. The calculation takes place in your browser; your date of birth is neither transmitted nor stored.
Do I need to be good at math to understand the Kompassschule?
Basic arithmetic is more than enough to get started. Most calculations—such as the Qua number—can be performed using simple addition and subtraction. More complex systems, such as the Flying Stars, require more practice but can be learned step by step.
What is the difference between someone from the East Group and someone from the West Group?
Depending on their Qua number, a person belongs to either the East or West group. People in the East group tend to find compass directions such as north, south, east, and southeast beneficial; people in the West group tend to find northwest, southwest, west, and northeast more beneficial. This classification can serve as a guide when choosing a place to sleep or work.