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[Diagram of the Nine Palaces and Stellar Regions]
This refers to the numerical pattern of the Luoshu (River Map): Nine crowns the top, One supports the bottom; Three is on the left, Seven on the right; Two and Four form the shoulders; Six and Eight form the feet; Five resides in the center. In this numerical structure, the sum of the three horizontal layers (upper, middle, lower) is fifteen; the sum of the three vertical layers (left, middle, right) is fifteen; Xun (Wind) pairs with Qian (Heaven), Kun (Earth) pairs with Gen (Mountain), and the four corners each sum to fifteen. Thus, practitioners of Qimen Dunjia (Mystical Door Hidden Formation) state: "The number fifteen exists within both the horizontal and vertical lines." The *Tianyuan Ji Dalun* (Great Treatise on the Origin of Heavenly Cycles) states: "The Nine Stars hang bright and clear, the Seven Luminaries revolve around the sky." This explains why stellar phenomena manifest as images and numbers. Furthermore, in the *Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* (Great Treatise on the Correct Records of the Six Origins), for years characterized by *Buji* (Insufficiency/Deficiency) of the annual cycle, there are specific palaces subject to disaster. The Five Elements and Nine Stars all have their respective regions of influence, which must be carefully examined. For instance, in a Shaoyu (Minor Water) year, disaster strikes Palace 1 because Shaoyu corresponds to Xin, indicating an insufficiency of Water, and Palace 1 is precisely the North Kan position, governed by Tianpeng Star (Water). In a Shaojiao (Minor Wood) year, disaster strikes Palace 3 because Shaojiao corresponds to Ding, indicating an insufficiency of Wood, and Palace 3 is precisely the East Zhen position, governed by Tianchong Star (Wood). In a Shaogong (Minor Earth) year, disaster strikes Palace 5 because Shaogong corresponds to Ji, indicating an insufficiency of Earth, and Palace 5 is the Central Palace, governed by Tianqin Star (Earth). In a Shaoshang (Minor Metal) year, disaster strikes Palace 7 because Shaoshang corresponds to Yi, indicating an insufficiency of Metal, and Palace 7 is precisely the West Dui position, governed by Tianzhu Star (Metal). In a Shaozheng (Minor Fire) year, disaster strikes Palace 9 because Shaozheng corresponds to Gui, indicating an insufficiency of Fire, and Palace 9 is precisely the South Li position, governed by Tianying Star (Fire). These disasters occur due to the insufficiency of the Five Movements affecting those directions. However, in years of Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren, the annual movement is *Taiguo* (Excess), so there is no specific palace of disaster. Although the classic text only mentions the five principal palaces without detailing all nine, it broadly discusses the five directions. If one can further deduce and expand upon the implications of the Five Elements beyond these basics, then even outside the four corners and during years of Excess, damage would still occur; this can be understood through intuitive reasoning.

According to the commentary on the Nine Stars in the *Tianyuan Yuce*: Tianpeng (1) is the principal palace of Water; Tianrui (2) is the corresponding palace of the Earth Spirit; Tianheng (3) is the principal palace of Wood; Tianfu (4) is the corresponding palace of the Wood Spirit; Tianqin (5) is the principal palace of Earth; Tianxin (6) is the corresponding palace of the Metal Spirit; Tianzhu (7) is the principal palace of Metal; Tianren (8) is the corresponding palace of the Earth Spirit; Tianying (9) is the principal palace of Fire. The Nine Stars have fixed positions that correspond to the regions of the Nine Provinces: Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Yang, Jing, Yu, Liang, and Yong, which follow the order of the Nine Provinces recorded in the *Yu Gong* (Tribute of Yu).

[Diagram of Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Ascension and Descent]
For example, in a Hai year, Taiyang Cold Water originally resides in the Right Intercalary position of Heaven, and Taiyin Damp Earth originally resides in the Right Intercalary position of Earth. When arriving at the Zi year, Taiyang descends into Earth, becoming the Left Intercalary position of Earth, while Taiyin ascends to Heaven, becoming the Left Intercalary position of Heaven. From Chou and Yin years onward, this sequence proceeds in order. This represents the fixed law of the movement of Keqi (Passing Qi). Taking the Zi year as an example, the sequence of Sitian (Master of Heaven), Zaiquan (Master of Earth), Qianzheng (Assuming Office), and Tuiwei (Retreating Position) for other years can be inferred analogously.