The West Zone: Eight Family Placements

A son's or daughter's placement lasts only while they are unmarried and living at home; when one marries, the younger brothers or sisters move up a place. For how the zones are found and family members ranked, see How to Read Your Home Map.

Father: Treading (天泽履)

A married man who sleeps in the West forms Treading.

Character: Outwardly he is firm and strong, but when he is caught between going forward and pulling back he hesitates and holds still, and he often leaves the decision to a woman.

Career and money: In his career he is often caught in a dilemma: he wants to go forward and cannot, and pulling back is dangerous. In public office his path is blocked and he stalls. In business the openings do not favor him and his fortunes are poor; torn between choices, he misses the moment and loses good opportunities, and regret afterward does no good.

Marriage: The wife who shares his room forms Approach and is more capable than he is, so he takes a mistress outside the home to win back his confidence and self-respect as a man; for this reason the placement bodes ill for the marriage. Of others born at the same time, one whose destiny keeps the marriage together still sees the love break down in this placement, until husband and wife share a bed but live apart in their hearts; one whose destiny already breaks the marriage, and who also lives in this placement, sees it break apart beyond saving.

Mother: Approach (地泽临)

A married woman who sleeps in the West forms Approach. The placement carries the image of a hard position: the husband’s place is bound to lack strength.

Marriage: The husband’s career is hemmed in, and the cause lies in a wife who is too forceful and too eager for success; see Treading. What works is for the wife to bend to keep the peace: however capable she is, she accepts the lower place and defers to her husband. For a woman born in the Year of the Tiger in this placement, the marriage goes badly and breaks; in her career, though, she strives to the top and achieves remarkable things.

Family: With a mother like this, every decision is hers to make for the children. She worries too much and controls too much, until in the end the children push back and go against her wishes in everything. The cause is the mother’s lack of security: she pours all her thoughts into her children, and this peculiar state of mind takes hold. Everyone suffers, and there is no way out.

Eldest son: The Marrying Maiden (雷泽归妹)

The Eldest son who sleeps in the West forms The Marrying Maiden.

Career and money: He bends himself to earn his pay. Nothing goes smoothly for him, but he is talented in many fields and does best on an artistic path.

Marriage: He does not marry.

Second son: Limitation (水泽节)

The Second son who sleeps in the West forms Limitation.

Career and money: He has no money left over, and taking risks brings disaster on him. A man born in the Year of the Rooster in this placement is certain to rise to great eminence; a man born in the Year of the Dog oversteps his place and traps himself.

Marriage: His marriage does not happen. Only a man born in the Year of the Dog who meets a woman born in the Year of the Rooster marries, and his wife is one year older; in this he differs from others born at the same time. The wife is destined for great eminence, and she helps her husband through misfortune.

Third son: Decrease (山泽损)

The Third son who sleeps in the West forms Decrease. The placement fills the son’s life with problems, and his parents are always worried and troubled over him.

Character: He chases pleasure and has no wish to better himself; only after two great disasters does he come to his senses.

Career and money: His path in public office is blocked, and what he seeks does not come.

Marriage: He marries one year later than others born at the same time; the wedding is put off, but the partner stays the same.

Family: At home he only spends money and never earns any; he does nothing at all.

Eldest daughter: Inner Truth (风泽中孚)

The Eldest daughter who sleeps in the West forms Inner Truth. A daughter who comes first in every exam is in this placement.

Career and money: Military posts greatly favor her; she is a heroine among women. Some of today’s women judges are like this.

Study and exams: She passes every exam and ranks first.

Marriage: Two joys arrive together: she often wins top exam honors at the same time as she marries. At first the marriage does not happen because her family does not agree, and only later does it go ahead; she marries three years later than others born at the same time.

Second daughter: Opposition (火泽睽)

The Second daughter who sleeps in the West forms Opposition. Some young girls turn away from their family and think only of themselves; their parents are deeply distressed but cannot change them and can only let them do as they please, until their whole lives go badly, one hardship after another. The root of the trouble grows from within. The placement draws disasters and lawsuits, one calamity after another; for those born in the Year of the Ox or the Rat it is more dangerous still.

Character: She is hard, contrary and stubborn, willful and unruly, until her family cannot bear to have her at home.

Study and exams: Academic honors do not come to her.

Marriage: Her marriage does not happen.

Third daughter: Lake (兑为泽)

The Third daughter who sleeps in the West forms Lake.

Character: She is talented in many fields.

Career and money: Public service goes smoothly for her; business is certain to go against her.

Study and exams: Her exams go smoothly.

Health: She is in good health, free of illness and mishap.

Marriage: A marriage she seeks is certain not to happen. Her love life is complicated, yet she is faithful to one person. If she meets ruthless people, she is bound to be badly hurt. While she waits to marry, there is the image of disaster befalling her fiancé; she marries three years later than others born at the same time.

Family: Her mother’s protection runs deep; she may grow up without a father.

Source: The Way of the Earth's Veins (天纪：地脉道)