Mìng Guà, ??, literally means "Trigram of Life" or "Trigram of Destiny". It is a basic tool in Chinese and Japanese metaphysics. The universal method (for the Christian era) of determining the male Ming Gua, also applicable to women in astrology, namely Ki Astrology is:
i) add all numbers for the year. If the sum is greater than 9, repeat the process until you get a number from 1 to 9
ii) subtract 11
iii) the result is the male Ming Gua. If it is 10, Ming Gua is 1.
Examples:
1985, 1 + 9 + 8 + 5 = 23, 2 + 3 = 5, 11-5 = 6, Ming Gua 6
2005, 2 + 0 + 0 + 5 = 7, 11-7 = 4, Ming Gua 4
2003, 2 + 0 + 0 + 3 = 5, 11-5 = 6, Ming Gua 6
1963, 1 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 19, 1 + 9 = 10, 1 + 0 = 1, 11-1 = 10, Ming Gua 1
1755, 1 + 7 + 5 + 5 = 28, 2 + 8 = 10, Ming Gua 1
Generally in astrology (time), for example in the ki of the nine stars) the male Ming Gua is used for both men and women. However, women in Feng Shui calculations (space) use the female Ming Gua (see below). In women, female Ming Gua and male Ming Gua always add 6 or 15. In Feng Shui San Yuan, nine stars are used (for example in the calculation of flying stars). In Feng Shui San He (for example Ba Zhai) only the eight trigrams are used. This means that men 5 adopt the female trigram 2 (Earth) and women 5 adopt the male trigram 8 (Mountain).
Associations: Ming Gua 1 trigram Kan image Water; Ming Gua 2 trigram Kun image Earth; Ming Gua 3 trigram Zhen imageThunder; Ming Gua 4 trigram Xun image Wind; Ming Gua 5 without trigram; Ming Gua 6 trigram Qian image Heaven; Ming Gua 7 trigram Dui image Lago; Ming Gua 8 trigram Gen Mountain image. Ming Gua 9 trigram Li Fire image.
Calculation of the Female Ming Gua, universal method for the Christian era (only for women). This Ming Gua is not used in ki astrology, only in Feng Shui calculations.
i) add the digit 4 to the year of birth
ii) reduce the sum of the digits to 9
Example
1985, 1+9+8+5+4=27, 2+7=9, female Ming Gua 9
2005, 2+0+0+5+4=11, 1+1=2, female Ming Gua 2
1963, 1+9+6+3+4=23, 2+3=5, female Ming Gua 5
(in this case in Bha Zi, the trigram would be 8, the Mountain).
Keep practicing...