- 1Set the casting time — it defaults to now; adjust year, month, day, hour and minute, or tap “Now” to reset
- 2Pick the casting location so the chart can be corrected to true solar time
- 3Choose the plate style (Rotating/Flying), the Ju method (Zhebu/Zhirun/Maoshan), and your question topic
- 4Tap “Cast Now” to see the nine-palace chart and pattern analysis — you can also create a share poster
What is Qi Men Dun Jia?
Qi Men Dun Jia is one of the three great arts of Chinese metaphysics. It maps heavenly stems, earthly branches, nine stars, eight doors and eight deities onto a nine-palace grid to read the energy of a moment in time. Traditionally used for timing, strategy and direction, it is now widely consulted for business decisions and travel planning. This tool automates the full casting calculation — just enter a time and a place.
True solar time & the nine palaces
Qi Men is extremely time-sensitive. The tool corrects your input to true solar time based on the chosen city's longitude, avoiding hour-boundary errors caused by standard time. It then fixes the Yin/Yang Dun and Ju number by your chosen method (Zhebu, Zhirun or Maoshan) and places the heaven and earth plates, nine stars, eight doors and eight deities into the nine palaces to form the complete chart.
Tips for a better chart
Frame one specific question before casting — the topic (business, travel or general) shapes the focus of the pattern guidance. The more precise the time, the more meaningful the chart. Avoid recasting the same matter repeatedly within a short span; the first chart is usually taken as the answer. Tap the 📜 icon in the top-right to revisit your five most recent charts.
FAQ
Do I need an exact time to cast?
Qi Men works in two-hour “shichen” blocks, so an accurate hour is enough for a valid chart. Minutes mainly matter near shichen boundaries during true-solar-time correction — the more precise, the better. When in doubt, cast with the current time.
Rotating vs Flying plate — what's the difference?
Rotating-plate Qi Men arranges stars, doors and deities by rotation in a fixed order, while Flying-plate Qi Men flies them across the nine palaces. They are two distinct schools; beginners usually start with the rotating plate, which matches most classical texts and modern tutorials.
Does the question topic change the chart?
The topic does not change how the chart is laid out, but it steers the interpretation: business emphasizes wealth and partnerships, travel emphasizes direction and safety, and general gives an all-round reading.
Where is my casting history stored?
Your five most recent charts are stored locally in your browser — tap the 📜 icon in the top-right to view them. Clearing browser data removes them; nothing is uploaded to our servers.