Quick answer
Your Kua number comes from your year of birth and your gender. Reduce the year to one digit; for men, subtract it from 11, and for women, add 4, then reduce again. Kua numbers 1, 3, 4 and 9 belong to the East group, whose favourable directions are north, south, east and south-east; 2, 6, 7 and 8 belong to the West group, favouring west, north-west, south-west and north-east.
In this article
A small number with practical uses
Most numerology numbers describe who you are. The Kua number is a bit different: it’s mostly about where you are. It tells you which directions tend to support you, which is why people use it when setting up a study table, choosing which way to face at work, or deciding where the bed goes in a new flat.
It’s also one of the easiest changes to make. You can’t change your date of birth, and changing a name takes effort, but turning your desk to face a different wall takes about five minutes.
How to calculate your Kua number
Worked example
Example: born in 1992
1 + 9 + 9 + 2 = 21 → 3
Man: 11 − 3 = 8. Kua number 8
Woman: 3 + 4 = 7. Kua number 7
The free DOB Calculator works out your Kua number with your Driver and Conductor numbers, and adds it to your Lo Shu Grid.
Two things to watch for. If you were born in January or early February, some practitioners use the previous year, because the traditional year begins later than 1 January. And for births from 2000 onwards, different schools adjust the formula in different ways. If your result looks off, the calculator is the simplest way to get a consistent answer.
East and West groups and lucky directions
- East group (Kua 1, 3, 4, 9): north, south, east and south-east are favourable.
- West group (Kua 2, 6, 7, 8): west, north-west, south-west and north-east are favourable.
- Kua 5: for directions, it is treated as 2 for men and 8 for women, so both fall in the West group.
People use these directions for the way they face while working or studying, and the direction their head points while sleeping. The directions system comes from Feng Shui; many people use it alongside Vastu, which has its own rules for planning a home.
Putting your directions to use
You don’t need to rearrange your whole home. Start with the places where you spend the most hours:
- Work or study desk: sit so that you face one of your favourable directions. This is the change most people try first.
- Bed: place it so that your head points towards a favourable direction while you sleep.
- Important calls and meetings: if you can choose your seat, face a good direction.
- Main door: if you’re choosing a new home, a main door facing one of your favourable directions is considered a plus.
Use a compass app on your phone, stand in the middle of the room, and note the directions before moving anything.
When a couple are in different groups
This is very common: one partner is East group, the other West group, and they share a bedroom. There’s no need to argue over it. Many people give priority to the main earner’s or the head of the family’s directions for shared spaces, and then let each person choose their own direction for their personal desk or work corner. Another simple fix is for each partner to pick their side of the bed so their head points in a favourable direction for them, where the room allows it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Kua number different for men and women?
The traditional formula counts differently for men and women: men subtract the reduced year from 11, women add 4 to it.
Is the Kua number added to the Lo Shu Grid?
Yes. Numbers Talk’s birth chart adds the Kua number to the grid along with the Conductor number and, for birthdays from the 10th onwards, the Driver number.
Is the Kua number used in Vastu?
The Kua number and its lucky directions come from Feng Shui. Many people combine them with Vastu, but Vastu has its own principles for a home’s layout.
What if I can’t face my lucky direction at work?
Do what you can where you have control, such as your home desk or the way you sleep. Office seating is often fixed, and that is fine; the directions are a support, not a requirement.
Does the Kua number change during my life?
No. It comes from your year of birth and gender, so it stays the same.