The five-grid method is based on the "image" and "number" theories of the Book of Changes, establishing five grid numerical relationships such as the Heaven's Grid, Earth's Grid, Personality Grid, Total Grid, and External Grid according to the number of strokes in a person's name and certain rules. It also applies the theory of mutual generation and overcoming of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements to calculate various aspects of a person's fortune.
Names are divided into compound surnames and compound given names, compound surnames and single given names, single surnames and compound given names, and single surnames and single given names. A name is considered compound if it has more than one character, and a surname is considered compound if it has more than one character.
Heaven's Grid： For compound surnames, the sum of the stroke counts of the surname characters; for single surnames, the stroke count of the surname plus 1.
For example, Sima Guang, where "Sima" is a compound surname, the Heaven's Grid is 5 + 10 = 15; Li Gang, where "Li" is a single surname, the Heaven's Grid is 7 + 1 = 8. The Heaven's Grid represents the legacy from ancestors, and its numerical meaning has little impact on a person's life.
Personality Grid： For compound surnames and compound given names, the stroke count of the second character of the surname plus the first character of the given name; for compound surnames and single given names, the second character of the surname plus the stroke count of the given name; for single surnames and compound given names, the stroke count of the surname plus the first character of the given name; for single surnames and single given names, the sum of the stroke counts of the surname and given name.
The Personality Grid, also known as the "main operation," is the central point of the entire name. A person's entire fate is deduced from this grid. Its composition is the sum of the stroke counts of the last character of the surname and the first character of the given name. For example, Liu Jiang, the Personality Grid is 15 + 7 = 22. Sima Yi, the Personality Grid is 10 + 22 = 32. Earth's Grid: For compound given names, the sum of the stroke counts of the given name characters; for single given names, the stroke count of the given name plus 1.
Earth's Grid： Known as the "early stage," it governs a person's activity power before middle age. For example, Sima Yi, the Earth's Grid is 22 + 1 = 23. Liu Jianghai, the Earth's Grid is 7 + 11 = 18.
External Grid： The total stroke counts of all characters in the name minus the Personality Grid number. If it is a single-character given name or surname, add 1 respectively.
The External Grid governs a person's spiritual power in determining their fate. For example, Sima Yi, the External Grid is 37 - 32 + 1 = 6. Liu Jianghai, the External Grid is 33 - 22 + 1 = 12.
Total Grid： The total stroke count of the name.
The Total Grid governs a person's fate from middle age to old age, also known as the "later stage." For example, Sima Yi, the Total Grid is 5 + 10 + 22 = 37. Liu Jianghai, the Total Grid is 15 + 7 + 11 = 33.
