Feng Shui assesses the fortune of a space by applying established formulas to its orientation. Currently, the most widely practiced school for property analysis is Flying Star Feng Shui. This method divides a floor plan into a nine-grid formation, known as the Nine Palaces (hence also called Nine Star Feng Shui). Based on the property's facing direction, each palace is assigned a Mountain Star (or Sitting Star) and a Facing Star. By interpreting these two numbers, one can determine the auspicious or inauspicious energy of each sector, indicating what life events the property may influence.

The nine stars used in Xuan Kong Feng Shui are derived from the eight fundamental trigrams, with the addition of the central Five Yellow Earth. They correspond to the nine palaces of a property's layout.

This star, also known as the Greedy Wolf Star, represents the middle son. It governs official status, male offspring, and scholarly pursuits. It is the foremost auspicious star and, together with #6 White and #8 White, is considered one of the "Three Wealth Stars." When prosperous, it brings thriving family and wealth, career advancement, wisdom, and high repute. When dormant or weak, it can lead to a lack of male heirs, romantic entanglements, excessive drinking, financial loss due to indulgence, and increased susceptibility to illness.

This star, the Giant Door Star, represents the mother. It is also the Illness Star, governing sickness and is considered highly inauspicious. When active, it can paradoxically bring prosperity, helpful connections, and wealth, though individuals may be more physical than intellectual, and female leadership may thrive through diligence. When dormant, it attracts lawsuits, disputes, various illnesses, betrayal, misfortune for men, widowhood for women, and ailments related to the lower abdomen and underarms.

Known as the Lu Cun Star, it represents the eldest son and governs disputes, lawsuits, and legal confinement, making it an inauspicious star. When active, it can bring legitimate wealth, benefits for careers in law or governance (producing judges, lawyers, or cunning strategists), and honors, especially for the eldest son, often through military or authoritative paths. When dormant, it risks imprisonment, quarrels, theft, legal trouble, and illnesses affecting the limbs.

This is the Literary Curve Star, representing the eldest daughter and governing culture and the arts. Its nature is mixed. When active, it brings academic success, literary fame, official promotions for scholars, financial gain for commoners, and favorable marriages. It aids in exams and creative writing. When dormant, it leads to lawsuits, ruin for men through drinking and womanizing, promiscuity for women, and potential ailments of the liver, gallbladder, or lower body, alongside injuries, accidents, or suicide.

This is the Lian Zhen Star or Grand Duke Jupiter, the paramount killer star governing death. It is the most ferocious and dangerous star. When positioned in the central palace (aligned with the period), it commands respect like an emperor. When located in other palaces, it should remain undisturbed—stability can bring great fortune and descendants, while activating it invites calamity, ranging from misfortune to severe loss, death, financial ruin, and continuous legal strife.

This is the Martial Song Star, representing the father and governing windfall and side income. It is an auspicious star. When active, it brings family prosperity, authority, promotions, power, and great wealth. When dormant, it can lead to bankruptcy from gambling, loss of wealth and integrity, bloodshed, isolation, lung diseases, and disabilities.

This is the Breaking Army Star, representing the youngest daughter and governing disputes. It is an inauspicious star. When active, it benefits wealth and people, particularly those relying on eloquence (singers, speakers, fortune-tellers) and those in communications/media. When dormant, it attracts arguments, theft, imprisonment, sudden disasters, fire-related injuries, and illnesses of the respiratory system, mouth, tongue, or lungs.

This is the Left Assistant Star, representing the youngest son and governing wealth. It is a highly auspicious star. When active (especially during its current prosperous period), it brings fame, success in ventures, prominent achievements, flourishing finances, property acquisition, and particular benefits for the youngest son. When dormant, it causes loss of wealth and integrity, severe gambling losses, and ailments in the hands, feet, spine, or skin, alongside susceptibility to epidemics.

This is the Right Support Star, representing the middle daughter and governing romance. Its nature is mixed. When active, it fosters good marriages and positive romantic opportunities, bringing swift blessings, prosperity, and thriving family and wealth. When dormant, it leads to romantic scandals, financial loss from fire, dismissal from office, ruin of reputation, and illnesses related to the nerves, heart, blood, or eyes.

Among the nine stars, #2 Black, #3 Jade, #5 Yellow, and #7 Red are considered the Four Major Inauspicious Stars. Their presence can pose significant dangers, representing "Sha Qi" or harmful energy. #5 Yellow and #2 Black are the most hazardous, with #5 Yellow being the paramount "killer" star, primarily affecting health and safety. Therefore, when analyzing a home, the priority is to identify the locations of these inauspicious stars and find appropriate remedies to neutralize their negative influences.