Nine Star Ki — Compatibility & Your 2022 Fortune
Discover how the nine stars of Chinese astrology reveal compatibility between people and what 2022, the year of the Five Yellow Earth Star, has in store for each type.
Professional fortune teller & spiritual advisor
KEY TAKEAWAY
Nine Star Ki (Kyusei Kigaku) is a Japanese divination system rooted in yin-yang and the Five Elements, used to read personality, compatibility, and yearly fortune. Your "birth star" is calculated from your birth year, and each star's relationship with the others — through the Five Element cycles of generation and control — determines whether people naturally support each other, clash, or feel an easy affinity. 2022 is ruled by the Five Yellow Earth Star, a year of "destruction and rebirth" when every star returns to its home position.
☾Introduction
Everyone's fortune is shaped by an invisible force called "ki" (energy). It shows up in words like "luck" (unki), "popularity" (ninki), "mood" (kibun), "feelings" (kimochi), "courage" (yuuki), and "economy" (keiki). When the flow of ki shifts, life shifts with it. Nine Star Ki developed by combining yin-yang and the Five Elements with the sexagenary cycle (the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches) and the theory of the I Ching. It can be used to read personality, compatibility, a given year's fortune, and lucky directions.
Nyanta
Nekosuke
✦How Nine Star Ki Divination Works
Nine Star Ki uses nine stars:
- Ippaku Suisei — One White Water Star
- Jikoku Dosei — Two Black Earth Star
- Sanpeki Mokusei — Three Jade/Green Wood Star
- Shiroku Mokusei — Four Green Wood Star
- Goou Dosei — Five Yellow Earth Star
- Roppaku Kinsei — Six White Metal Star
- Shichiseki Kinsei — Seven Red Metal Star
- Happaku Dosei — Eight White Earth Star
- Kyushi Kasei — Nine Purple Fire Star
Readings are based on these nine stars, each carrying its own set of symbolic meanings ("shoi").
Each star has a fixed position on what's called the "koutenjoui-ban" (the later-heaven arrangement chart). A star's position isn't static — the stars move according to a set pattern. Nine Star Ki divination combines each star's home position with its position for the current year to produce a reading. This lets you read yearly and monthly fortunes, and — because the direction for a given year or month is also read — it reveals lucky directions and directions to be cautious about.
✧How to Calculate Your Birth Star
In Nine Star Ki, the year you were born determines your "honmeisei" (main star), the month determines your "getsumeisei" (month star), and the day determines your "nichimeisei" (day star). The main star, based on your birth year, is considered the most important of the three.
The calculation method for finding your main star differs depending on whether you use the Japanese era system or the Western calendar, so both are explained below.
1. Calculating from the Japanese Era Year
Add the tens digit and the ones digit of the era year together. If the sum is 10 or more, add its own tens and ones digits again. Then, for people born in the Showa or Heisei eras, subtract the resulting number from 12 to get the main star number. For people born in the Reiwa era, subtract from 9 instead. The resulting number corresponds to the first part of your main star's name.
Numbers assigned to each era:
| Meiji | 16 |
| Taisho | 17 |
| Showa / Heisei | 12 |
| Reiwa | 9 |
Examples:
- Born in Showa 41 — 4 + 1 = 5; 12 − 5 = 7 → Seven Red Metal Star
- Born in Heisei 10 — 1 + 0 = 1; 12 − 1 = 11; 1 + 1 = 2 → Two Black Earth Star
- Born in Reiwa 1 — 9 − 1 = 8 → Eight White Earth Star
2. Calculating from the Western Calendar Year
A simpler way to calculate your Nine Star Ki main star is from your birth year in the Western calendar. Add together the four digits of your birth year, repeating the process until you get a number of 10 or less. Subtract that number from 11 to get the first part of your main star.
Examples:
- Born in 1955 — 1+9+5+5 = 20; 2+0 = 2; 11−2 = 9 → Nine Purple Fire Star
- Born in 1980 — 1+9+8+0 = 18; 1+8 = 9; 11−9 = 2 → Two Black Earth Star
- Born in 2021 — 2+0+2+1 = 5; 11−5 = 6 → Six White Metal Star
That's how easily it can be calculated.
One important caution: if you were born between January 1 and the day of Setsubun in early February, your Nine Star Ki year is actually the previous year. Setsubun often falls on the 3rd, but the exact date varies year to year, so anyone born in early February should check a Nine Star Ki perpetual calendar to be sure. This is because the Nine Star Ki year begins at Risshun (the start of spring) and runs through to Setsubun of the following year.
☀The Nine Stars and the Five Elements
Nine Star Ki is built on the concept of the Five Elements (Gogyo): the idea that everything in the world is made up of five types — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water (moku, ka, do, gon, sui). This is known as the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements ("in'you gogyou-setsu").
These five elements are interrelated: Wood burns to create Fire, Fire burns down to become Earth, Metal is born from within Earth, Water springs from Metal, and Water nourishes Wood — a continuous cycle. This is called the Five Elements' "Sosho" (mutual generation).
There is also a conflicting relationship: Wood draws nutrients from Earth, Earth dams the flooding of Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts down Wood — each element opposing and battling another. This is called the Five Elements' "Sokoku" (mutual control).
These five elements map onto the nine stars as follows:
- Wood = Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star
- Fire = Nine Purple Fire Star
- Earth = Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star
- Metal = Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star
- Water = One White Water Star
By distributing the five elemental types across nine distinct types, the system gains practical nuance. Building on ancient Chinese thought while creating something highly usable is likely why Nine Star Ki has been so widely embraced.
♡Reading Compatibility with Nine Star Ki
Using the concepts of Sosho (mutual generation) and Sokoku (mutual control) explained above, we can read relationships between people. Let's look at compatibility according to Nine Star Ki.
Take, for example, the Four Green Wood Star, which carries the meaning of Wood.
Since Wood burns to create Fire, people with the Four Green Wood Star feel a desire to support and empower people with the Nine Purple Fire Star. A Sosho relationship is like reaching out to help someone of your own accord.
Wood also cannot survive without Water. For a Four Green Wood Star person, someone with the One White Water Star (the power of Water) becomes a person who pours their energy into supporting and helping them. This, too, is a Sosho relationship.
Sokoku is a mutually repelling force. For a Four Green Wood Star person who wants to assert the power of Wood, the people they feel compelled to push back against are those with the power of Earth. The Four Green Wood Star person tends to clash or oppose people with the Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, or Eight White Earth Star.
The people the Four Green Wood Star wants to challenge but feels they can't win against are those with the Six White Metal Star or Seven Red Metal Star. A Wood-type person may push back against a Metal-type person, but ultimately has to acknowledge them as someone who ends up refining and shaping them.
Sokoku relationships tend to make human relationships complicated, but understanding them this way lets you respond without getting swept up emotionally.
Toward someone who shares the same Wood energy — the Three Jade Wood Star — a Four Green Wood Star person will share similar opinions and feelings, and the two quickly get along. The same is true toward another Four Green Wood Star person. This relationship between people who share the same element is called "Hiwa" (affinity).
Below is a summary of Nine Star Ki compatibility for each star.
One White Water Star
| Easy affinity with | One White Water Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Nine Purple Fire Star |
Two Black Earth Star
| Easy affinity with | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | One White Water Star |
Three Jade Wood Star
| Easy affinity with | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Extends a helping hand | One White Water Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
Four Green Wood Star
| Easy affinity with | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Extends a helping hand | One White Water Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
Five Yellow Earth Star
| Easy affinity with | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | One White Water Star |
Six White Metal Star
| Easy affinity with | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | One White Water Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
Seven Red Metal Star
| Easy affinity with | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | One White Water Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
Eight White Earth Star
| Easy affinity with | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
| Feels outmatched by | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | One White Water Star |
Nine Purple Fire Star
| Easy affinity with | Nine Purple Fire Star |
| Extends a helping hand | Three Jade Wood Star, Four Green Wood Star |
| Feels goodwill toward | Two Black Earth Star, Five Yellow Earth Star, Eight White Earth Star |
| Feels outmatched by | One White Water Star |
| Feels compelled to clash with | Six White Metal Star, Seven Red Metal Star |
✦Personality and Tendencies of Each Star
What kind of personality do you have? And what about the person you're curious about? Let's look at the personality and tendencies associated with each of the nine stars.
One White Water Star
The One White Water Star carries the energy of Water. Just as water takes the shape of whatever container holds it, people with this star adapt to their surroundings with great flexibility. On the flip side, water can't be cut, so these people are sometimes described as elusive or hard to pin down. Water is also liquid at room temperature but becomes solid when cold and turns to steam when boiled — similarly, these people's moods shift easily under outside influence, and they can end up unsure of their own feelings.
One White Water Star people are sharp-minded, careful, and skillful. However, they tend to shoulder their troubles alone rather than consulting others, and they can find it hard to accept advice. Because they tend toward hardship, they're the type to achieve success slowly, over time.
Two Black Earth Star
Two Black Earth Star people have the perseverance to face any difficulty and patiently see a task through once they've started it. They're mild-mannered, tolerant, and exceptionally cooperative. They have strong thinking and comprehension skills and a meticulous personality. However, they tend to be poor at taking bold action alone and lean on others.
Carrying the energy of Earth, the Two Black Earth Star has the quality of sowing seeds and nurturing growth. Because of this, women with this star are well suited to the roles of mother and homemaker. They tend to be praised as serious, kind, devoted wives and wise mothers who manage the household budget strictly. Men may come across as a bit unreliable because of their gentleness. However, because they work diligently and steadily, they're the type who reliably produces results.
Three Jade Wood Star
Three Jade Wood Star people burn hot and cool down fast — the short-burst, concentrated type. They have sharp sensitivity and don't hesitate to move toward new things. They're bright, cheerful, sociable, and likeable. Their emotions sometimes take the lead and their temper flares, but they don't hold grudges and are refreshingly straightforward. Keeping promises reliably will help their relationships go smoothly.
The Wood of the Three Jade Wood Star is a sprouting tree, extremely active. They're rich in affection and have cultural refinement. Women with this star very often marry someone with more money or status than themselves. Men, too, are full of energy and skilled at socializing, so they tend to rise in their careers early. They can be poor at tidying up loose ends, but avoiding the urge to rush results will help prevent trouble.
Four Green Wood Star
Four Green Wood Star people are gentle and easy to get along with, with a kind personality. They're social types who value harmony with those around them. However, inside they can be stubborn, guarded, and reluctant to show their true feelings. They can also be moody and indecisive, but if they hold firm and learn to make decisions, they'll be able to seize opportunities.
The green of the Four Green Wood Star represents plants and trees growing and blooming at their peak. These people don't sweat the small stuff and are generous in spirit. By devoting themselves to others and earning trust, they tend to be blessed with opportunities for success from a young age.
Luna Factory's Divination Card Collection
Five Yellow Earth Star
The Five Yellow Earth Star sits at the center. Because of this, people with this star tend to take the lead, standing above others to see things through. They're warm-hearted and full of a sense of justice, but can also be stubborn and difficult. They're bold on the surface while holding delicate sensitivity within.
Known as the "Emperor's Star," the Five Yellow Earth Star carries a powerful destiny. As the star of the ruler, these people dislike working under someone else. They achieve success and growth by standing above others. However, their fortunes tend to swing clearly between good and bad, giving Five Yellow Earth Star people an extreme dual nature.
Six White Metal Star
Six White Metal Star people hold high ideals. They're pure-minded, dislike currying favor with others, and have strong pride. They're caring, have the qualities of a leader, and have the makings of someone at the top of an organization. They dislike being told what to do, yet are attentive to others and possess real leadership qualities — they have what it takes to head an organization, but their short temper and apparent selfishness may cause elders to keep their distance. Being tested and forged by the rough waves of society is what allows their true talent to bloom.
The Six White Metal Star represents unrefined, rough metal. Depending on how it's polished, it can shine magnificently. There may be trouble and turbulence in youth, but from middle age onward, as they develop humility and cooperativeness, their fortunes open up and bring major opportunities.
Seven Red Metal Star
Sociable and sharp-minded, Seven Red Metal Star people are also skilled at navigating the world. They're good talkers with a knack for persuading people. They tend to have a strong desire for self-expression. If they develop planning skills and patience, they'll be able to see things through to the end. They have good money luck but aren't great at saving.
Representing refined and processed metal, the Seven Red Metal Star becomes more capable the more hardship it endures in youth. Though born under a star that ensures they'll never want for food, clothing, or shelter, the more trials they pass through, the more remarkable their development. They tend to grow more prosperous heading into their later years.
Eight White Earth Star
Eight White Earth Star people can be stubborn, obstinate, and argumentative. But this is the flip side of being serious, having a strong sense of justice, and holding firm to their convictions. No matter what difficulty they face, they push forward positively without flinching. They have high pride and clear likes and dislikes about people, so care should be taken to avoid trouble in relationships.
The Earth of the Eight White Earth Star symbolizes a mountain. These people have strong luck as successors and often inherit their parents' business or estate. They may also inherit others' assets through adoption. They're also skilled at pioneering new ventures. Working energetically and drawing on their innate perseverance, they achieve major success.
Nine Purple Fire Star
Nine Purple Fire Star people are bright and lively. They want to be at the center of things. Being intelligent with sharp sensitivity, they excel in intellectual curiosity and aesthetic sense. Since they burn hot and cool quickly, they take on all kinds of challenges. On the surface they appear bright, but internally their emotions can swing intensely and become unstable.
Symbolizing fire, the Nine Purple Fire Star carries both beauty and intensity. They hold high ideals and ambitions and have a strong drive to rise. Because they have their own world and observe things from a unique perspective, they achieve great success.
⧗Nine Star Ki Fortune for 2022
What kind of year will 2022 be, according to Nine Star Ki? In this system, 2022 runs from Risshun (start of spring) on February 4, 2022, through Setsubun on February 3, 2023.
2022 is the year of the Five Yellow Earth Star. You may have heard the phrase "Goou no Tora" (the Five Yellow Tiger). In Nine Star Ki, the Five Yellow Earth Star occupies the center, and this year also falls in the Year of the Tiger in the twelve zodiac signs. Both the Five Yellow Earth Star and the Tiger carry powerful energy, and this combination occurs only once every 36 years — which may be why it earns its special name.
A Five Yellow Earth Star year is also the year when every star returns to its home position. It's called a year of "destruction and rebirth." It's a year when a new flow begins. It's a time to sort out what matters to you from what doesn't. Looking back over the past nine years and clearing away what's unnecessary will help you get your own house in order.
Let's look at each star's fortune for 2022.
One White Water Star — 2022 Fortune
2022 looks to be a year for the One White Water Star to take things slowly, without rushing, and simply accept what comes. Emotions may feel unstable, and you might find yourself irritated and blaming yourself. Your luck is entering a stagnant phase. Rushing to find answers won't work out well in anything. To bring about good results, avoid forcing things onto others and take a relaxed, patient stance.
The One White Water Star values harmony with those around them, but this year that tendency may backfire. Be careful not to lose yourself by being swept along by other people's words and actions. In 2022, focusing on self-development and polishing yourself while waiting for opportunity to arrive will lead to better fortune. Marriage is favorable.
Two Black Earth Star — 2022 Fortune
For the Two Black Earth Star, 2022 brings gradually rising fortune. Since you're naturally persistent, don't give up — just keep your daily life in order. Especially from around mid-2022, you may start to see tangible results. A steady, reliable attitude will draw in good luck.
In relationships, the most important thing is to cherish your current connections. Building from there will lead to further growth. Communicate carefully with the people closest to you — friends, acquaintances, parents, partners, and spouses. That kind of action will lead to future happiness. If you're looking for new encounters, take another look at your usual places and the people you already know well. A wonderful encounter may be waiting there.
Three Jade Wood Star — 2022 Fortune
2022 is a year when the future starts to open up for the Three Jade Wood Star. Your past efforts bear fruit, and you may feel that you've genuinely built up real skill. It's also a good year to take a step forward and try something new. Setting long-term plans and building a path toward the future will lead to major success.
This year brings significant change to your current standing, through things like new encounters or marriage. Combining an assertive approach with consideration and a willingness to meet others halfway will bring good results. Your actions this year will greatly affect your future fortune. If you're feeling any anxiety or dissatisfaction, make an effort to resolve it — your efforts this year will definitely lead to good fortune.
Four Green Wood Star — 2022 Fortune
2022 looks to be a year of remarkable progress and growth for the Four Green Wood Star. This is the year when the dreams and goals you've worked toward come true. You may also achieve those dreams and goals and move on to face a new stage. You're on the right path. However, be careful not to forget to rest in your eagerness not to miss this wave. Being mindful of life balance and giving yourself a bit of breathing room will boost your overall fortune.
This is a year with significant connections to other people. Making use of your existing network will lead to new encounters. Your current relationships will also progress smoothly, with signs of moving up to a new stage. Be mindful of acting in accordance with the situation and environment — try to move things forward when work has settled down and things at home are calm.
Five Yellow Earth Star — 2022 Fortune
For the Five Yellow Earth Star, 2022 looks to be a year that calls for caution and sincerity. Peak highs and lows will alternate like waves, and your emotions will likely rise and fall along with them. First, stabilize yourself mentally. To do that, avoid stubbornly holding your ground and instead consult with someone you trust. Once your mind settles, you'll be able to handle real-world problems as well.
In relationships, connections with childhood friends or long-standing acquaintances look set to deepen. Taking the time to properly align your thinking with each other and making plans as you move forward will lead to future happiness. Also, this year it's wise for the Five Yellow Earth Star to hold off on major purchases or big expenses.
Six White Metal Star — 2022 Fortune
Finally being able to settle down and breathe easy — that's the fortune for the Six White Metal Star in 2022. For the past several years, things haven't gone as you wanted, but now you'll be able to act on your own will. With more mental breathing room, you'll be able to handle problems well even if they arise. You'll feel that your past hardships have finally paid off.
In relationships, you may end up spinning your wheels by prioritizing your own ideals. Relationships with others don't always go the way you want. Try to keep an objective perspective. If you stay calm rather than emotional, this can become a foothold year toward a happy future.
Seven Red Metal Star — 2022 Fortune
2022 is riding a calm, steady flow for the Seven Red Metal Star. Your energy is full, and you'll be able to spend the year feeling lively and well. You'll especially find more breathing room financially. It looks to be a satisfying year where you can fully enjoy both work and your personal life. However, if you overpack your schedule, you'll lose that hard-won breathing room. Since you're skilled at enjoying yourself, try to be mindful this year of making time to feel fulfilled.
Your luck favors new encounters this year. Passion runs high, making this a year when you can build a deeper relationship. Consider your hopes, prospects, and vision for the future. You'll be able to move to the next stage with someone who can envision the same future as you.
Eight White Earth Star — 2022 Fortune
For the Eight White Earth Star, 2022 is a year where your own awareness creates opportunity. Many things may not go as smoothly as you'd like, but you're being tested on what you find within that and how you connect it to your future. Try to turn difficulty into something positive and keep your emotions under control.
In relationships, there will be many new encounters. That may also mean some partings. You could be facing a need to reassess your current relationships. To maintain a relationship, it's important that you make the effort to meet the other person halfway and try to understand them. Avoid putting up appearances — stay honest and be your natural self.
Nine Purple Fire Star — 2022 Fortune
2022 looks to be a strong year for the Nine Purple Fire Star. The intuition that defines this star sharpens, your thinking speeds up, and you'll be able to move actively. This is a year when your past efforts get recognized. The next step is being prepared for you. You'll be able to move toward the future with confidence. Calm judgment will be the key to success.
Actively seeking out new encounters will bring good connections. However, if you get swept up in your own emotions, it could put cracks in a relationship. To avoid regretting it later, don't lash out or hold back your true feelings. Stay honest and speak calmly, and a bright future awaits.
Nyanta
Nekosuke
⚖Summary
We've introduced how Nine Star Ki divination works and the fortune for 2022. Because Nine Star Ki can be read from someone's birth year alone, it's a useful way to get a sense of how someone thinks and what kind of match they might be for you — even for people whose birthday you don't know or would find awkward to ask about.
We hope this serves as a helpful reference not only for understanding the people you're compatible with, but also those you aren't. Use it alongside the yearly fortune trends we've covered.
Let's make 2022 a wonderful year.
Reviewed by
Usatoko WHITE
Professional fortune teller specialising in tarot, oracle and Lenormand reading. Usatoko supervises every divination guide at Luna Factory to keep them accurate and beginner-friendly.
Written by the Luna Factory Editorial Team
