Sangmen (丧门) — The Mourning Gate Star
Function
Sangmen is one of the inauspicious Fate Stars (神煞) in BaZi (八字). When it appears in a person's chart or annual cycle, it often signals a period marked by themes of mourning, illness, and difficulty in accumulating or preserving wealth. Individuals influenced by this star may face heightened challenges in family matters and career progression, and could be more prone to accidents or health concerns.
Traditional wisdom advises that during years when Sangmen is active, one should exercise particular caution. It is often recommended to avoid attending funerals or visiting the sick if possible, as these actions are thought to potentially attract or amplify negative energy.
Method of Checking
The Sangmen star is determined by the Earthly Branch (Di Zhi) of the birth year. You find it by looking at the branch that is two positions ahead in the standard 12-branch sequence.
| Birth Year Branch | Sangmen Branch |
|---|---|
| Zi (子 - Rat) | Yin (寅 - Tiger) |
| Chou (丑 - Ox) | Mao (卯 - Rabbit) |
| Yin (寅 - Tiger) | Chen (辰 - Dragon) |
| Mao (卯 - Rabbit) | Si (巳 - Snake) |
| Chen (辰 - Dragon) | Wu (午 - Horse) |
| Si (巳 - Snake) | Wei (未 - Goat) |
| Wu (午 - Horse) | Shen (申 - Monkey) |
| Wei (未 - Goat) | You (酉 - Rooster) |
| Shen (申 - Monkey) | Xu (戌 - Dog) |
| You (酉 - Rooster) | Hai (亥 - Pig) |
| Xu (戌 - Dog) | Zi (子 - Rat) |
| Hai (亥 - Pig) | Chou (丑 - Ox) |
Example: For someone born in a Si (Snake) year, the corresponding Sangmen branch is Wei (Goat). You would then check if the Wei branch appears in your Four Pillars (Si Zhu) or Annual Cycle (Liu Nian) to see its influence.
Related Anecdotes
The concept of Sangmen has roots in ancient shamanistic divination practices. It was later integrated into the complex system of Fate Stars within BaZi astrology by classical scholars. The ancients viewed a person's fortune as cyclical, with different stars representing various phases of prosperity and adversity. Sangmen came to symbolize the downward turn—a period of decline, loss, and hardship, often concretely linked to funerals, sickness, and financial drains.
This historical context explains why traditional texts emphasize vigilance and a subdued demeanor when Sangmen is active, as a means to navigate its challenging energy without attracting further misfortune.