Lo Shu planes and missing numbers

A plane is any complete line of three cells on the Lo Shu grid, and reading planes is how the grid moves from a list of numbers to a description: a complete plane shows a consistent quality, a partial plane a quality that depends on circumstances, and an empty plane one that is simply not emphasised.

This lesson builds on lesson 11, which shows how the grid is filled. On this site the grid holds the non-zero digits of the date of birth plus the Moolank, Bhagyank and Kua number, so every plane and every missing number below is counted on that full grid.

What are the eight planes?

The three rows describe levels of experience (mental, emotional, practical). The three columns describe stages of action (thought, will, action). The two diagonals describe outcomes (success through effort, material stability).

Every plane runs through the grid's geometry, so planes share cells. The centre 5 sits on four planes at once (the emotional row, the will column and both diagonals), which is why a 5 in the grid touches so much of the reading. The corner numbers 4, 2, 8 and 6 each sit on three planes; the edge numbers 9, 3, 7 and 1 on two.

Complete, partial and empty

• Complete plane (all three cells filled): a reliable strength. The will plane 9-5-1 complete is read as determination that does not fade.
• Partial plane (two of three): the quality is present but conditional; the missing cell names the condition.
• Empty plane (none): the quality is not emphasised by birth. It is not absent from the person; it is learned rather than instinctive.

The calculator's headline names every complete plane, with its meaning. If none is complete, it says so plainly: that is common, and about one grid in five has no complete plane. A separate list shows the planes with two of three numbers. Planes with one cell or none are not listed; you can read them from the grid itself.

Worked example

The grid from lesson 11 (born 14 August 1990, male) holds 1, 4, 8, 1, 9, 9 from the date, then Moolank 5, Bhagyank 5 and Kua 1. Present: 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9.

• Will plane 9-5-1: complete.
• Mental plane 4-9-2: partial; 2 is missing.
• Practical plane 8-1-6: partial; 6 is missing.
• Thought plane 4-3-8: partial; 3 is missing.
• Golden plane 4-5-6: partial; 6 is missing.
• Silver plane 2-5-8: partial; 2 is missing.
• Emotional plane 3-5-7: one cell (5).
• Action plane 2-7-6: empty.

Reading: strong determination, with five more planes (thinking, practical work, reasoning, success through effort and material stability) that each wait on one quality. The same two gaps keep appearing: 6 (harmony, care for others) and 2 (sensitivity). The empty action plane suggests that turning intention into action is practised rather than automatic, which sits interestingly beside a complete will plane: the resolve is there, and the habit of starting is learned. Four missing numbers in total, which is ordinary.

Second worked example

The second grid from lesson 11 (born 23 January 2002, female) holds 2, 3, 1, 2, 2 from the date, then Moolank 5, Bhagyank 1 and Kua 7. Present: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Missing: 4, 6, 8 and 9.

• Emotional plane 3-5-7: complete.
• Will plane 9-5-1: partial; 9 is missing.
• Action plane 2-7-6: partial; 6 is missing.
• Silver plane 2-5-8: partial; 8 is missing.
• Mental, practical, thought and golden planes: one cell each.

Reading: feelings and relationships are a steady strength, with three 2s adding sensitivity. Determination, action and material stability are present but conditional, on courage (9), care (6) and patience (8). No plane is empty.

How much do the additions change?

Plane	14 Aug 1990, date only	14 Aug 1990, full grid	23 Jan 2002, date only	23 Jan 2002, full grid
Mental	2	2	1	1
Emotional	0	1	1	3
Practical	2	2	1	1
Thought	2	2	1	1
Will	2	3	1	2
Action	0	0	1	2
Golden	1	2	0	1
Silver	1	2	1	2

In both cases the only complete plane exists because of the additions. From the date alone the first grid misses 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and the second misses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. This is why grids from different calculators often disagree.

What does each missing number mean?

Missing	Planet	Read as a quality to learn
1	Sun	Speaking up for oneself, self-reliance
2	Moon	Sensitivity to others, cooperation
3	Jupiter	Putting ideas into words, optimism
4	Rahu	Order, method, routine
5	Mercury	Adaptability and balance; the centre of the grid
6	Venus	Harmony, care for home and family
7	Ketu	Reflection, analysis, time alone
8	Saturn	Patience, discipline, long-term effort
9	Mars	Courage, energy, finishing what is started

Reading missing numbers calmly

Missing numbers are the part of the grid that attracts the most anxious questions, so a rule: a missing number describes a learning edge, not a loss. A missing 5 does not mean a person cannot balance; it means balance is practised, not automatic. On this site's full grid, about three charts in four have three to five gaps, and a grid with every number is very rare.

Where do schools disagree?

• What goes on the grid. Date only, or date plus Moolank, Bhagyank and Kua. This site uses the full grid by default, as set in its configuration.
• Plane names. Books and teachers use different names for the same lines, and some give the diagonals different meanings. The cells are always the same.
• Repeats. Some readers treat several repeats of one number as an excess that weakens a plane. This site marks repeated numbers but does not change plane readings for them.

Common mistakes

• Reading a plane from the date alone when the calculator used the full grid.
• Counting zeros as filling a cell.
• Treating an empty plane as a verdict. It describes emphasis, not ability.

Calculate yours

Try the calculator this lesson explains.

Date of birth

Day

Month

Year

For example 14 08 1990 · Remembered on this device only, never sent anywhere.

Gender (the Kua formula needs it)

MaleFemale

Calculate