Emptiness / Void (Kong Wang)

What Is Kong Wang?

Kong Wang (Emptiness / Void), also known as "Xun Kong" (Decade Emptiness), is a special phenomenon in the Sixty Jiazi Stem-Branch cycle. Among the combinations of ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches, each Jiazi decade (10 Stem-Branch pairs) corresponds to 10 Branches — inevitably leaving 2 Branches without a corresponding Stem. These 2 Branches are that decade's "Kong Wang." Kong Wang symbolizes power falling into emptiness, insubstantiality, and temporary interruption.

Calculating Kong Wang

The Sixty Jiazi is divided into six decades of 10 pairs each. Kong Wang consists of the two remaining Branches in each decade:

Determine the chart's Kong Wang based on the decade in which the Day Pillar's Stem-Branch combination falls.

Effects of Kong Wang

• Branch falling into Kong Wang: That Branch's power is greatly weakened; the Six Relations or Ten Gods it represents become insubstantial
• Shen Sha falling into Kong Wang: Noble Stars, Post Horse, and other Shen Sha are weakened or even rendered ineffective when in Kong Wang Branches
• Wealth or Officer falling into Kong Wang: Pursuing wealth or official position proves insubstantial — more illusion than reality

Activating Kong Wang (Filling the Void)

Kong Wang Branches are not permanently ineffective — when a Luck Cycle or Annual Luck Branch "fills the void" (i.e., the Kong Wang Branch appears in the Luck Cycle or Annual Luck), the Kong Wang is activated, and its power instead bursts forth (called "Tian Shi" — Filling the Void).

Positive Applications of Kong Wang

• Inauspicious Sha falling into Kong Wang: If Robbery Sha, Death God, and other inauspicious Sha fall on a Kong Wang Branch, their inauspicious nature is greatly reduced — actually a good thing
• Religious practice: Kong Wang represents "transcendence from the mundane," sometimes seen as a symbol suitable for spiritual cultivation

Kong Wang in Different Palaces