# Name Numerology – Five Grids (五格剖象法)

> Computes the five grids (天格, 人格, 地格, 总格, 外格) of a Chinese name from the 康熙字典 stroke counts of the surname and given-name characters, rates each grid with the 81 数理 table, assigns five elements by the last digit and evaluates the 三才 (heaven-human-earth) configuration by the generating and controlling cycles.

- Calculator id: `name-numerology` · Category: I Ching & Five Elements (`yijing`) · Tool name: `calculate_name_five_grids`
- Canonical page: https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/name-numerology · This document: https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/name-numerology.md · JSON definition: https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/name-numerology.json

## Purpose

Computes the five grids (天格, 人格, 地格, 总格, 外格) of a Chinese name from the 康熙字典 stroke counts of the surname and given-name characters, rates each grid with the 81 数理 table, assigns five elements by the last digit and evaluates the 三才 (heaven-human-earth) configuration by the generating and controlling cycles.

**Use when:** You have the Kangxi stroke counts of a one- or two-character surname and a one- or two-character given name and want the 五格 numbers, their ratings, the 三才 elements and its 生克 assessment.

**Do not use when:** You need stroke counts themselves (look them up in the 康熙字典; simplified-character counts give different grids), or you want a number rating for a phone or plate (use number-numerology).

## Input

| Parameter | Type | Unit | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `surname_strokes` | number_list |  | required | 康熙字典 stroke count of each surname character (1 or 2 values), e.g. 7 for 李. |
| `given_name_strokes` | number_list |  | required | 康熙字典 stroke count of each given-name character (1 or 2 values), e.g. 3,8 for 小明. |
| `surname` | string |  | optional | Optional surname characters, shown in the output only. |
| `given_name` | string |  | optional | Optional given-name characters, shown in the output only. |

## Output

| Field | Type | Unit | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `name` | string |  | Name as given with the stroke counts used. |
| `tian_ge` | object |  | value, rating, element and gloss; the surname sum (+1 for a single-character surname), traditionally inherited and not judged alone. |
| `ren_ge` | object |  | Last surname character + first given-name character; the main grid. |
| `di_ge` | object |  | Given-name sum (+1 for a single-character given name). |
| `zong_ge` | object |  | Sum of all real strokes (values above 81 are reduced by 80 for the table). |
| `wai_ge` | object |  | 总格 − 人格 plus 1 for each single-character part (2 for a single surname with a single given name). |
| `sancai` | string |  | Elements of 天格, 人格 and 地格 as three characters, e.g. 金水木. |
| `sancai_english` | string |  | The same three elements in English. |
| `sancai_assessment` | string |  | 生克 relations 天→人 and 人→地 and the resulting assessment (no controlling pair favourable, one medium, two unfavourable). |
| `total_assessment` | string |  | Ratings of the four judged grids and the 三才 in one line. |
| `notes` | string |  | Stroke-count conventions and cultural framing. |

## Formula

`天格 = Σ surname strokes (+1 if one character); 人格 = last surname character + first given-name character; 地格 = Σ given-name strokes (+1 if one character); 总格 = Σ all strokes; 外格 = 总格 − 人格 + [single surname] + [single given name]. Element by last digit: 1/2 木, 3/4 火, 5/6 土, 7/8 金, 9/0 水. Rating from the 81 数理 table (values > 81 → value − 80). 三才 = 天/人/地 elements; assessment by the generating (木→火→土→金→水) and controlling (木→土→水→火→金) cycles.`

Five-grid method of 熊崎健翁 as practised in Chinese name numerology; stroke counts must follow the 康熙字典 (e.g. 氵 = 4, 阝 left = 8, 艹 = 6), which differ from simplified counts. Traditional 三才 tables rate each of the 125 combinations individually; this calculator applies the simplified 生克 rule stated in the formula. Traditional reference calculation from the Chinese divination and numerology literature: it reports what the tradition assigns to the cast or number, not a prediction and not medical, legal or financial advice.

## Data Sources

- Wikipedia (zh) – 五格剖象法 (five grids and the 81 数理 table) — https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/五格剖象法 (reference, retrieved 2026-09-24)

Data freshness: `static`. Deterministic formula with fixed constants; results never go stale. Inputs supplied by the caller determine the output.

## API

- `GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/name-numerology?surname_strokes=…&given_name_strokes=…`
- `POST https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/name-numerology` with JSON body `{"inputs": {…}}`
- Response: unified envelope (`success`, `request`, `result.values`, `result.units`, `sources`, `freshness`, `timestamp`, `next_actions`, `links`); see https://tttkmbb.com/docs/response-format.md
- Schema: https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculators/name-numerology · OpenAPI operationId `calculate_name_five_grids` in https://tttkmbb.com/openapi.json
- Authentication: none. Rate limit: fair use, see https://tttkmbb.com/docs/rate-limits.md.

## MCP

- Server: `https://tttkmbb.com/mcp` (Streamable HTTP, JSON-RPC 2.0, no auth)
- Tool:  `run_calculator` with `{"calculator_id": "name-numerology", "inputs": {…}}`

## Example

- 李小明 (7 / 3, 8): inputs `{"surname_strokes":[7],"given_name_strokes":[3,8],"surname":"李","given_name":"小明"}` → `{"tian_ge":{"value":8,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"金 Metal"},"ren_ge":{"value":10,"rating":"凶 (inauspicious)","element":"水 Water"},"di_ge":{"value":11,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"木 Wood"},"zong_ge":{"value":18,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"金 Metal"},"wai_ge":{"value":9,"rating":"凶 (inauspicious)","element":"水 Water"},"sancai":"金水木","sancai_english":"Metal-Water-Wood"}`
- 欧阳修 (15, 17 / 10): inputs `{"surname_strokes":[15,17],"given_name_strokes":[10],"surname":"欧阳","given_name":"修"}` → `{"tian_ge":{"value":32,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"木 Wood"},"ren_ge":{"value":27,"rating":"半吉 (mixed)","element":"金 Metal"},"di_ge":{"value":11,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"木 Wood"},"zong_ge":{"value":42,"rating":"半吉 (mixed)","element":"木 Wood"},"wai_ge":{"value":16,"rating":"吉 (auspicious)","element":"土 Earth"},"sancai":"木金木"}`

```
GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/name-numerology?surname_strokes=7&given_name_strokes=3%2C8&surname=%E6%9D%8E&given_name=%E5%B0%8F%E6%98%8E
```

## Limitations

You need stroke counts themselves (look them up in the 康熙字典; simplified-character counts give different grids), or you want a number rating for a phone or plate (use number-numerology). Five-grid method of 熊崎健翁 as practised in Chinese name numerology; stroke counts must follow the 康熙字典 (e.g. 氵 = 4, 阝 left = 8, 艹 = 6), which differ from simplified counts. Traditional 三才 tables rate each of the 125 combinations individually; this calculator applies the simplified 生克 rule stated in the formula. Traditional reference calculation from the Chinese divination and numerology literature: it reports what the tradition assigns to the cast or number, not a prediction and not medical, legal or financial advice. All values are computed from the formula above; no measurement or live data is involved.

## FAQ

**Why must I use 康熙字典 strokes?**

The five-grid method was defined on traditional characters counted by the Kangxi dictionary, where radicals keep their full form (氵 counts 4 as 水, 阝 on the left counts 8 as 阜, 艹 counts 6 as 艸). Simplified counts change every grid.

**How is 外格 formed for a single surname and single given name?**

Both virtual strokes (the +1 added to 天格 and 地格) are summed, so 外格 = 2 regardless of the characters.

**Which grids matter most?**

Practitioners weigh 人格 (character and fortune), 地格 (early life) and 总格 (later life) and the 三才 configuration; 天格 is inherited from the surname and is not judged alone.

## Related

- [Number Numerology (数字数理)](https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/number-numerology.md) — Rate a phone or plate number with the same 81 table.
- [Five Elements Relation (五行生克)](https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/five-elements.md) — Generating and controlling relations behind the 三才 assessment.
- [Bagua Trigram Lookup (八卦)](https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/bagua.md) — Trigram and element reference for the five elements.