West is governed by the trigram Dui (兌), the trigram of the lake — still water bounded by metal, the finished form rather than the flowing source. Its element is metal (specifically yin metal, refined and shaped), its season is autumn, its colours are white and silver, and its life area is children and creativity.
West is one of the two metal sectors of the bagua (along with Northwest). Where Northwest metal is the patriarchal authority of the head of household, West metal is more playful and creative — the sector associated with finished work, artistic completion, and the youngest daughter trigram. It is a natural placement for a children’s bedroom, a creative studio, or a display area for finished art.
The element governing West is yin metal, supported by earth (earth produces metal) and weakened by fire (fire melts metal). Wood is dominated by metal (metal cuts wood), and water drains metal (metal generates water). Classical enhancements for the West sector include round or oval metal objects, white and silver decor, and finished artwork — not work-in-progress materials, which belong in wood sectors that support growth rather than completion.
In Eight Mansions, West is auspicious for the West Life Group (Kua 2, 5, 6, 7, 8) and inauspicious for the East Life Group. For Kua 7 (West Life), West is the Fu Wei sector. For Kua 2, 5, 6, and 8, West is one of the four auspicious directions for daily activities.