Luoshu Square

Luoshu Square
The traditional Luoshu diagram
The equivalent magic square
Luoshu
Traditional Chinese洛書
Simplified Chinese洛书
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLuòshū
Wade–GilesLo Shu
Nine Halls Diagram
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJiǔgōngtú
Wade–GilesChiu-kung-t'u
Vietnamese name
VietnameseLạc Thư
Korean name
Hangul낙서
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationNakseo
McCune–ReischauerNaksŏ
Japanese name
Kanji洛書
Hiraganaらくしょ
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnRakusho

The Luoshu (pinyin), Lo Shu (Wade-Giles), or Nine Halls Diagram is an ancient Chinese diagram and named for the Luo River near Luoyang, Henan. The Luoshu appears in myths concerning the invention of writing by Cangjie and other culture heroes. It is a unique normal magic square of order three. It is usually paired with the River Map or Hetunamed in reference to the Yellow Riverand used with the River Map in various contexts involving Chinese geomancy, numerology, philosophy, and early natural science.