What is the Xian Chi star?

For many people, the Xian Chi star simply means "peach blossom," the Chinese image for romance. That impression actually comes from Bazi (Four Pillars): the Lun Xian Chi section of the San Ming Tong Hui, a Ming-dynasty classic of Bazi, says "the Mu Yu place of the Five Elements is called Xian Chi," and also that it is "also called the peach blossom sha." Zi Wei Dou Shu's Xian Chi uses the same placement, and became one of the four romance stars on the chart. Interestingly, the Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu (The Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu) never mentions Xian Chi from start to finish. Draw your chart first and see which palace your Xian Chi is in.

What kind of star is Xian Chi

Xian Chi is a minor star, and Xingge reads it in one line with Tian Yao: attraction that radiates outward, a knack for setting the mood, and many people who like you. Tian Yao is more like personal style and flair; Xian Chi is more like how much you get noticed. When the two meet, the charm is at its most visible.

How Xian Chi is placed

Xian Chi goes by the branch of your birth year, grouped by trine:

• Born in a Shen, Zi or Chen year: Xian Chi is in You.
• Born in a Yin, Wu or Xu year: Xian Chi is in Mao.
• Born in a Si, You or Chou year: Xian Chi is in Wu.
• Born in a Hai, Mao or Wei year: Xian Chi is in Zi.

So Xian Chi only ever lands in Zi, Wu, Mao or You. This is exactly the Bazi method of "finding the peach blossom from the year branch," and the San Ming Tong Hui lists the same thing: Yin-Wu-Xu to Mao, Si-You-Chou to Wu, Shen-Zi-Chen to You, Hai-Mao-Wei to Zi. On the Xingge chart, the Twelve General Gods (Jiang Qian) also include a Xian Chi in the same position as this star, so read them as one and the same.

Why the Quan Shu doesn't have it

As the romance stars lesson mentions, volume two of the Quan Shu has placement verses for Hong Luan, Tian Xi and Tian Yao, but not a single line on Xian Chi. Its placement is the same as Xian Chi in Ziping Bazi. The Daoist Canon edition of Zi Wei Dou Shu (attributed to Chen Tuan, in the Ming supplement to the Daoist Canon) says that "Tian Yao is Xian Chi," treating Xian Chi as another name for Tian Yao, and doesn't place a separate Xian Chi. Most charting software today puts Xian Chi on the chart as its own star, and Xingge follows that common placement. Since there's no placement verse to check against, every reading of Xian Chi comes from later common practice, and it is weighted even lighter than Hong Luan and Tian Xi.

Xian Chi in key palaces

• Life Palace: you have a presence that makes people want to come closer, and you stand out easily in a crowd. Charm is a gift; the measure is yours to judge.
• Spouse Palace: strong attraction and plenty of options in love; you fall for people easily. Once you've chosen, remember to settle your heart.
• Wealth Palace: money often goes on looks, entertainment and socializing, and you may also earn through goodwill and image. Enjoying it is fine; just keep it within your means.
• Career Palace: suited to work where you face people and need to be remembered, such as sales, hosting, retail, beauty and hair, or brand building.
• Travel Palace: you do very well away from home and draw attention easily. Amid all the buzz, you can tell who is sincere.

Xian Chi with main stars, transformations and Annual Luck

• The main star: Xian Chi sharing a palace with Tan Lang or Lian Zhen has the strongest romantic flavor, with a lot going on socially and in love. With harder main stars like Wu Qu or Qi Sha, the attraction is hidden inside crispness and decisiveness.
• The four transformations: with Hua Lu in Xian Chi's palace, goodwill readily turns into real opportunities; with Hua Ji, you tend to care too much in love, so find your own pace again first.
• Annual Luck: when the Annual Luck enters Xian Chi's palace, practitioners say the year brings more socializing and more chances to be noticed. It's a good time to meet new people; for important decisions, still spend more time together first.

How different schools read Xian Chi

The Quan Shu itself has no Xian Chi, but today's charts, whether by the Quan Shu or the Zhongzhou school, mostly put Xian Chi on the chart, placed the same way by the year-branch trine. If you switch Xingge to Zhongzhou placement, Xian Chi's position doesn't change. The San Ming Tong Hui says Xian Chi is "also called the spirit of defeat, also called the peach blossom sha," which speaks of pleasure taken too far. That is the Bazi spirit-star view; Xingge doesn't adopt such harsh words and reads it only as attraction and measure. Zi Wei and Bazi can be read side by side, and the Zi Wei Dou Shu and Bazi page explains how to look at the two together.