Zi Wei Dou Shu glossary

The basics

Zi Wei Dou Shu

Purple Star Astrology: a system that places over a hundred stars into twelve palaces by your birth date and hour, to read your character and the rhythm of your life.

Further lesson: Zi Wei Dou Shu isn't fortune-telling. It's a map of who you are ›

Birth chart

The twelve-palace chart cast from your birth date and hour, recording your character and the rhythm of your life.

Further lesson: Zi Wei Dou Shu isn't fortune-telling. It's a map of who you are ›

Palace

The twelve cells of the chart. Each one governs one area of life, like twelve rooms.

Further lesson: One chart, twelve rooms ›

Heavenly Stems

Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren and Gui: a cycle of ten that sets the transformations.

Further lesson: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the crash course ›

Earthly Branches

Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao through Hai: a cycle of twelve, which are the twelve seats of the chart.

Further lesson: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the crash course ›

Five Elements

Wood, fire, earth, metal and water: five energies the ancients used to describe how things support and restrain each other.

Further lesson: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the crash course ›

Five Elements Bureau

Water 2 through Fire 6. It decides where Zi Wei lands and at what age your first Decade Luck starts.

Further lesson: How your chart is cast ›

Chinese double-hour

The ancients split the day into twelve two-hour blocks. Your birth hour decides where the Life Palace falls.

Further lesson: How your chart is cast ›

Four Pillars

Your birth year, month, day and hour, each written as a stem-branch pair: eight characters in all.

Further lesson: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the crash course ›

Life Master

A star set by the branch of your Life Palace, showing the base color of your innate temperament.

Further lesson: How your chart is cast ›

Body Master

A star set by your birth-year branch, showing the direction you put more effort into as life goes on.

Further lesson: How your chart is cast ›

Base chart

Where Zi Wei lands fixes the positions of all fourteen main stars: twelve layouts in six symmetrical pairs.

Further lesson: Where Zi Wei sits decides the whole chart ›

The twelve palaces and how to read them

Life Palace

The core of who you are: your personality and innate makeup. Every chart reading starts here.

Further lesson: The Life Palace and the Body Palace ›

Siblings Palace

Siblings and peers: how you get along, team up and compete with people at your own level.

Further lesson: The relationships line: five rooms about other people ›

Spouse Palace

Love and partnership: who you are in a close relationship and what you look for in a partner.

Further lesson: The relationships line: five rooms about other people ›

Children Palace

Children, and the people you bring along: students, juniors, the team you mentor.

Further lesson: The relationships line: five rooms about other people ›

Wealth Palace

How you earn and spend, how you feel about money, and how your finances rise and fall.

Further lesson: The resources line: Wealth, Career and Property ›

Health Palace

Your constitution and how you carry stress and handle your emotions.

Further lesson: The self line: Fortune, Travel and Health ›

Travel Palace

Who you become away from home: on the road, in public, and where your opportunities come from.

Further lesson: The self line: Fortune, Travel and Health ›

Friends Palace

Friends, colleagues and the people who work alongside or for you, and how you lead a group.

Further lesson: The relationships line: five rooms about other people ›

Career Palace

Work and career: how your working life develops and what you build in the world.

Further lesson: The resources line: Wealth, Career and Property ›

Property Palace

Home and property: where you live, whether you can settle, and what you manage to keep.

Further lesson: The resources line: Wealth, Career and Property ›

Fortune Palace

Your inner life: what nourishes you, how at ease you feel, and the good fortune you inherit.

Further lesson: The self line: Fortune, Travel and Health ›

Parents Palace

Parents and elders, and your relationship with authority and institutions.

Further lesson: The relationships line: five rooms about other people ›

Body Palace

Where you put more and more effort as life goes on, usually clearer after midlife.

Further lesson: The Life Palace and the Body Palace ›

Empty Palace

A palace with no main star. It is read by borrowing the main stars of the palace opposite.

Further lesson: Empty Palaces, borrowed stars and the Origin Palace ›

Borrowed stars

An empty palace borrows the main stars of the palace opposite, at somewhat reduced strength.

Further lesson: Empty Palaces, borrowed stars and the Origin Palace ›

Opposite palace

The palace directly across, six cells away. Its influence is second only to the palace itself.

Further lesson: San Fang Si Zheng: the rooms visit each other ›

San Fang Si Zheng

The palace, its opposite and its two trine palaces. Read the four together for the full picture.

Further lesson: San Fang Si Zheng: the rooms visit each other ›

Trine

Three branches four cells apart, like the corners of a triangle, echoing one another.

Further lesson: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the crash course ›

Flanking palaces

The stars on either side of a palace, like two neighbors, which squeeze and shape the palace between them.

Further lesson: Flanking patterns: your neighbors matter ›

Origin Palace

The palace whose stem matches your birth-year stem. The ancients saw it as where this life's intentions begin.

Further lesson: Empty Palaces, borrowed stars and the Origin Palace ›

Palace stem

The heavenly stem assigned to each palace, derived from your birth-year stem and used for flying stars and self-transformation.

Further lesson: A first look at Flying Stars and self-transformation ›

The fourteen main stars

Main star

The fourteen weightiest stars. They set a palace's basic character, like the owner of a room.

Further lesson: Main stars are the owners of the rooms ›

Zi Wei

The Emperor Star: self-assured and proud, at its best with capable people around it.

Classical texts: Transforms into Honor; the imperial seat. Self-respect, leadership and image. It needs supporting stars around it to form a court; alone, it works harder.

More about Zi Wei ›Further lesson: Zi Wei and Tian Fu: the Emperor and the Steward ›

Tian Ji

The strategist star: a quick mind full of ideas, prone to overthinking.

Classical texts: Transforms into Goodness; the star of wisdom. Thinking, planning and change, with a tendency to overthink. Better at work of the mind than of the hands.

More about Tian Ji ›Further lesson: Tian Ji and Tian Liang: the Strategist and the Elder ›

Tai Yang

The Sun Star: warm and generous, lighting others up first; recognition comes before money.

Classical texts: Transforms into Nobility; the star that gives out. Warmth, giving, and reputation before profit. Bright, it shines; dim, it labors and worries.

More about Tai Yang ›Further lesson: Tai Yang and Tai Yin: Sun and Moon ›

Wu Qu

A wealth star and a general: practical and decisive, judged by results, not one for sweet talk.

Classical texts: Transforms into Wealth; a general star. Practical, decisive and direct, focused on execution. It keeps to itself and doesn't easily put feelings into words.

More about Wu Qu ›Further lesson: Wu Qu and Tian Xiang: the Financier and the Chancellor ›

Tian Tong

The star of contentment: easygoing, soft-hearted and fond of comfort; often hard work first, sweetness later.

Classical texts: Transforms into Blessing; the star of good fortune. Easygoing, fond of comfort, childlike at heart. Hardship first, sweetness later; too much ease saps its drive.

More about Tian Tong ›Further lesson: Tian Tong and Ju Men: the Sunshine and the Debater ›

Lian Zhen

The judge star: strong principles and strong emotions, magnetic and complicated.

Classical texts: Transforms into Restraint; a secondary Peach Blossom star. Principles and desire side by side, a talent for public dealings, strong emotions and self-discipline.

More about Lian Zhen ›Further lesson: Lian Zhen and Tan Lang: the Judge and the Player ›

Tian Fu

The Treasury Star: steady and careful, at ease when there is something to safeguard.

Classical texts: The commanding star and the treasury. Conservative, steady, a keeper of what is built, and generous. It needs a treasury to guard, and dislikes an empty or exposed one.

More about Tian Fu ›Further lesson: Zi Wei and Tian Fu: the Emperor and the Steward ›

Tai Yin

The Moon Star: sensitive and gentle, deeply perceptive, values security.

Classical texts: Transforms into Riches; ruler of property. Careful, inward, perceptive, valuing security. Bright, it is gentle and warm; dim, it worries more.

More about Tai Yin ›Further lesson: Tai Yang and Tai Yin: Sun and Moon ›

Tan Lang

The star of desire: multi-talented and sociable, wanting a lot from life.

Classical texts: Transforms into Peach Blossom; the star of desire. Many talents, sociability, appetite and a quick learner; it also rules speculation.

More about Tan Lang ›Further lesson: Lian Zhen and Tan Lang: the Judge and the Player ›

Ju Men

The star of speech: always asking why, sharply analytical; words carry weight and can stir up disputes.

Classical texts: Transforms into the Hidden; the star of disputes. Eloquence, analysis, doubt and digging deep. Doubt first, trust later.

More about Ju Men ›Further lesson: Tian Tong and Ju Men: the Sunshine and the Debater ›

Tian Xiang

The minister star: fair, cooperative and image-conscious, shaped by the stars on either side.

Classical texts: Transforms into the Seal; the seal star. Coordination, fairness and service, shaped by its surroundings. How it fares depends on the palaces on either side.

More about Tian Xiang ›Further lesson: Wu Qu and Tian Xiang: the Financier and the Chancellor ›

Tian Liang

The elder star: caring and principled, often finds a way out of trouble.

Classical texts: Transforms into Shelter; the elder star. Care, principles and lecturing, and the protection that turns trouble into a way out.

More about Tian Liang ›Further lesson: Tian Ji and Tian Liang: the Strategist and the Elder ›

Qi Sha

The general star: independent and driven, quick to decide and willing to go all in.

Classical texts: A general star with a severe edge. Independence, charging ahead, decisiveness, staking everything. Its harshness can become authority.

More about Qi Sha ›Further lesson: Qi Sha and Po Jun: the General and the Breaker ›

Po Jun

Break first, then build: restless with the status quo, tears down to rebuild, and spends a lot of energy doing it.

Classical texts: Transforms into Consumption; break first, then build. Pioneering, reform, restlessness with the status quo, and great expenditure of energy.

More about Po Jun ›Further lesson: Qi Sha and Po Jun: the General and the Breaker ›

Brightness

How well a star performs in a given cell: Miao and Wang are strongest, Xian is the most awkward.

Further lesson: Main stars are the owners of the rooms ›

Miao and Wang

A star in its most comfortable position, expressing itself most fully and positively.

Further lesson: Main stars are the owners of the rooms ›

Xian

A star in an awkward position. Its traits are still there, just harder to use and in need of more effort.

Further lesson: Main stars are the owners of the rooms ›

Auspicious and challenging stars, Lu Cun and Tian Ma

Auxiliary star

The Six Auspicious and Six Malefic Stars plus Lu Cun and Tian Ma, which add help or tests to the main stars.

Further lesson: Helpful and challenging stars aren't good and bad ›

Six Auspicious Stars

Zuo Fu and You Bi, Wen Chang and Wen Qu, Tian Kui and Tian Yue: three pairs of helper stars.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Zuo Fu

The visible helper: steady support from peers.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

You Bi

The quiet helper: someone who smooths things over and steps in at key moments.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Wen Chang

The star of study and exams: order, paperwork and formal learning.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Wen Qu

The star of artistry: eloquence, an artistic eye and expressiveness.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Tian Kui

The daytime noble: older, public backers who promote you openly.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Tian Yue

The nighttime noble: low-key, private help.

Further lesson: The Six Auspicious Stars: three pairs of helpers ›

Six Malefic Stars

Qing Yang and Tuo Luo, Huo Xing and Ling Xing, Di Kong and Di Jie: three pairs of challenging stars that become drive when used well.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Qing Yang

The star of drive: head-on and forceful; pointed in the right direction, it becomes a competitive edge.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Tuo Luo

The star of grinding: back-and-forth and getting stuck, though slow work can still produce fine results.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Huo Xing

The explosive star: fast, sudden and intense, with opportunities and tempers alike.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Ling Xing

The smoldering star: patient endurance and staying power; emotions need an outlet.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Di Kong

The star of inspiration: unconventional ideas that can come to nothing.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Di Jie

The star of the road less traveled: effort that can go to waste, and also new paths.

Further lesson: The Six Malefic Stars: three pairs of examiners ›

Lu Cun

Steady wealth: cautious and good at saving, held in check by Qing Yang and Tuo Luo on either side.

Further lesson: Lu Cun and Tian Ma ›

Tian Ma

The traveling horse: movement and change; opportunities come when you get moving.

Further lesson: Lu Cun and Tian Ma ›

Lu Ma Jiao Chi

Lu Cun and Tian Ma in the same palace: wealth energy plus a willingness to move, read by the ancients as wealth through motion.

Further lesson: Lu Cun and Tian Ma ›

Yang Tuo Jia Lu

Qing Yang and Tuo Luo always flank Lu Cun, one before and one behind: you can hold on to things, but find it harder to let loose.

Further lesson: Lu Cun and Tian Ma ›

Transformations and flying stars

Four Transformations

Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke and Hua Ji: four impulses that set the stars in motion.

Further lesson: The Four Transformations are four impulses ›

Hua Lu

Gains, ease and good connections: things readily pay off.

Further lesson: Hua Lu: connection and reward ›

Hua Quan

Control, leadership and strength: you want to call the shots.

Further lesson: Hua Quan and Hua Ke ›

Hua Ke

Reputation, dignity and helpers: things are readily seen and recognized.

Further lesson: Hua Quan and Hua Ke ›

Hua Ji

Caring, getting stuck, not letting go. It marks where you put the most thought, and it is not a bad thing.

Further lesson: Hua Ji: where you can't let go ›

Birth-year transformations

The four transformations set by your birth-year stem, carried for life.

Further lesson: Your birth-year transformations ›

Flying Stars

Each palace's stem also produces transformations that fly into other palaces, showing where your energy flows.

Further lesson: A first look at Flying Stars and self-transformation ›

Self-transformation

A transformation produced by a palace's own stem that lands in the same palace: things come fast and go fast.

Further lesson: A first look at Flying Stars and self-transformation ›

Lu follows Ji

A Flying Star school saying: Hua Lu is where a connection begins, and Hua Ji is where you finally cannot let go.

Further lesson: A first look at Flying Stars and self-transformation ›

Ji clash

Hua Ji sits in one palace and faces the palace directly opposite, which is often where the pressure is felt.

Further lesson: Where Hua Ji sits, and what it clashes with ›

Patterns

Chart patterns

Classic combinations of stars, like set bonuses in a game.

Further lesson: Chart patterns are set bonuses ›

Sha Po Lang

Qi Sha, Po Jun and Tan Lang always meet in each other's trines: a life rhythm of change and pioneering.

Further lesson: The three star groups ›

Ji Yue Tong Liang

Tian Ji, Tai Yin, Tian Tong and Tian Liang together: a steady, thoughtful, caring rhythm.

Further lesson: The three star groups ›

Zi Fu Lian Wu Xiang

Zi Wei, Tian Fu, Lian Zhen, Wu Qu and Tian Xiang: an orderly, managerial, leadership group.

Further lesson: The three star groups ›

Broken pattern

A pattern whose conditions are met but which is weakened by challenging stars or Hua Ji. The ancients called it broken.

Further lesson: Don't let patterns box you in ›

Decade and Annual Luck

Luck periods

The time layers, Decade Luck, Annual Luck and Minor Luck, that show where life is at any given time.

Further lesson: Your chart is the map; the luck periods are the weather ›

Decade Luck

Ten-year chapters of life, each taking a different palace as its theme.

Further lesson: Decade Luck: a chapter every ten years ›

Annual Luck

A theme that changes every year: which palace this year's focus falls on.

Further lesson: Annual Luck: this year's theme ›

Minor Luck

Another one-palace-a-year sequence, counted by nominal age, that supplements the Annual Luck.

Further lesson: Minor Luck and Monthly Luck ›

Monthly Luck

The Annual Luck broken down further into the rhythm of each month.

Further lesson: Minor Luck and Monthly Luck ›

Dou Jun

The palace where the first lunar month of the Annual Luck falls, from which the Monthly Luck is counted.

Further lesson: Minor Luck and Monthly Luck ›

Nominal age

The traditional count: you are one at birth and add a year at each Lunar New Year. All luck periods use it.

Further lesson: Minor Luck and Monthly Luck ›

Layered chart

Reading the natal, decade and annual layers stacked together, to see how time meets personality.

Further lesson: The layered chart: reading three layers together ›

Transiting stars

Stars that move with the Decade or Annual Luck, like Liu Lu and Liu Yang, and only act during that period.

Further lesson: Annual Luck: this year's theme ›

Minor stars and spirits

Minor star

Lighter stars than the auxiliaries that fill in details: romance, talent, solitude and so on.

Further lesson: The romance star family ›

Romance stars

Stars such as Hong Luan, Tian Xi, Tian Yao and Xian Chi that govern charm and love.

Further lesson: The romance star family ›

Tian Xing

A small star of self-discipline. Classical texts call it isolating; today it reads as a strong sense of principle and high standards for yourself.

Further lesson: Small stars with heavy names ›

Gu Chen

Gu Chen and Gua Su are a pair about the need for solitude: in whichever palace they sit, you tend to handle things on your own.

Further lesson: Small stars with heavy names ›

Gua Su

Gu Chen and Gua Su are a pair about the need for solitude: in whichever palace they sit, you tend to handle things on your own.

Further lesson: Small stars with heavy names ›

Xun Kong

The two branches left unpaired in a cycle of stems, which the ancients called void. In the palace they fall in, things feel less solid and need more follow-through.

Further lesson: Small stars with heavy names ›

Twelve Life Stages

From Chang Sheng and Mu Yu through Yang, like a plant's life cycle: which stage this palace's energy is in.

Further lesson: The Twelve Life Stages ›

Bo Shi Twelve Spirits

Bo Shi, Li Shi, Qing Long and the rest of the twelve: the small personality of how this palace gets things done.

Further lesson: Bo Shi, Jiang Qian and Sui Qian ›

Sui Qian Twelve Spirits

A set counted from Tai Sui, placed by birth year in the natal chart and re-placed each year by the Annual Luck, showing each palace's atmosphere.

Further lesson: Bo Shi, Jiang Qian and Sui Qian ›

Jiang Qian Twelve Spirits

A set counted from Jiang Xing, placed by birth year in the natal chart and re-placed each year by the Annual Luck, showing each palace's momentum.

Further lesson: Bo Shi, Jiang Qian and Sui Qian ›

The classics

Quan Shu

The Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the classic text of the system, attributed to Chen Xiyi and compiled in the Ming dynasty. Xingge follows its readings.

Further lesson: What kind of book is the Quan Shu ›

Chen Xiyi

Chen Tuan, a Daoist of the early Song dynasty known as Master Xiyi, traditionally said to be the founder of Zi Wei Dou Shu.

Further lesson: What kind of book is the Quan Shu ›

Tai Wei Fu

The opening piece of volume one of the Quan Shu, an outline in paired verses on how to approach and read a chart.

Further lesson: The Tai Wei Fu in plain words ›

Gu Sui Fu

The "Marrow Rhapsody" in volume one of the Quan Shu, condensing the rules into paired mnemonic verses.

Further lesson: Selected readings from the Gu Sui Fu ›

Zhu Xing Wen Da Lun

The question-and-answer chapter in volume one of the Quan Shu introducing each star, like an ancient encyclopedia of stars.

Further lesson: Selected readings from the Zhu Xing Wen Da Lun ›

This is the general reading. On your own chart it shifts with the stars' brightness, the San Fang Si Zheng and the year you are in.