Zi Wei Dou Shu Guide · Reviewed against a native Chinese astrologer's notes
How to read a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart
The twelve palaces
| Palace | Chinese | Governs |
|---|---|---|
| Life | 命宫 | Core character and overall direction |
| Siblings | 兄弟 | Siblings and close peers |
| Spouse | 夫妻 | Marriage and partnership |
| Children | 子女 | Children and creativity |
| Wealth | 财帛 | Earning and money management |
| Health | 疾厄 | Physical condition and stress |
| Travel | 迁移 | Movement, travel and external environment |
| Friends | 交友 | Friends, colleagues and subordinates |
| Career | 官禄 | Work, position and achievement |
| Property | 田宅 | Home, property and family base |
| Fortune | 福德 | Inner wellbeing and enjoyment |
| Parents | 父母 | Parents and elders |
The fourteen main stars
| Star | Pinyin | Associated with |
|---|---|---|
| 紫微 | Zǐwēi | leadership, status, dignity |
| 天机 | Tiānjī | analysis, change, strategy |
| 太阳 | Tàiyáng | openness, giving, prominence |
| 武曲 | Wǔqǔ | finance, execution, decisiveness |
| 天同 | Tiāntóng | ease, enjoyment, harmony |
| 廉贞 | Liánzhēn | intensity, relationships, rules |
| 天府 | Tiānfǔ | stability, resources, management |
| 太阴 | Tàiyīn | sensitivity, care, accumulation |
| 贪狼 | Tānláng | desire, sociability, versatility |
| 巨门 | Jùmén | communication, analysis, debate |
| 天相 | Tiānxiàng | support, mediation, service |
| 天梁 | Tiānliáng | protection, seniority, principles |
| 七杀 | Qīshā | decisive action, independence, pressure |
| 破军 | Pòjūn | transformation, breaking and rebuilding |
Main stars, auxiliary stars and transformations
- Fourteen main stars. These set the main theme of a palace: leadership, analysis, care, pressure, sociability and so on.
- Auxiliary stars. These modify how the theme appears — support, opportunities, relationships, money habits or practical help.
- 煞星 (shà xīng). Often translated as “malefic” stars, but they are better understood as pressure, friction, risk or a need for action. They are not a standalone prediction.
- Four transformations (四化). 化禄, 化权, 化科 and 化忌 attach to particular stars and show how the theme is activated or strained.
What 三方四正 means
三方四正 is the four-palace frame used to judge one palace instead of reading it in isolation. For the life palace, the three trine palaces are 命宫 (life), 财帛 (wealth) and 官禄 (career); the fourth is the opposite palace, 迁移 (travel and outer environment). Together they show how a person's character, resources, work and outside world interact.
The same logic applies to other palaces. Before drawing a conclusion from one star, check the palace itself, its opposite palace and its two trine palaces.
Reading a chart, step by step
- Find the life palace (命宫). It sets the overall tone of the chart.
- Read its main star (and any paired star). The star's character, modified by the palace, is the starting point.
- Look at 三方四正. The palaces forming a triangle with the life palace support or challenge it — this is where a reading gains depth.
- Check the four transformations (四化). 化禄, 化权, 化科 and 化忌 are assigned by birth year and act as modifiers on particular stars.
- Move to the ten-year period (大限). Each decade is governed by one palace, showing which area of life is emphasised now.
- Then the current year (流年). The yearly palace adds short-term emphasis on top of the decade.
Common mistakes
- Reading one star alone. A star's meaning changes with the palace and its neighbours.
- Ignoring 四化. The transformations often change a reading more than the stars themselves.
- Treating the chart as fixed fate. In traditional practice these are interpretive frameworks, not outcomes.
- Using an approximate birth hour. The hour determines the life palace, so an unknown hour weakens the whole chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart?
It is a grid of twelve palaces with named stars placed into them from the birth date and hour, read palace by palace.
What are the twelve palaces?
Life, siblings, spouse, children, wealth, health, travel, friends, career, property, fortune and parents — each governing one area of life.
What are the fourteen main stars?
紫微, 天机, 太阳, 武曲, 天同, 廉贞, 天府, 太阴, 贪狼, 巨门, 天相, 天梁, 七杀 and 破军.
Where should I start reading a chart?
Start with the life palace and its main star, then look at the triangle of supporting palaces (三方四正), then the four transformations, then the ten-year and yearly periods.
What are the four transformations (四化)?
化禄 (fortune), 化权 (power), 化科 (reputation) and 化忌 (obstruction). Which star receives each depends on the birth year.
Can one star decide a reading?
No. A star's meaning changes with the palace, the surrounding stars and the transformations applied to it.
What is 三方四正?
It is the four-palace frame used to judge a palace: the palace itself plus its two trine palaces, then its opposite palace. For the life palace, that means life, wealth, career and travel.
What is the difference between main stars and auxiliary stars?
The fourteen main stars set the main theme of a palace. Auxiliary stars modify how that theme appears; 煞星 introduce pressure or friction, and the four transformations show where the theme is activated.