Zi wei dou shu

Terminology

In ancient times, Zi Wei Dou Shu was restricted to the exclusive and private consultation of the Imperial Emperors only as Zi Wei Dou Shu could provide an elaborate reading too detailed and classified. Thus, imperial astronomers used Zi Wei Dou Shu to delineate charts for the Emperor as the Emperor's destiny is bridged to and affects the destiny of his kingdom and dynasty. Among the stars used in the Zi Wei Dou Shu system, there is one main star while other stars revolve around it. The star is named the “Emperor Star” – Purple Star (紫微) which also represents the ruler (Emperor) of the kingdom. Zi Wei Dou Shu has been used by professional consultants and practitioners for the past 1000 years to determine one's destiny and as remedial Feng Shui strategies. Zi Wei Dou Shu has its unique feng shui philosophies and principles and is known as the “personalized feng shui”.

History

Zi Wei Dou Shu was created by a Taoist named Lu Chun Yang (呂純陽) during the Tang Dynasty. It was further developed by Chen Xi Yi (陳希夷) during the Song Dynasty and later on by Luo Hong Xian (羅洪先) during the Ming Dynasty to its present-day form. Its exact origin, however, is still debated among the different schools, and should not be taken as a guaranteed historical context.

Chinese Astrology has always been closely intertwined with Astronomy. Gifted astronomers and astrologers were recruited as officials to work in Imperial Courts during the dynastic eras. In those days most astrological charts were crafted solely for the emperor, as his personal fate had a direct bearing on his kingdom. The court astrologers also played an important role in determining the successor to the throne.

Astrologers observed the stars and noticed that among so many stars, only one was seemingly stationary while the rest revolved around it. As it was also the brightest, the star was named the "Emperor Star" (紫微星)--the celestial equivalent of the Emperor and known in the West as Polaris.

Chinese Society

As with all other forms of fortune-telling, the Chinese do not generally see astrology as an infallible guide as to what will happen, but more as a form of forecasting in detail. Destiny and fortune are structurally complex and are unlikely to be changed by a single element. An overly simplistic application of - for example - changing one's lucky colors and numbers is not expected to affect or change one's destiny in any significant way. Knowledge about events to come may allow one to gauge the situation and make decisions from a position of strength. Zi Wei Dou Shu approaches the world and events from the idea that to view things in their proper context, it is important to recognise the "spiritual dynamic of the universe" to find the pattern of change that leads to "fundamental truth".

Zi Wei Dou Shu Chart

The 12 Palaces, or Shí Èr Gōng (十二宫) are arranged and plotted in an anti-clockwise rotation.

1. Self Palace (命宮)
2. Siblings Palace (兄弟宮)
3. Spouse Palace (夫妻宮)
4. Children Palace (子女宮)
5. Wealth Palace (財帛宮)
6. Health Palace (疾厄宮)
7. Travel Palace (遷移宮)
8. Friends Palace, or Subordinate Palace (交友宮)
9. Career Palace (官祿宮)
10. Property Palace (田宅宮)
11. Mental Palace, or Karma Palace, Ancestor Palace (福德宮)
12. Parents Palace (父母宮)

The 14 Major Stars:

1. Ziwei (The Emperor, or The Purple Star): associated with Yin Earth, the leader - organizator, the senior, the monarch, stable development, benevolence, neutrality， wisdom, obligations, human society, power,　position, material wealth, the capacity of healing and rescuing.
2. Tianji (The Advisor, Heavenly Machine　or Heavenly Secret): associated with Yin Wood, the assistant, the strategist, the clerk, siblings, intelligence, strategy, manipulation, goodness.
3. Taiyang (The Sun): associated with Yang Fire, the leader of men, the senior, the male (father-husband-son), the mass, mass development, masculine characteristics, directness, vision, self-sacrifice, universal love, ideal, nature, power, fame, the capacity of giving.
4. Wuqu (The Finance Minister or the Military Bureaucrat, Martial Tune): associated with Yin Metal, the assistant, the short term planner, the merchant, the worker, the lonely, craftiness, inner strength, caution, rigidity, decisiveness, wealth, industry.
5. Tianfu (The Empress or the Viceroy, Heavenly Mansion): associated with Yang Earth, the senior, the monarch or high official, background leadership, stability, benevolence, conservativeness, human society, material wealth, position, power, the capacity of consolidating.
6. Tiantong (The Lucky Star, Pleasure Seeker, Child): associated with Yang Water, the junior, mercuriality, natural kindness, pleasure, laziness, good fortune
7. Lianzhen (The Judge, Young Female): associated with Yin Fire, the virgin, the judge, the lawyer, the witch, the courtesan, strictness, chastity, wickedness, double-facedness, prison, harem, justice, abominable accidents, punishment, love, humour, poverty
8. Taiyin (The Moon): associated with Yin Water, the female or feminine leader, the manipulator, the senior, the female (mother-wife-daughter), inner or passive development, retrospective development, feminine characteristics, subtlety, feminine or maternal love, maternal sacrifice, selfishness, extravagance, ideal, arts, nature, material wealth, real estate, cleanness, the capacity of receiving and spending.
9. Tanlang (The Greedy Wolf): associated with Yang Wood and Yin Water, the hunter, extravagant people, the priest, sex, deviousness, libido, selfish desires, riskiness, prison
10. Jumen (The Advocate, The Big Gate, The Mouth): associated with Yin Water, the lawyer, the parliament, singers, quarrel, betrayal, notoriety, frankness, secret, bad luck, prison
11. Tianxiang (The Prime Minister, Keeper of the Seal): associated with Yang Water, the high-ranked assistant, delegates or representatives, high offices, benevolence, generosity, stability, loyalty
12. Tianliang (The Sage, Heavenly Beam or Heavenly Bridge): associated with Yang Earth and Yang Wood, the teacher, the scholar, the rules, benevolence, generosity, toleration, forgiveness, education, wisdom
13. Qisha (The Field Marshal, Seven Kills): associated with Yin Metal and Yang Fire, the military leader, quick temper, heroicism, directness, pain and labour, danger, loyalty, exception
14. Pojun (The Army, Star of Destruction): associated with Yin Water, military leaders, betrayal, craftiness, waste, destruction, changes