八
BaZi · 四柱命理
Four Pillars of Destiny
BaZi, literally "eight characters", is one of the principal systems of Chinese destiny calculation. It derives four pairs of characters — one Heavenly Stem (天干) and one Earthly Branch (地支) — from the year, month, day, and hour of birth, yielding the eight characters that form the natal chart.
The Day Master (日主), the Heavenly Stem of the day pillar, serves as the reference point for the entire reading. Its strength relative to the other seven characters determines how the Five Phases (五行 — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) interact through productive and controlling cycles.
The Ten Gods (十神) layer maps ten archetypal relationships — Wealth, Officer, Resource, Output, and Companion in both direct and indirect forms — onto every element in the chart, revealing patterns in career, relationships, health, and fortune.
Major Luck Cycles (大运 Da Yun) shift the elemental balance every ten years, while Annual Influences (流年 Liu Nian) add yearly overlays, creating a dynamic temporal map of an individual's life trajectory from birth onward.
日主 Day Master
五行 Five Phases
十神 Ten Gods
大运 Da Yun
流年 Liu Nian
真太阳时 True Solar Time
六十甲子 Sexagenary Cycle
紫
Zi Wei Dou Shu · 紫微斗数
Purple Star Astrology
Zi Wei Dou Shu, meaning "Purple Star Calculation", is a form of Chinese natal astrology that constructs a twelve-palace chart (十二宫) populated with over one hundred named stars. The system is attributed to the Song dynasty Daoist sage Chen Tuan (陳摶, c. 871–989) and has been practised for over a thousand years across East and Southeast Asia.
The twelve palaces each govern a specific life domain — Self (命), Siblings (兄弟), Spouse (夫妻), Children (子女), Wealth (財帛), Health (疾厄), Travel (遷移), Friends (交友), Career (官祿), Property (田宅), Fortune (福德), and Parents (父母).
Fourteen major stars (主星) anchor the chart, led by the Ziwei Emperor Star (紫微星) and the Tianfu Treasury Star (天府星). Each carries distinct personality traits and life patterns, modified by the Four Transformations (四化 — Wealth, Power, Fame, and Obstruction) that activate specific stars based on the birth year's Heavenly Stem.
Temporal analysis uses ten-year Major Cycles (大限 Da Xian) and annual overlays (流年 Liu Nian) to track shifting influences across the palaces throughout an individual's lifetime.
十二宫 12 Palaces
主星 Major Stars
四化 Four Transformations
大限 Da Xian Cycles
紫微 Ziwei Star
天府 Tianfu Star
陳摶 Chen Tuan
通
Tongshu · 通书 黄历
Chinese Almanac Calendar
The Tongshu (通书), also known as the Huangli (黄历, Yellow Calendar) or Tungshing (通胜), is a Chinese divination almanac that has guided daily life for centuries. Originally attributed to the legendary Yellow Emperor, it was refined through successive dynasties and remains widely used today for date selection and auspicious timing.
The almanac maps each day's characteristics through the lens of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms (二十四节气), and the Five Phases, indicating which activities are favourable or should be avoided on any given date.
Families consult the Tongshu for selecting wedding dates, moving into new homes, signing contracts, and scheduling important ceremonies. Feng shui practitioners and destiny consultants use it alongside BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu to identify optimal timing for significant life events.
The calendar also provides conversions between the lunar calendar (农历) and the Gregorian year, tracks eclipses, seasonal transitions, and agricultural forecasts — including the traditional Spring Cow Chart (春牛图).
黄历 Yellow Calendar
节气 Solar Terms
择日 Date Selection
农历 Lunar Calendar
黄道吉日 Auspicious Days
春牛图 Spring Cow Chart
通胜 Tung Shing
