Understanding Zi Wei Dou Shu: The Purple Star Astrology
Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗數), often called Purple Star Astrology, is one of the most respected forms of Chinese destiny analysis. Unlike Western astrology which focuses on the sun's position, or BaZi which focuses on the four pillars, Zi Wei Dou Shu uses a complex map of over 100 "stars" distributed across 12 Palaces of a person's life chart.
The 12 Palaces of Destiny
Your chart is divided into twelve sectors, each representing a specific area of your life:
Life Palace (Ming Gong): Your core personality, talent, and general fate.
Siblings Palace: Relationships with brothers, sisters, and close peers.
Spouse Palace: Your romantic life and the characteristics of your partner.
Children Palace: Relationship with offspring and your creative output.
Wealth Palace: How you manage money and your earning potential.
Health Palace: Physical constitution and potential health vulnerabilities.
Travel Palace: Luck during travel or living abroad.
Friends/Peers Palace: Your social circle and subordinates.
Career Palace: Professional path and work style.
Property Palace: Real estate, home environment, and inheritance.
Mental/Happiness Palace: Your inner world, subconscious, and spiritual well-being.
Parents Palace: Relationship with parents and superiors.
How the Calculator Works
The calculation starts by converting your birth data into the Lunar Calendar. We determine your Yearly Stem and Branch (e.g., Wood Dragon or Water Tiger). From there, the position of the Life Palace is derived by coordinating the lunar month and birth hour. Finally, the "Five Elements" phase (Water 2, Wood 3, Metal 4, Earth 5, or Fire 6) is calculated to determine the placement of the primary star, Zi Wei (The Emperor Star).
Example Calculation
If you were born in 1990 (Year of the Metal Horse) in the 5th Lunar Month during the Hour of the Dragon:
Stem/Branch: Geng Wu (Metal Horse).
Life Palace: Calculated based on Month 5 and Hour 5, placing it in the "Shen" (Monkey) position.
Element: Wood 3 Phase.
Interpretation: This placement suggests a person with high adaptability and strong leadership potential, though they may face challenges in early life property acquisition.
function calculateZWDS() {
var year = parseInt(document.getElementById('birthYear').value);
var month = parseInt(document.getElementById('birthMonth').value);
var day = parseInt(document.getElementById('birthDay').value);
var time = parseInt(document.getElementById('birthTime').value);
var gender = document.getElementById('gender').value;
if (!year || isNaN(year)) {
alert("Please enter a valid birth year.");
return;
}
// 1. Determine Heavenly Stem (10) and Earthly Branch (12)
var stems = ["Geng", "Xin", "Ren", "Gui", "Jia", "Yi", "Bing", "Ding", "Wu", "Ji"];
var branches = ["Monkey", "Rooster", "Dog", "Pig", "Rat", "Ox", "Tiger", "Rabbit", "Dragon", "Snake", "Horse", "Goat"];
var stemIdx = year % 10;
var branchIdx = year % 12;
var stemName = stems[stemIdx];
var branchName = branches[branchIdx];
// 2. Determine Yin/Yang (Simplified based on Stem)
var polarity = (stemIdx % 2 === 0) ? "Yang (Positive/Active)" : "Yin (Negative/Passive)";
// 3. Life Palace Calculation (Simplified Formula: Month and Time relation)
// Formula: Start at Tiger (Index 6 in our list), move forward by Month, then back by Time
var palaceNames = ["Rat", "Ox", "Tiger", "Rabbit", "Dragon", "Snake", "Horse", "Goat", "Monkey", "Rooster", "Dog", "Pig"];
// In traditional ZWDS, Month and Time determine the index.
var lifePalaceIdx = (month – time + 12) % 12;
var lifePalace = palaceNames[lifePalaceIdx];
// 4. Five Elements Phase (Simplified lookup)
var elements = ["Water 2", "Wood 3", "Metal 4", "Earth 5", "Fire 6"];
var elementResult = elements[(year + month) % 5];
// 5. Character Analysis based on Branch and Time
var traits = [
"Insightful and resourceful, driven by intuition.",
"Diligent and persistent, building wealth through steady effort.",
"Ambitious and brave, natural leaders in competitive environments.",
"Graceful and diplomatic, seeking harmony and artistic beauty.",
"Vibrant and powerful, possessing great visionary energy.",
"Wise and enigmatic, excelling in strategic planning.",
"Energetic and freedom-loving, thriving on social interaction.",
"Creative and compassionate, often finding luck in service.",
"Intellectual and mischievous, master of problem-solving.",
"Precise and observant, dedicated to perfection and order.",
"Loyal and honest, the protector of family and values.",
"Sincere and generous, enjoying the comforts of a stable life."
];
var charResult = traits[branchIdx];
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resStemBranch').innerText = stemName + " " + branchName;
document.getElementById('resPolarity').innerText = polarity;
document.getElementById('resLifePalace').innerText = lifePalace;
document.getElementById('resElement').innerText = elementResult;
document.getElementById('resCharacter').innerText = charResult;
var extraText = "Based on your " + gender + " energy, your " + lifePalace + " Life Palace suggests that your current decade is a period of ";
extraText += (year % 2 === 0) ? "expansion and new opportunities." : "refinement and internal growth.";
document.getElementById('extraAnalysis').innerText = extraText;
document.getElementById('resultArea').style.display = "block";
// Scroll to result
document.getElementById('resultArea').scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
}