San He Vs Si Hua
As mentioned in the previous article, Zi Wei Dou Shu (ZWDS), or Purple Star Astrology, is a complex Chinese fortune-telling system with two main schools of thought: San He and Si Hua.
1. San He (三合) – Three Harmonies
➤Focuses on the fixed positions and natural qualities of stars in the 12 life houses.
➤Looks at how 14 major stars and other stars affect areas like career, wealth, and relationships.
➤Uses tri-harmony formations (links between three houses) to reveal how different life areas influence each other.
➤Considers house overlays, comparing your life chart with time-based charts (like decade or yearly charts).
➤Emphasis: Your inherent blueprint and potential.
2. Si Hua (四化) – Four Transformations
➤Focuses on dynamic changes in the chart based on Heavenly Stems.
➤The Four Transformations:
- Hua Lu – Prosperity, wealth, opportunity.
- Hua Quan – Power, authority, control.
- Hua Ke – Fame, recognition, success.
- Hua Ji – Problems, loss, obstacles.
➤Uses Flying Stars to track how energy moves between palaces over time.
➤Emphasis: Events, timing, and how life unfolds.
In practice: Many modern practitioners combine both—San He gives your life’s foundation, while Si Hua shows when and how things happen.
The Stars Grouping
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, most “stars” are not real stars in the sky, except for the Emperor Star (Zi Wei), which is linked to Polaris. Instead, they represent cycles of time and different types of energy, personality traits, and life influences. These stars are grouped into several main categories.
There are three main star groups in Zi Wei Dou Shu:
➤14 Major Stars – The main players that shape your core personality and life path. For example, Zi Wei (The Emperor Star signals leadership, while the Tai Yang (Sun) relates to fame and public service.
➤Support & Minor Stars – These add extra details. They can be favorable (bringing help, wealth, or opportunities) or unfavorable (bringing delays, obstacles, or conflict).
➤Four Transformers – Not actual stars, but changes over time that affect the others. They bring prosperity (Hua Lu), authority (Hua Quan), fame (Hua Ke), or trouble (Hua Ji).
Your chart’s meaning comes from how all these elements combine in different houses (life areas), revealing strengths, weaknesses, and life patterns.
The 14 Major Stars
These are the key stars in Zi Wei Dou Shu, shaping a person’s core personality and life path.
1. Zi Wei (The Emperor Star) – This star is linked to Polaris. Symbolizes leadership, authority, and prestige, but can also bring vanity or loneliness.
2. Tai Yang (The Sun) – Masculine energy, fame, and generosity; often a leader of men.
3. Tai Yin (The Moon) – Feminine energy, intuition, creativity, and wealth accumulation.
4. Tian Ji (The Strategist Star) – Intelligence, strategy, and quick thinking, but may lack persistence.
5. Wu Qu (The Commander Star) – Wealth, decisiveness, and independence; strong business sense.
6. Tian Fu (The Treasury Star) – Stability, abundance, and resource preservation.
7. Tian Tong (The Relaxed Star) – Good fortune, kindness, and an easygoing nature.
8. Lian Zhen (The Integrity Star) – Virtue, discipline, and sometimes temptation or conflict.
9. Tan Lang (The Charmer Star) – Desire, ambition, risk-taking, and charm, but can be manipulative.
10. Ju Men (The Messenger Star) – Communication, debate, and controversy.
11. Tian Xiang (The Minister Star) – Support, loyalty, and benevolence; excels as a deputy.
12. Tian Liang (The Blessing Star) – Wisdom, guidance, and protection.
13. Qi Sha (The Warrior Star) – Courage, decisiveness, and action, but may bring danger.
14. Po Jun (The Reformer Sar) – Change, destruction, and rebellion; creative yet impulsive.
The Support & Minor Stars
These add detail to a chart and can be favorable or unfavorable depending on placement.
While San He method uses all the support and minor stars listed below, Si Hua method uses only 4 of them which are Wen Chang, Wen Qu, Zuo Fu and You Bi.
Favorable:
1. Wen Chang (The Intellectual Star) - Literacy, eloquence and artistic talent.
2. Wen Qu (The Intelligence Star) – Literacy, eloquence and artistic talent.
3. Zuo Fu (The Left Assistant Star) - Helpful people, strong support.
4. You Bi (The Right Assistant Star) – Helpful people, strong support.
5. Tian Kui (The Male Benefactor Star) - Noble stars, bringing benefactors and opportunities.
6. Tian Yue (The Female Benefactor Star) – Noble stars, bringing benefactors and opportunities.
7. Lu Cun (The Abundance Star) – Wealth and abundance.
8. Tian Ma (The Travelling Horse Star) – Travel, change, and movement.
Unfavorable:
1. Huo Xing (The Fire Star) – Turmoil and aggression.
2. Ling Xing (The Siren Star) – Sudden disruptions, cunning strategies.
3. Qing Yang (The Knife Star) – Trouble and conflict.
4. Tuo Luo (The Delay Star) – Delay and obstacles.
5. Di Kong - Loss
6. Di Jie – Sudden interference.
The Four Transformers
These are dynamic influences that change with time:
1. Hua Lu – Prosperity and good fortune.
2. Hua Quan – Power and authority.
3. Hua Ke – Fame and recognition.
4. Hua Ji – Hindrance, loss, and challenges.