%20PZ.png){kind=spacer}
The four transformation stars each carry distinct meanings and influences:
1. OVERVIEW
Understanding Si Hua, the Four Transformations in Zi Wei Dou Shu
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, the Four Transformations are four types of energy shifts that change how stars work in your birth chart: Hua Lu (Abundance), Hua Quan (Power), Hua Ke (Reputation), and Hua Ji (Obstruction).
These transformations come from the heavenly stem of your birth year, specific life areas of the houses in your chart, or timing cycles, and they have a major impact on what happens with the stars and life areas they touch. Think of them as modifiers that can amp up, redirect, or complicate the natural energy of the stars in your chart.
The Importance of Four Transformations in Zi Wei Dou Shu
When discussing Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology), one element is impossible to ignore, and which some consider to be the absolute essence of the entire system: the Four Transformations (Sì Huà Xīng).
Why are the Four Transformations Considered the Essence?
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, the Earthly Branches (the 12 zodiac signs) are fixed on the chart regardless of the person. However, the Heavenly Stems can change based on the year of birth.
Because the Earthly Branches are fixed, the basic structure of the chart, focusing only on the main stars, results in only 12 fundamental chart types. When factoring in the 12 possible positions for the Life House, this yields a total of 144 basic charts (12 x 12).
Initially, 144 charts might have been sufficient, but with rapid population growth, this number became increasingly inadequate for capturing the unique characteristics of every individual. To increase the system's depth and breadth, two main approaches were developed:
1. Continuously Adding Stars:
Adding minor stars to the system. This approach may have been influenced by the 108-star concept, leading some schools to use as many as 108 or 365 stars.
Drawback: Having too many stars makes accurate interpretation difficult. The interactions between countless minor stars can easily lead to vague, self-serving interpretations. However, more stars are highly convenient for fortune-tellers who lack scruples, as they can blame any unfulfilled prophecy on a minor star's "interference," prompting the client to pay for more divination or "fate modification."
The Four Classifications of Transformation
This second approach created four types of Transformation Stars: Lu, Quan, Ke, and Ji—collectively known as the Four Transformations.
These four categories are broadly interpreted as:
Lu: Wealth, Fortune, Prosperity.
Quan: Power, Authority, Control.
Ke: Fame, Reputation, Status.
Ji: Troubles, Adversity, Hindrance.
These classifications strongly suggest that Zi Wei Dou Shu was primarily developed for the literati/scholarly class of the time. For them, achieving academic success was the fastest way to secure power and wealth. The system became a divination method that aligned with humanity’s basic desires (wealth, control, recognition), which contributed to its widespread promotion.
The Evolution to Flying Four Transformations
Even with the Four Transformations, applying these four attributes across the ten Heavenly Stems only yielded 40 special characteristics. This quickly proved insufficient, especially when astrologers noticed that people born in the same year—who share the same Four Transformations—did not necessarily share the same life outcomes.
This realization led to the emergence of the Flying Four Transformations school.
Flying Stars Concept: This school treated the Four Transformations not as fixed entities, but as dynamic elements that could "fly" (change/link) based on the relationship between the Heavenly Stems of different houses. This greatly increased the system's complexity and ability to deduce outcomes.
Drawback: The Flying Star method is not always accurate. The broader the context and the more houses involved, the more "flying" is required, and the higher the chance of error. It is a method that significantly increases complexity but offers limited improvement in predictive accuracy.
The Correct View: Seasoning, Not the Main Course
While the Four Transformations opened a new door for Zi Wei Dou Shu, it is crucial to remember that the Transformations change based on the characteristics of the main star they are attached to.
The Main Star is Primary: The main star is still the dominant factor, and the Four Transformations are merely the extensions or variations that arise from it.
The Transformation as Seasoning: The Four Transformations should be viewed as the seasoning that enhances the flavor of the birth chart, giving the astrologer the power to offer surprisingly accurate, pointed insights.
This powerful effect stems from the brilliant choice of the Transformations' core meanings: Who doesn't want to make big money (Lu)? Who doesn't want control (Quan)? Who doesn't want to be recognized and valued (Ke)? And who doesn't want to understand the problems weighing on their heart (Ji)?
It is because the fundamental meanings of the Four Transformations align so closely with the deepest human needs that people have the mistaken impression that they are the sole essence of the system.
However, seasoning remains seasoning. Too much can ruin the dish's original flavor or even become an "addictive poison." Achieving balance is key. Therefore, the most practical approach is not to teach complex Flying Star techniques, but to fully understand the fundamental meaning of the Four Transformations, the Main Star they are attached to, and the Houses they reside in. By doing this, one can naturally gain profound insights.
2. THE TABLE
Heavenly Stem Four Transformations Table
This table shows which star transforms for each Heavenly Stem:
3. THE MEANING
Each of the four “Hua” transformations carries its own type of energy and influence. Together, they show how fortune, power, reputation, and challenge move through a person’s life.
Hua Lu (化祿) — Blessing and Prosperity
Meaning:
Hua Lu stands for wealth, opportunity, and abundance. It brings ease, success, and fulfillment. It’s the energy of beginnings, growth, and harvest — a time when things go smoothly and rewards come easily.
Essence:
It represents fortune, benefits, joy, romance, and positive connections — all signs of heavenly favor.
Hidden Side:
These blessings aren’t permanent. What Hua Lu gives can fade or slip away with time. It brings sweetness and reward, but not stability.
Hua Quan (化權) — Power and Control
Meaning:
Hua Quan represents strength, ambition, and leadership. It gives the power to act, compete, and make things happen. It’s the energy of drive, confidence, and command.
Essence:
It reflects authority, passion, and influence — all signs of worldly or earthly power.
Hidden Side:
Power is never permanent. Authority, fame, or control can easily change hands. Hua Quan gives momentum, but what’s gained today may be lost tomorrow.
Hua Ke (化科) — Reputation and Wisdom
Meaning:
Hua Ke stands for education, talent, and refinement. It brings recognition, protection, benefactors and good reputation. It’s linked with learning, knowledge, and personal growth.
Essence:
It represents real achievements — earned success, moral standing, support from mentors, and social respect. These are steady and cultivated qualities. These qualities do not fall between heaven and earth.
Hidden Side:
Unlike Hua Lu or Hua Quan, Hua Ke’s blessings last longer. Its rewards grow slowly but endure through time. It may feel calm or uneventful, but it builds lasting honor and legacy.
Hua Ji (化忌) — Obstacle and Loss
Meaning:
Hua Ji represents difficulty, loss, and emotional burden. It brings delay, frustration, and unresolved problems. It’s the energy of endings and lessons learned through hardship.
Essence:
It shows obstacles, decay, and pain — these qualities reflect the human condition and show up in your heart and emotions.
Hidden Side:
Unlike fleeting good luck, hardship tends to linger. Hua Ji’s challenges are often more definite and lasting, teaching resilience and detachment where blessings once stood.
Summary:
In simple terms, these "Hua" transformations are like cosmic shifts:
- Lu, Quan, and Ke are the beneficial shifts—they usually lead to success, power, or helpful opportunities.
- Ji is the troublesome shift—it often brings setbacks, problems, or difficulties.
Understanding which star in which house is affected by these transformations is key to reading a full Zi Wei Dou Shu chart.
4. THE ANALOGY
A. The Business Project Analogy
The Four Transformations can also be understood as the key phases or forces that shape a business project — from launch to success to challenge.
Hua Lu — Funding & Opportunity
Stage: Initial Investment and Launch
Meaning:
This is when the project receives its funding and resources. You gather support, capital, and enthusiasm to get things started.
Essence:
It represents opportunity, gain, and momentum — the spark that turns an idea into action. Hua Lu brings prosperity, smooth beginnings, and the flow of benefits that make the venture possible.
Hua Quan — Power & Execution
Stage: Management and Operation
Meaning:
This is the phase of active leadership and decision-making. You organize teams, direct resources, and push through obstacles to keep the project on track.
Essence:
It represents control, determination, and drive — the willpower that turns plans into results. Hua Quan reflects the struggle, competition, and energy required to build and maintain success.
Hua Ke — Reputation & Validation
Stage: Recognition and Public Relations
Meaning:
At this point, the project earns visibility and credibility. You build trust with clients, gain positive feedback, and establish a respected image.
Essence:
It represents recognition, refinement, and lasting reputation — the professional “shine” that protects your efforts and attracts continued support.
Hua Ji — Challenge & Correction
Stage: Setback and Adjustment
Meaning:
Every project faces problems — unexpected costs, mistakes, or delays that interrupt progress and test your resilience.
Essence:
It represents obstruction, loss, and learning — the stage where you must reassess, adapt, and recover. Hua Ji teaches humility and patience, reminding you that every setback carries a lesson for the next beginning.
B. The Student’s Journey Analogy
The Four Transformations can also be seen as the stages and forces that shape a student’s path toward success — from opportunity and effort to recognition and challenge.
Hua Lu — Prosperity & Opportunity
Stage: The Scholarship or Job Offer
Meaning:
This is when the student receives a boost of luck or reward — like getting a full scholarship, financial aid, or a great job opportunity right after graduation.
Essence:
It represents gain, smooth progress, and the arrival of helpful resources. Hua Lu marks the point when effort is rewarded, and doors begin to open easily.
Hua Quan — Power & Determination
Stage: The Leadership Role or Fierce Dedication
Meaning:
This is the student’s period of action and drive. They step up as a class leader, manage a big project, or pour all their energy into studying for exams.
Essence:
It represents willpower, discipline, and competitiveness — the inner strength to push forward, take control, and make progress through hard work.
Hua Ke — Reputation & Recognition
Stage: The Good Grades and Network
Meaning:
This is when consistent effort pays off. The student earns top grades, gains respect from teachers, and builds valuable connections. Their good reputation becomes their protection in the long run.
Essence:
It represents refinement, recognition, and credibility — the success that comes from steady effort and a well-earned reputation.
Hua Ji — Obstruction & Setback
Stage: The Unexpected Problem
Meaning:
This is when something goes wrong — failing a key course, losing research work, or facing personal issues that delay progress. These moments test resilience and patience.
Essence:
It represents loss, difficulty, and correction — the challenges that disrupt the path but also teach important lessons for the future.
C. The Plant Life Cycle Analogy
Each of the Four Transformations can be understood like stages in a plant’s life — from seed to bloom to decay — showing how energy rises, peaks, and fades.
Hua Lu — Abundance & Opportunity
Stage: Germination and Sprouting
Meaning:
This is when the seed cracks open and starts to grow. It absorbs water and nutrients, finding its first connection to life.
Essence:
It represents opportunity, growth, and the first rewards that make everything feel possible. Energy flows easily, and fortune begins to take shape — the start of something good.
Hua Quan — Power & Drive
Stage: Rooting and Stem Growth
Meaning:
Now the plant pushes its roots deep into the ground and stretches upward toward the sun. It competes for space, light, and strength.
Essence:
This is the phase of effort, ambition, and control — the determination to stand tall and thrive. It shows the power needed to grow and hold your ground in a competitive world.
Hua Ke — Reputation & Refinement
Stage: Blooming and Full Foliage
Meaning:
The plant reaches maturity, full of life and beauty. Flowers open, leaves shine, and pollinators are drawn in.
Essence:
This stage symbolizes recognition and protection — being seen, appreciated, and valued. The plant’s beauty ensures its legacy through pollination, just as Hua Ke brings lasting reputation and respect.
Hua Ji — Decline & Lesson
Stage: Withering and Decay
Meaning:
As the seasons change, the plant begins to fade. Resources dry up, and time brings natural decline.
Essence:
This is the stage of endings, loss, and letting go. It represents hardship and challenges that test endurance — but also renewal, because even in decay, the cycle prepares for new growth to begin again.
5. THE CATEGORIES
1. "Flat" Four Transformations (Basic Level):
►Birth Year Four Transformations: This is the most important one in your entire chart - it's your core blueprint.
►Life House Four Transformations: Represents your natural spiritual energy and inner drive, mainly affecting what happens in your life before age 36.
►Body House Four Transformations: Mostly kicks in after age 36 - this is about what you develop and acquire through life experience.
►Self-Transformation within a House: This happens when a life area (House) creates a transformation that affects itself - like an internal feedback loop.
2. "Mystical Void" Four Transformations (Advanced Level):
This is about cause and effect - where the transformation starts is the "cause," and where it lands is the "effect." It's a more complex way of reading how energy flows through your chart.
6. THE APPLICATION
Three Levels of Reading a Zi Wei Dou Shu Chart
Zi Wei Dou Shu charts are interpreted on three levels:
- Heavenly
- Earthly
- Human
A. Heaven Level (Heavenly Chart):
- Based on the heavenly stem of your birth year
- Both your Life House and Body House need to be involved in the transformations
- Each life area (house) can create transformations that affect itself
- This level shows your natural, inborn destiny - what you came into this life with
B. Earth Level (Earthly Chart):
- Mainly used to figure out whether your yearly cycles and minor time periods will be good or bad
- The heavenly stem of the current year creates transformations across all twelve life areas
- Each house can transform itself, and when you read it in 3D, these transformations can "fly" or move to all twelve houses
- Your Major Life Cycles (10-year periods) influence what happens in individual years
C. Human Level (Human Chart):
- The heavenly stem of this chart controls transformations in each life area
- Shows whether your monthly, daily, and hourly cycles will be favorable or unfavorable
- In basic "flat" readings, only the current month's stem can "fly" to all twelve houses - other houses can only affect themselves. In advanced "3D" readings, transformations can "fly" throughout all twelve houses
Think of it like this: Heaven = your blueprint, Earth = how time cycles affect you, Human = what happens in shorter timeframes.
7. HOW TO READ
- 10-Year Cycles: The Life House transformations show whether a decade will be good or bad. Pay equal attention to what enters the palace, what lights it up, and what clashes with it.
- Shorter Cycles (yearly and minor periods): Focus more on clashes and illuminating effects.
- No Hua Ke, Hua Lu, or Hua Quan? Then you'll need to work harder yourself and get help from others.
- You also get transformations for monthly, daily, and hourly cycles.
4. Priority Order:
- For 10-year cycles: Major Cycle transformations come first, your birth chart second.
- For yearly readings: Annual transformations first, Major Cycle second, birth chart is just for reference.
- Heaven Level transformations only work within the Heaven level - they're tied to your birth year and Major Cycles.
- Earth Level transformations only work within the Earth level - they're tied to your birth chart, with Major Cycles affecting yearly and minor cycles.
- Human Level transformations only work within the Human level - all the house stems work together to create transformations.
8. DEEPER MEANINGS
- Birth year transformations applied to Major Cycle space
- Major Cycle transformations applied to Minor Cycle and yearly space
- Yearly transformations applied to the "Dou Jun" space
This creates a complete dimensional theory showing how energy moves and changes over time.