Glossary — Chinese Astrology, I-Ching, Liuren & Naming Terms
Bilingual reference for Chinese metaphysics: Ziwei Doushu (Purple Star Astrology), I-Ching (Book of Changes), Liuren divination, Bazi (Four Pillars), Five-Grid Naming, Feng Shui, and more.
Ziwei Doushu (Purple Star Astrology)
紫微斗數 / 紫微斗数Chinese astrology system attributed to Chen Tuan; uses 14 primary stars and 12 palaces.
Purple Star (紫微 Zǐ Wēi)
The "Emperor Star" of Ziwei Doushu, governing leadership, dignity, and the chart's overall fate.
Heavenly Mystery Star (天機 Tiān Jī)
The strategist star — governing intellect, planning, mental agility, and adaptability.
Sun Star (太陽 Tài Yáng)
The yang luminary — governing fame, public visibility, fatherly authority, and outward radiance.
Military Bend Star (武曲 Wǔ Qū)
The wealth and decisiveness star — governing finance, action, hardness of will, and martial discipline.
Heavenly Same Star (天同 Tiān Tóng)
The blessing star — gentle, optimistic, peace-loving, and content with simple pleasures.
Honest Chastity Star (廉貞 Lián Zhēn)
A complex star of contradictions — discipline & passion, romance & integrity, principle & rebellion.
Heavenly Treasury Star (天府 Tiān Fǔ)
Leader of the South Dipper — governs accumulation, stability, conservative wealth, and quiet authority.
Moon Star (太陰 Tài Yīn)
The yin luminary — governing emotions, mother / female relatives, intuition, and inner wealth.
Greedy Wolf Star (貪狼 Tān Láng)
The chart's primary romance and desire star — charisma, ambition, hedonism, and adaptability.
Big Dipper Star (巨門 Jù Mén)
The star of speech, scrutiny, and depth — debate, research, suspicion, and concealment.
Heavenly Aide Star (天相 Tiān Xiàng)
The "prime minister" star — fairness, mediation, service to others, and orderly competence.
Heavenly Beam Star (天梁 Tiān Liáng)
The longevity and elder-wisdom star — mature judgment, protection from harm, and counsel.
Seven Killings Star (七殺 Qī Shā)
The general star — sharp execution, independent action, transformation through challenge.
Army Breaker Star (破軍 Pò Jūn)
The disruptor — destruction of the old, pioneering creation of the new, costly transformation.
Life Palace (命宮 Mìng Gōng)
The most important of the 12 palaces — defines core personality, identity, and overall life direction.
Siblings Palace (兄弟宮 Xiōng Dì Gōng)
Governs relationships with siblings, business partners, and close peer-level allies.
Spouse Palace (夫妻宮 Fū Qī Gōng)
Governs marriage, romantic partnership quality, and the type of partner one attracts.
Children Palace (子女宮 Zǐ Nǚ Gōng)
Governs offspring relationships, creative output, and intimate physical connection.
Wealth Palace (財帛宮 Cái Bó Gōng)
Governs cash flow, earned income style, and one's relationship with money.
Health Palace (疾厄宮 Jí È Gōng)
Governs health constitution, susceptible body systems, and accident risk patterns.
Travel Palace (遷移宮 Qiān Yí Gōng)
Governs movement, relocation, foreign opportunities, and how one operates outside home.
Friends and Subordinates Palace (友僕宮 Yǒu Pú Gōng)
Governs friendships, subordinates, and the broader social network beyond close family.
Career Palace (官祿宮 Guān Lù Gōng)
Governs vocation, professional achievement, status, and authority.
Property Palace (田宅宮 Tián Zhái Gōng)
Governs real estate, accumulated wealth, and the home environment.
Spiritual Wellbeing Palace (福德宮 Fú Dé Gōng)
Governs inner contentment, mental health, hobbies, and karmic blessings.
Parents Palace (父母宮 Fù Mǔ Gōng)
Governs the relationship with parents and the broader theme of authority figures.
Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny)
八字四柱 / 八字四柱Ancient Chinese fate analysis from birth year, month, day, and hour expressed in 60 stem-branch combinations.
Bijian (比肩) — Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Same five-element same yin/yang as the Day Master; represents peers, siblings, self-reliance, and equal-footing relationships.
Jiecai (劫財) — Wealth Robber
Same element opposite polarity to the Day Master; represents competitive peers, strong drive, and risk of financial loss through associates.
Shishen (食神) — Output Star
Element produced by the Day Master, same polarity; represents creativity, flow, eating-and-drinking pleasures, and stable productivity.
Shanguan (傷官) — Hurt Officer
Element produced by Day Master with opposite polarity; represents intense talent, rebellion, and the wound that drives creativity.
Piancai (偏財) — Side Wealth
Element conquered by Day Master, same polarity; represents windfall money, side businesses, and "money that flows in like a tide."
Zhengcai (正財) — Regular Wealth
Element conquered by Day Master, opposite polarity; represents stable income, salary, savings, and the lawful spouse (in male charts).
Qisha (七殺) — Seven Killings
Element conquering the Day Master, same polarity; represents pressure, authority, severe challenges, and martial discipline.
Zhengguan (正官) — Regular Officer
Element conquering the Day Master, opposite polarity; represents lawful authority, official career, and the lawful husband (in female charts).
Pianyin (偏印) — Side Seal
Element producing the Day Master, same polarity; represents unconventional learning, intuition, stepmother, and mystical study.
Zhengyin (正印) — Regular Seal
Element producing the Day Master, opposite polarity; represents formal education, mother, lawful inheritance, and respected mentors.
Jia (甲) — Yang Wood
First of the ten Heavenly Stems; yang wood, classically symbolized by the great tree that grows upward and provides shelter.
Yi (乙) — Yin Wood
Second Heavenly Stem; yin wood, the soft pliant flowering plants — adaptive, graceful, persistent through obstacles.
Bing (丙) — Yang Fire
Third Heavenly Stem; yang fire — the sun itself: brilliant, far-reaching, transparently warming all without hidden purpose.
Ding (丁) — Yin Fire
Fourth Heavenly Stem; yin fire — the lamp, candle, hearth fire: focused, intimate, refining metal but never broadcasting.
Wu (戊) — Yang Earth
Fifth Heavenly Stem; yang earth — the mountain, embankment, fortress wall: solid, defensive, slow but indomitable.
Ji (己) — Yin Earth
Sixth Heavenly Stem; yin earth — the cultivated field, garden soil: receptive, nourishing, the medium where things actually grow.
Geng (庚) — Yang Metal
Seventh Heavenly Stem; yang metal — the unrefined iron, axe, sword: cutting, decisive, willing to act on principle without compromise.
Xin (辛) — Yin Metal
Eighth Heavenly Stem; yin metal — gold, silver, jewelry, refined precision instruments — beauty, delicacy, intolerant of crude force.
Ren (壬) — Yang Water
Ninth Heavenly Stem; yang water — the river, ocean, great current — vast, intelligent, unstoppable but capable of flooding.
Gui (癸) — Yin Water
Tenth and final Heavenly Stem; yin water — the dew, mist, gentle rain — quiet, penetrating, nourishing without force.
Zi (子) — Rat Branch / Yin Water
First of the twelve Earthly Branches; yin water; the rat sign; rules midnight (23:00–01:00) and the heart of winter.
Chou (丑) — Ox Branch / Yin Earth
Second Earthly Branch; yin earth; the ox sign; rules pre-dawn (01:00–03:00) and the deep earth before spring stirs.
Yin (寅) — Tiger Branch / Yang Wood
Third Earthly Branch; yang wood; the tiger sign; rules dawn (03:00–05:00) and the first month of spring (立春).
Mao (卯) — Rabbit Branch / Yin Wood
Fourth Earthly Branch; yin wood; the rabbit sign; rules early morning (05:00–07:00) and the second month of spring (春分).
Chen (辰) — Dragon Branch / Yang Earth
Fifth Earthly Branch; yang earth; the dragon sign; rules mid-morning (07:00–09:00) and the third month of spring — the storehouse of water.
Si (巳) — Snake Branch / Yin Fire
Sixth Earthly Branch; yin fire; the snake sign; rules late morning (09:00–11:00) and the first month of summer (立夏).
Wu (午) — Horse Branch / Yang Fire
Seventh Earthly Branch; yang fire; the horse sign; rules noon (11:00–13:00) and the second month of summer (夏至).
Wei (未) — Goat Branch / Yin Earth
Eighth Earthly Branch; yin earth; the goat sign; rules early afternoon (13:00–15:00) and the last month of summer — the storehouse of wood.
Shen (申) — Monkey Branch / Yang Metal
Ninth Earthly Branch; yang metal; the monkey sign; rules late afternoon (15:00–17:00) and the first month of autumn (立秋).
You (酉) — Rooster Branch / Yin Metal
Tenth Earthly Branch; yin metal; the rooster sign; rules early evening (17:00–19:00) and the second month of autumn (秋分).
Xu (戌) — Dog Branch / Yang Earth
Eleventh Earthly Branch; yang earth; the dog sign; rules late evening (19:00–21:00) and the last month of autumn — the storehouse of fire.
Hai (亥) — Pig Branch / Yin Water
Twelfth and final Earthly Branch; yin water; the pig sign; rules late night (21:00–23:00) and the first month of winter (立冬).
I-Ching (The Book of Changes)
易經（周易） / 易经（周易）The oldest Chinese classic, foundation of divination through 64 hexagrams composed of 8 trigrams.
Qian (乾 ☰) — The Creative
The first of the eight trigrams; pure yang, representing heaven, creativity, and dynamic strength.
Kun (坤 ☷) — The Receptive
The most yin of the eight trigrams; representing earth, receptivity, devotion, and nurturing power.
Zhen (震 ☳) — The Arousing
Bottom yang line under two yin; the trigram of thunder, awakening, sudden movement, and the eldest son.
Xun (巽 ☴) — The Gentle
Bottom yin under two yang lines; the trigram of wind, penetration, gradual influence, and the eldest daughter.
Kan (坎 ☵) — The Abysmal
One yang in the middle between two yin lines; the trigram of water, danger, depth, and the middle son.
Li (離 ☲) — The Clinging
One yin in the middle between two yang lines; the trigram of fire, brightness, clarity, and the middle daughter.
Gen (艮 ☶) — Keeping Still
Top yang above two yin lines; the trigram of mountain, stillness, boundary, and the youngest son.
Dui (兌 ☱) — The Joyous
Top yin above two yang lines; the trigram of lake, joy, communication, and the youngest daughter.
Chinese Almanac
黃曆 / 黄历Traditional lunisolar calendar marking auspicious and inauspicious activities for each day.
Lichun (立春) — Beginning of Spring
The first solar term, around February 3-5; marks the astronomical start of spring and the new year for traditional Chinese metaphysics.
Yushui (雨水) — Rain Water
Around February 18-20; precipitation increases and shifts from snow to rain in much of China.
Jingzhe (驚蟄) — Awakening of Insects
Around March 5-7; the first spring thunder traditionally awakens hibernating creatures.
Chunfen (春分) — Spring Equinox
Around March 20-22; day and night are equal, and yin-yang is in perfect balance.
Qingming (清明) — Clear and Bright
Around April 4-6; both a solar term and a major festival for tomb-sweeping and ancestral remembrance.
Guyu (穀雨) — Grain Rain
Around April 19-21; the last solar term of spring; ample rainfall nourishes growing grains.
Lixia (立夏) — Beginning of Summer
Around May 5-7; astronomical start of summer; fire element and yang energy strengthen rapidly.
Xiaoman (小滿) — Lesser Fullness
Around May 20-22; grains begin to fill but are not yet ripe; "lesser" because fullness is partial.
Mangzhong (芒種) — Grain in Ear
Around June 5-7; busiest farming time; awned crops mature, summer rice planting begins.
Xiazhi (夏至) — Summer Solstice
Around June 21-22; longest daylight of the year; yang energy peaks, then begins to decline.
Xiaoshu (小暑) — Lesser Heat
Around July 6-8; heat intensifies but the most extreme is still ahead.
Dashu (大暑) — Greater Heat
Around July 22-24; the hottest period of the year; "middle fu" days fall within this window.
Liqiu (立秋) — Beginning of Autumn
Around August 7-9; astronomical start of autumn; metal element strengthens.
Chushu (處暑) — End of Heat
Around August 22-24; the heat begins to retreat; "處" means to depart.
Bailu (白露) — White Dew
Around September 7-9; morning dew becomes visible; cool autumn truly begins.
Qiufen (秋分) — Autumn Equinox
Around September 22-24; day and night again equal; yin overtakes yang.
Hanlu (寒露) — Cold Dew
Around October 8-9; dew turns cold and frost is imminent; deep autumn begins.
Shuangjiang (霜降) — Frost's Descent
Around October 23-24; first frost arrives in northern regions; the last solar term of autumn.
Lidong (立冬) — Beginning of Winter
Around November 7-8; astronomical start of winter; water element strengthens.
Xiaoxue (小雪) — Lesser Snow
Around November 22-23; light snowfall begins in northern regions; cold deepens.
Daxue (大雪) — Greater Snow
Around December 6-8; heavy snowfall arrives across northern China; deep winter begins.
Dongzhi (冬至) — Winter Solstice
Around December 21-23; longest night of the year; yang energy reborn.
Xiaohan (小寒) — Lesser Cold
Around January 5-7; cold deepens; severe weather but the absolute peak still ahead.
Dahan (大寒) — Greater Cold
Around January 20-21; the coldest solar term; the last of the 24, with Lichun next to begin a new cycle.