Glossary — Chinese Astrology, I-Ching, Liuren & Naming Terms

Chinese astrology system attributed to Chen Tuan; uses 14 primary stars and 12 palaces.

• Purple Star (紫微 Zǐ Wēi)

  Zǐ Wēi Xīng

  The "Emperor Star" of Ziwei Doushu, governing leadership, dignity, and the chart's overall fate.

• Heavenly Mystery Star (天機 Tiān Jī)

  Tiān Jī Xīng

  The strategist star — governing intellect, planning, mental agility, and adaptability.

• Sun Star (太陽 Tài Yáng)

  Tài Yáng Xīng

  The yang luminary — governing fame, public visibility, fatherly authority, and outward radiance.

• Military Bend Star (武曲 Wǔ Qū)

  Wǔ Qū Xīng

  The wealth and decisiveness star — governing finance, action, hardness of will, and martial discipline.

• Heavenly Same Star (天同 Tiān Tóng)

  Tiān Tóng Xīng

  The blessing star — gentle, optimistic, peace-loving, and content with simple pleasures.

• Honest Chastity Star (廉貞 Lián Zhēn)

  Lián Zhēn Xīng

  A complex star of contradictions — discipline & passion, romance & integrity, principle & rebellion.

• Heavenly Treasury Star (天府 Tiān Fǔ)

  Tiān Fǔ Xīng

  Leader of the South Dipper — governs accumulation, stability, conservative wealth, and quiet authority.

• Moon Star (太陰 Tài Yīn)

  Tài Yīn Xīng

  The yin luminary — governing emotions, mother / female relatives, intuition, and inner wealth.

• Greedy Wolf Star (貪狼 Tān Láng)

  Tān Láng Xīng

  The chart's primary romance and desire star — charisma, ambition, hedonism, and adaptability.

• Big Dipper Star (巨門 Jù Mén)

  Jù Mén Xīng

  The star of speech, scrutiny, and depth — debate, research, suspicion, and concealment.

• Heavenly Aide Star (天相 Tiān Xiàng)

  Tiān Xiàng Xīng

  The "prime minister" star — fairness, mediation, service to others, and orderly competence.

• Heavenly Beam Star (天梁 Tiān Liáng)

  Tiān Liáng Xīng

  The longevity and elder-wisdom star — mature judgment, protection from harm, and counsel.

• Seven Killings Star (七殺 Qī Shā)

  Qī Shā Xīng

  The general star — sharp execution, independent action, transformation through challenge.

• Army Breaker Star (破軍 Pò Jūn)

  Pò Jūn Xīng

  The disruptor — destruction of the old, pioneering creation of the new, costly transformation.

• Life Palace (命宮 Mìng Gōng)

  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)

  Xiōng Dì Gōng

  Governs relationships with siblings, business partners, and close peer-level allies.

• Spouse Palace (夫妻宮 Fū Qī Gōng)

  Fū Qī Gōng

  Governs marriage, romantic partnership quality, and the type of partner one attracts.

• Children Palace (子女宮 Zǐ Nǚ Gōng)

  Zǐ Nǚ Gōng

  Governs offspring relationships, creative output, and intimate physical connection.

• Wealth Palace (財帛宮 Cái Bó Gōng)

  Cái Bó Gōng

  Governs cash flow, earned income style, and one's relationship with money.

• Health Palace (疾厄宮 Jí È Gōng)

  Jí È Gōng

  Governs health constitution, susceptible body systems, and accident risk patterns.

• Travel Palace (遷移宮 Qiān Yí Gōng)

  Qiān Yí Gōng

  Governs movement, relocation, foreign opportunities, and how one operates outside home.

• Friends and Subordinates Palace (友僕宮 Yǒu Pú Gōng)

  Yǒu Pú Gōng

  Governs friendships, subordinates, and the broader social network beyond close family.

• Career Palace (官祿宮 Guān Lù Gōng)

  Guān Lù Gōng

  Governs vocation, professional achievement, status, and authority.

• Property Palace (田宅宮 Tián Zhái Gōng)

  Tián Zhái Gōng

  Governs real estate, accumulated wealth, and the home environment.

• Spiritual Wellbeing Palace (福德宮 Fú Dé Gōng)

  Fú Dé Gōng

  Governs inner contentment, mental health, hobbies, and karmic blessings.

• Parents Palace (父母宮 Fù Mǔ Gōng)

  Fù Mǔ Gōng

  Governs the relationship with parents and the broader theme of authority figures.

Ancient Chinese fate analysis from birth year, month, day, and hour expressed in 60 stem-branch combinations.

• Bijian (比肩) — Shoulder-to-Shoulder

  Bǐ Jiān

  Same five-element same yin/yang as the Day Master; represents peers, siblings, self-reliance, and equal-footing relationships.

• Jiecai (劫財) — Wealth Robber

  Jié Cái

  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

  Shí Shén

  Element produced by the Day Master, same polarity; represents creativity, flow, eating-and-drinking pleasures, and stable productivity.

• Shanguan (傷官) — Hurt Officer

  Shāng Guān

  Element produced by Day Master with opposite polarity; represents intense talent, rebellion, and the wound that drives creativity.

• Piancai (偏財) — Side Wealth

  Piān Cái

  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

  Zhèng Cái

  Element conquered by Day Master, opposite polarity; represents stable income, salary, savings, and the lawful spouse (in male charts).

• Qisha (七殺) — Seven Killings

  Qī Shā

  Element conquering the Day Master, same polarity; represents pressure, authority, severe challenges, and martial discipline.

• Zhengguan (正官) — Regular Officer

  Zhèng Guān

  Element conquering the Day Master, opposite polarity; represents lawful authority, official career, and the lawful husband (in female charts).

• Pianyin (偏印) — Side Seal

  Piān Yìn

  Element producing the Day Master, same polarity; represents unconventional learning, intuition, stepmother, and mystical study.

• Zhengyin (正印) — Regular Seal

  Zhèng Yìn

  Element producing the Day Master, opposite polarity; represents formal education, mother, lawful inheritance, and respected mentors.

The oldest Chinese classic, foundation of divination through 64 hexagrams composed of 8 trigrams.

• Qian (乾 ☰) — The Creative

  Qián Guà

  The first of the eight trigrams; pure yang, representing heaven, creativity, and dynamic strength.

• Kun (坤 ☷) — The Receptive

  Kūn Guà

  The most yin of the eight trigrams; representing earth, receptivity, devotion, and nurturing power.

• Zhen (震 ☳) — The Arousing

  Zhèn Guà

  Bottom yang line under two yin; the trigram of thunder, awakening, sudden movement, and the eldest son.

• Xun (巽 ☴) — The Gentle

  Xùn Guà

  Bottom yin under two yang lines; the trigram of wind, penetration, gradual influence, and the eldest daughter.

• Kan (坎 ☵) — The Abysmal

  Kǎn Guà

  One yang in the middle between two yin lines; the trigram of water, danger, depth, and the middle son.

• Li (離 ☲) — The Clinging

  Lí Guà

  One yin in the middle between two yang lines; the trigram of fire, brightness, clarity, and the middle daughter.

• Gen (艮 ☶) — Keeping Still

  Gèn Guà

  Top yang above two yin lines; the trigram of mountain, stillness, boundary, and the youngest son.

• Dui (兌 ☱) — The Joyous

  Duì Guà

  Top yin above two yang lines; the trigram of lake, joy, communication, and the youngest daughter.

Traditional lunisolar calendar marking auspicious and inauspicious activities for each day.

• Lichun (立春) — Beginning of Spring

  Lì Chūn

  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

  Yǔ Shuǐ

  Around February 18-20; precipitation increases and shifts from snow to rain in much of China.

• Jingzhe (驚蟄) — Awakening of Insects

  Jīng Zhé

  Around March 5-7; the first spring thunder traditionally awakens hibernating creatures.

• Chunfen (春分) — Spring Equinox

  Chūn Fēn

  Around March 20-22; day and night are equal, and yin-yang is in perfect balance.

• Qingming (清明) — Clear and Bright

  Qīng Míng

  Around April 4-6; both a solar term and a major festival for tomb-sweeping and ancestral remembrance.

• Guyu (穀雨) — Grain Rain

  Gǔ Yǔ

  Around April 19-21; the last solar term of spring; ample rainfall nourishes growing grains.

• Lixia (立夏) — Beginning of Summer

  Lì Xià

  Around May 5-7; astronomical start of summer; fire element and yang energy strengthen rapidly.

• Xiaoman (小滿) — Lesser Fullness

  Xiǎo Mǎn

  Around May 20-22; grains begin to fill but are not yet ripe; "lesser" because fullness is partial.

• Mangzhong (芒種) — Grain in Ear

  Máng Zhòng

  Around June 5-7; busiest farming time; awned crops mature, summer rice planting begins.

• Xiazhi (夏至) — Summer Solstice

  Xià Zhì

  Around June 21-22; longest daylight of the year; yang energy peaks, then begins to decline.

• Xiaoshu (小暑) — Lesser Heat

  Xiǎo Shǔ

  Around July 6-8; heat intensifies but the most extreme is still ahead.

• Dashu (大暑) — Greater Heat

  Dà Shǔ

  Around July 22-24; the hottest period of the year; "middle fu" days fall within this window.

• Liqiu (立秋) — Beginning of Autumn

  Lì Qiū

  Around August 7-9; astronomical start of autumn; metal element strengthens.

• Chushu (處暑) — End of Heat

  Chǔ Shǔ

  Around August 22-24; the heat begins to retreat; "處" means to depart.

• Bailu (白露) — White Dew

  Bái Lù

  Around September 7-9; morning dew becomes visible; cool autumn truly begins.

• Qiufen (秋分) — Autumn Equinox

  Qiū Fēn

  Around September 22-24; day and night again equal; yin overtakes yang.

• Hanlu (寒露) — Cold Dew

  Hán Lù

  Around October 8-9; dew turns cold and frost is imminent; deep autumn begins.

• Shuangjiang (霜降) — Frost's Descent

  Shuāng Jiàng

  Around October 23-24; first frost arrives in northern regions; the last solar term of autumn.

• Lidong (立冬) — Beginning of Winter

  Lì Dōng

  Around November 7-8; astronomical start of winter; water element strengthens.

• Xiaoxue (小雪) — Lesser Snow

  Xiǎo Xuě

  Around November 22-23; light snowfall begins in northern regions; cold deepens.

• Daxue (大雪) — Greater Snow

  Dà Xuě

  Around December 6-8; heavy snowfall arrives across northern China; deep winter begins.

• Dongzhi (冬至) — Winter Solstice

  Dōng Zhì

  Around December 21-23; longest night of the year; yang energy reborn.

• Xiaohan (小寒) — Lesser Cold

  Xiǎo Hán

  Around January 5-7; cold deepens; severe weather but the absolute peak still ahead.

• Dahan (大寒) — Greater Cold

  Dà Hán

  Around January 20-21; the coldest solar term; the last of the 24, with Lichun next to begin a new cycle.