The 14 Main Stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu: Personality of Each Star

The fourteen main stars fall into two groups: the Zi Wei group of six (Zi Wei, Tian Ji, Tai Yang, Wu Qu, Tian Tong, Lian Zhen) and the Tian Fu group of eight (Tian Fu, Tai Yin, Tan Lang, Ju Men, Tian Xiang, Tian Liang, Qi Sha, Po Jun). Each star has its own character and brings it to whichever palace it sits in.

Tap the example chart below to see where each main star lands. Its Life Palace holds Tian Fu and Wu Qu; its Career Palace holds Zi Wei and Tian Xiang.

Want to know which main star sits in your own Life Palace? Enter your birth date to get your free Zi Wei Dou Shu chart, then match it against the fourteen stars below.

Three things to know first

Main stars lead their palace. The large names on each box are the main stars and set the tone of that palace. Two main stars in one palace are read as a pair; a palace with none is "empty" and borrows the main stars of the opposite palace.

Brightness affects expression. Temple, Strong, Supported, Favorable, Neutral, Weak and Fallen describe how freely a star can express itself in that position. Bright stars show their strengths easily; dim ones take more effort.

The Four Transformations add direction. When a star takes Lu, Quan, Ke or Ji, one side of it becomes more pronounced. Wu Qu with Quan, for example, makes its drive and authority more visible.

The Zi Wei group

Zi Wei (紫微, also written Ziwei): the Emperor

Keywords: leadership, dignity, self-direction

The head of the fourteen stars. Zi Wei carries a natural air of authority, likes to be in charge and values respect. Strength: vision and the ability to carry responsibility. Watch-out: taking everything on alone and not hearing others out.

Read more: Zi Wei star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tian Ji (天機): the Strategist

Keywords: intelligence, adaptability, analysis

Quick-minded, observant and full of plans, with wide interests; at home in work that uses the head. Strength: adaptable and inventive. Watch-out: overthinking, hesitating or changing direction too often.

Read more: Tian Ji star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tai Yang (太陽): the Sun

Keywords: warmth, generosity, reputation

Outgoing and warm-hearted, Tai Yang likes to help and cares about fairness and reputation. Strength: positive energy and influence. Watch-out: getting so busy with others' needs that your own come last. Traditionally it shines most for daytime births and in bright positions.

Read more: Tai Yang star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Wu Qu (武曲): the Wealth Star

Keywords: practicality, decisiveness, results

One of the main wealth stars: straightforward, practical and focused on getting things done. Strength: reliability and execution. Watch-out: blunt words; care tends to show in actions rather than speech.

Read more: Wu Qu star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tian Tong (天同): the Star of Blessings

Keywords: gentleness, ease, enjoyment

Easy-going, well liked and keen on quality of life. Strength: optimism and pleasant company. Watch-out: putting things off under pressure, or getting too comfortable.

Read more: Tian Tong star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Lian Zhen (廉貞): the Principled Star

Keywords: principle, competitiveness, intensity

Principled and competitive, with strong feelings and clear boundaries; fully committed once engaged. Strength: focus and ambition. Watch-out: tension between rules and desire, and emotional swings.

Read more: Lian Zhen star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

The Tian Fu group

Tian Fu (天府): the Treasury

Keywords: steadiness, generosity, preservation

Calm, tolerant and security-minded; good at keeping and building resources. Strength: dependable and able to hold things together. Watch-out: playing it so safe that you miss the moment to change.

Read more: Tian Fu star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tai Yin (太陰): the Moon

Keywords: sensitivity, reserve, feeling

Gentle and observant, with deep feelings and a strong attachment to home; also a wealth star that builds slowly. Strength: thoughtful and aesthetic. Watch-out: keeping feelings to yourself.

Read more: Tai Yin star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tan Lang (貪狼): the Charmer

Keywords: talent, sociability, curiosity

Multi-talented, sociable and curious about everything new. Strength: charm and plenty of opportunities. Watch-out: spreading yourself too thin.

Read more: Tan Lang star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Ju Men (巨門): the Questioner

Keywords: analysis, speech, digging deep

Called the "dark star" in older texts: analytical, articulate and determined to get to the bottom of things, at home in work that relies on expertise and speech. Strength: depth and clarity. Watch-out: blunt words can stir up disputes.

Read more: Ju Men star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tian Xiang (天相): the Seal

Keywords: diplomacy, fairness, image

Gentle and upright, attentive to image and order, skilled at mediating and supporting; a reliable team member. Strength: fairness and tact. Watch-out: caring too much what others think.

Read more: Tian Xiang star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Tian Liang (天梁): the Protector

Keywords: maturity, care, principle

Mature and steady with the air of an elder; likes to guide and look after others, and often receives help from mentors. Strength: protective and responsible. Watch-out: lecturing or worrying too much.

Read more: Tian Liang star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Qi Sha (七殺): the General

Keywords: decisiveness, drive, independence

Independent and bold, with strong momentum; suited to pioneering and leading alone. Strength: courage under challenge. Watch-out: impatience, head-on clashes and a life with big ups and downs.

Read more: Qi Sha star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Po Jun (破軍, also written Pojun): the Pioneer

Keywords: breakthrough, change, unconventional

Embraces change and does things its own way, often clearing the old before building the new. Strength: adaptable and unafraid to break through. Watch-out: restlessness and heavy spending of energy and money.

Read more: Po Jun star meaning, transformations and the twelve palaces

Common pairings

Main stars often appear in pairs, and the pair is read as one unit:

• Zi Wei and Tian Fu: the two leading stars together; broad vision, able to both build and keep.
• Zi Wei and Tian Xiang: leadership plus diplomacy, well suited to management.
• Wu Qu and Tian Fu: steadiness plus decisiveness, strong with money.
• Tai Yang and Tai Yin: sun and moon; warm outside, sensitive inside.
• Tian Ji and Ju Men: intelligence plus eloquence, good for research and expertise.
• Lian Zhen and Tan Lang: strong charm and a wide social life; mind desire and boundaries.

Next steps

To find out which main star sits in your Life Palace, calculate your free Zi Wei Dou Shu chart; every palace comes with a plain-language reading. Then continue with:

• How to read a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart in 5 steps
• The twelve palaces of Zi Wei Dou Shu
• The Four Transformations (Si Hua): Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji