---
type: Knowledge Base
title: "Zi Wei Dou Shu Knowledge Base (紫微斗數知識庫)"
description: "An Open Knowledge Format reference for Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology): the 14 major stars, 12 palaces, Four Transformations and Five Element Bureaus."
resource: https://localpapa.com/tools/ziwei.html
tags: [ziwei, zi-wei-dou-shu, purple-star-astrology, chinese-astrology, okf]
timestamp: 2026-06-21T00:00:00Z
---

# Zi Wei Dou Shu Knowledge Base · 紫微斗數知識庫

**Zi Wei Dou Shu** (紫微斗數, "Purple Star Astrology") is a traditional Chinese astrology system that maps a person’s birth date and hour onto a chart of **twelve palaces** populated by **fourteen major stars** and many minor stars, modified by the **Four Transformations** and read over **decade-luck** cycles set by the **Five Element Bureau**.

This is the **static knowledge layer** in [Open Knowledge Format](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/data-analytics/how-the-open-knowledge-format-can-improve-data-sharing/): stable, human- and agent-readable definitions. The **dynamic layer** — casting an actual chart from a birth date — runs 100% in the browser at <https://localpapa.com/tools/ziwei.html>, with nothing uploaded.

## Navigate

- [The 14 Major Stars](./stars/index.md) — 十四主星
- [The Twelve Palaces](./palaces/index.md) — 十二宮
- [The Four Transformations](./transformations/index.md) — 生年四化
- [The Five Element Bureaus](./bureaus/index.md) — 五行局
- [The Trine & Opposition](./sanfang.md) — 三方四正 (how palaces shine into the Life palace)
- [Decade Luck](./decades.md) — 大限 (ten-year periods and the three layers of transformation)
- [Annual Fortune](./annual.md) — 流年 (reading a single year, with all 48 landing meanings)

## How a chart is built

1. Convert the Gregorian birth date to the **Chinese lunar** date.
2. From lunar month and birth hour, fix the **Life palace** (命宮) and lay out the twelve palaces.
3. From the Life palace stem-branch, derive the **Five Element Bureau**.
4. From the bureau and lunar day, place **Zi Wei**, then the other 13 major stars and the minor stars.
5. From the **birth-year stem**, apply the **Four Transformations**.
6. From bureau number, gender and year yin/yang, lay out the **decade-luck** periods.

> For entertainment and cultural reference. Zi Wei Dou Shu is interpretive and schools differ; this base reflects common mainstream usage.

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*Part of the [LocalPapa knowledge pack](../index.md). Tool: [Zi Wei Dou Shu chart](https://localpapa.com/tools/ziwei.html).*