Palaces Guide (十二宮詳解)

The Twelve Dimensions of Human Experience

Introduction: The Theaters of Destiny

The Zi Wei chart is a map of 12 "Palaces," each representing a specific theater of life. While the Stars are the actors, the Palaces are the stages where the action unfolds. A "Wealth" star like Wu Qu behaves very differently in the "Career" palace than it does in the "Health" palace.

Beyond the 12 standard palaces sits the Body Palace (身宮) , which acts as a secondary anchor for post-35 life. To read a chart is to understand the complex dialogue between these twelve sectors.

紫微斗數命盤由十二個「宮位」組成，每個宮位代表生命中的一個特定領域。如果說 星曜 是演員，那麼 宮位 就是劇情展開的舞台。一顆如武曲般的「財星」，在「官祿宮」與在「疾厄宮」的表現是截然不同的。

在標準的十二宮之外，還有 身宮 ，它作為三十五歲後命運的第二個錨點。解盤的核心在於理解這十二個宮位之間複雜的對話。

1. The Twelve Palaces (十二宮)

Every palace has a primary meaning, but they also interact through geometric relationships (triangles and opposites).

1. Life Palace (命宮)

Core: Personality, appearance, innate capacity, and overall destiny strength.

The "Master" of the chart. All other palaces are read in relation to the strength and flavor of the Life Palace.

2. Siblings Palace (兄弟宮)

Core: Relationships with siblings, close peers, and partners in small ventures.

Also indicates the financial "foundation" as it is the "Career of Wealth" in the internal logic.

3. Marriage Palace (夫妻宮)

Core: Romantic partners, marital harmony, and the type of person one is attracted to.

Indicates the spouse's personality and the overall quality of the union.

4. Children Palace (子女宮)

Core: Fertility, children, creativity, and the "Peach Blossom" aspect of physical relations.

Reflects relationship with the next generation and subordinate staff.

5. Wealth Palace (財帛宮)

Core: Earning capacity, financial management style, and luck with liquid assets.

Shows how you make money (action), not necessarily how much you keep (property).

6. Health Palace (疾厄宮)

Core: Physical constitution and susceptibility to specific organ ailments.

Also represents the "subconscious body" and hidden physical characteristics.

7. Travel Palace (遷移宮)

Core: Social reputation, luck away from home, and safety during movement.

Directly opposite the Life Palace; represents the "mask" you show to society.

8. Friends Palace (交友宮)

Core: Relationships with general public, subordinates, and broader social circles.

Formerly called the "Servants Palace." Indicates luck with cooperation.

9. Career Palace (官祿宮)

Core: Professional path, working style, and administrative success.

Shows your dedication to work and the nature of your professional environment.

10. Property Palace (田宅宮)

Core: Real estate, ancestral inheritance, and the domestic atmosphere.

Represents the "Treasury" where wealth is stored (fixed assets).

11. Mental Palace (福德宮)

Core: Inner happiness, spiritual well-being, longevity, and subconscious mind.

Reflects the capacity for enjoyment and the quality of one's inner life.

12. Parents Palace (父母宮)

Core: Relationship with parents, superiors, and "Sky" luck (protection).

Indicates the influence of elders and formal education/documentation.

✦ ◆ ✦

2. The Body Palace (身宮 - Shen Gong)

The Body Palace is a hidden 13th palace that always overlaps with one of the six "External" palaces. It represents the "post-35" life focus and the physical manifestation of one's path.

Overlap PalaceLife Focus & Manifestation
Life (命)Strong self-identity, independent path, what you see is what you get.
Wealth (財)Entrepreneurial drive, financial security is the primary motivator.
Career (官)Professional achievement and social status define the life path.
Marriage (夫)Spouse and partnership are the central focus of life and identity.
Travel (遷)Success found away from home, heavy social interaction, public life.
Mental (福)Spiritual, leisure, or philosophical pursuits dominate the latter half of life.
✦ ◆ ✦

3. Geometric Relationships (三方四正)

No palace exists in isolation. To read the "Life" palace, you must look at its triangle (Wealth and Career) and its opposite (Travel). This is known as San Fang Si Zheng .

The Opposite (對宮)

Represents external manifestation and the mirror of the self. 180° away.

The Triangle (三方)

Representing the supporting pillars (Wealth/Action and Career/Position). 120° away.

The Neighbors (鄰宮)

Adjacent palaces that "sandwich" the target. Their stars can influence through a "Squeezing" effect.

📐 Example: Reading the Life Palace

To analyze a person's core potential, we look at the Life Palace (Self) plus:

  • Wealth Palace: How they handle resources and act in the world.
  • Career Palace: Their professional drive and public authority.
  • Travel Palace: How society views them and their luck outside home.

These four palaces combined are the "Four Dimensions" (四正) of an individual's destiny skeleton.

✦ ◆ ✦

4. How to Read the 12 Palaces (如何解讀十二宮)

Understanding the 12 palaces is not simply memorizing meanings — it requires grasping the structural logic of how they relate to one another. The chart is a wheel, the palaces follow a fixed sequence, and every palace speaks to its neighbors, its opposite, and its triangular partners.

The Palace Wheel (宮位盤)

The Zi Wei chart is arranged as a square grid of 12 sectors , mimicking the 12 Earthly Branches (地支). The palaces are laid out counter-clockwise starting from the Life Palace (命宮), which is determined by your birth month and birth hour. The sequence always follows this fixed order:

命宮 (Life) → 兄弟 (Siblings) → 夫妻 (Spouse) → 子女 (Children) →
財帛 (Wealth) → 疾厄 (Health) → 遷移 (Travel) → 交友 (Friends) →
官祿 (Career) → 田宅 (Property) → 福德 (Blessings) → 父母 (Parents)

Although different chart software may display the grid differently, the relative sequence never changes . The Life Palace always sits counter-clockwise from the Parents Palace, and the Siblings Palace always follows the Life Palace.

Opposite Palace Theory (對宮理論)

Every palace has a palace directly across from it — six positions away on the wheel. This is the Dui Gong (對宮) , or Opposite Palace. The opposite palace acts as an external mirror : it shows how outside forces reflect back upon the palace in question.

💡 Key Principle

Stars in the opposite palace exert roughly 60–70% influence on the target palace. If your Life Palace is empty but the Travel Palace (its opposite) holds Zi Wei + Tian Fu, you are far from unlucky — you receive powerful external support.

PalaceOpposite PalaceInterpretive Axis
命宮 Life遷移宮 TravelInner self ↔ Public self
兄弟宮 Siblings交友宮 FriendsClose bonds ↔ Broad social circle
夫妻宮 Spouse官祿宮 CareerPrivate partnership ↔ Public role
子女宮 Children田宅宮 PropertyCreation ↔ Accumulation
財帛宮 Wealth福德宮 BlessingsMaterial gain ↔ Spiritual gain
疾厄宮 Health父母宮 ParentsBody condition ↔ Hereditary influence

Three-Combination Palaces (三方四正 Overview)

Beyond the opposite, each palace also has two triangular partners — palaces that sit 120° away (four positions in each direction). Together with the opposite palace, these form the San Fang Si Zheng (三方四正) — the "Three Directions, Four Correct" — which is the most important analytical framework in ZWDS reading.

When assessing any palace, you must always examine its San Fang Si Zheng grouping. A palace with weak natal stars can be elevated by strong stars in its triangle and opposite, and vice versa. No palace is ever read alone.

Da Xian Life Periods (大限概述)

The chart is not static. Every 10 years , the focus of life shifts to a new palace through the Da Xian (大限) system. The starting palace and direction (clockwise for Yang charts, counter-clockwise for Yin charts) depend on the Five Elements classification of the Life Palace's Heavenly Stem. This means that the 12 palaces are not just descriptions of life domains — they are also temporal markers of life stages.

A person's childhood palace, career-building palace, and retirement palace are all different sectors of the same chart, each activating different stars and energies as time progresses.

✦ ◆ ✦

5. The Twelve Palaces — In-Depth (十二宮深度解析)

Below is a comprehensive treatment of each palace. For every palace we cover: core meaning, key stars to watch, the influence of its opposite palace, and a practical interpretation tip.

1. 命宮 Mìng Gōng — Life Palace

Core Meaning: The Life Palace is the master palace of the entire chart. It defines the person's innate character, physical appearance, destiny archetype , and the overall "grade" of the chart. It is the first palace planted during chart construction and anchors every other palace position.

Key Stars to Watch: Zi Wei (紫微) here marks a "born leader"; Tian Ji (天機) indicates analytical brilliance but restlessness; Tai Yang (太陽) bestows public charisma. Sha stars like Qing Yang (擎羊) or Tuo Luo (陀羅) can indicate physical scars or a combative personality.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Travel Palace (遷移宮) mirrors the Life Palace. Strong stars in Travel mean the person is more popular or successful in public than their self-image suggests. Weak Travel with strong Life means inner talent that struggles to gain recognition externally.

核心意義： 命宮是整張命盤的主宮。它定義了命主的 先天性格、外貌特徵、命運原型 以及命盤的整體「格局等級」。命宮是排盤時最先安放的宮位，所有其他宮位皆以此為基準。

關鍵星曜： 紫微入命主「天生領袖」；天機入命代表分析力強但易浮躁；太陽入命賦予公眾魅力。煞星如擎羊、陀羅入命可能表示面部傷痕或好鬥性格。

對宮影響： 遷移宮是命宮的對宮。遷移宮星曜強旺，表示命主在外比自我認知中更受歡迎。命宮強而遷移弱，則才華內斂，難以獲得外界認可。

🔍 Practical Tip

When reading the Life Palace, always check its San Fang Si Zheng (Career + Wealth + Travel). A Life Palace with average stars but a powerful triangle can still produce great results. The Life Palace sets the tone , but the triangle determines the capacity .

2. 兄弟宮 Xiōng Dì Gōng — Siblings Palace

Core Meaning: Governs relationships with siblings, close peers, business partners, and rivals of equal standing. In modern readings, it extends to close friends and emotional bonds with those who share your generational energy.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Tong (天同) or Tian Liang (天梁) indicate harmonious, supportive sibling relationships. Ju Men (巨門) here often shows verbal conflict or estrangement. Tian Ji (天機) may indicate a cleverer sibling who overshadows the native.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Friends Palace (交友宮) complements it. Strong Friends with weak Siblings means better luck with broader social circles than with blood relatives.

核心意義： 主管與 兄弟姐妹、同輩、合作夥伴及地位相當的競爭對手 之間的關係。在現代解讀中，還延伸至密友及與同輩人之間的情感連結。

關鍵星曜： 天同或天梁入兄弟宮，代表兄弟關係和諧、互助。巨門入此宮常見口舌是非或疏離。天機入兄弟宮可能暗示手足中有人才智過人而使命主相形見絀。

對宮影響： 交友宮為其對宮。交友強而兄弟弱，表示命主在泛交圈中的運勢優於血親關係。

🔍 Practical Tip

The Siblings Palace also reveals your "cash flow foundation" in derived palace theory — it is the "Career of Wealth Palace." Check here if you want to understand the stability of income sources, not just earning capacity.

3. 夫妻宮 Fū Qī Gōng — Spouse Palace

Core Meaning: Defines the quality of marriage, romantic relationships, and the nature of one's ideal partner . It reveals attraction patterns, marital harmony or turbulence, and the timing of significant romantic encounters.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Fu (天府) or Zi Wei (紫微) indicate a capable, dignified spouse. Hong Luan (紅鸞) or Tian Xi (天喜) accelerate marriage timing. Wen Chang (文昌) / Wen Qu (文曲) here can mean a cultured, artistic partner — but also potential for romantic entanglement.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Career Palace (官祿宮) is the opposite. If Career is strong with prominent stars like Zi Wei, the spouse may be career-oriented or the marriage is heavily influenced by professional ambitions.

核心意義： 定義 婚姻品質、戀愛關係及理想伴侶的特質 。揭示吸引模式、婚姻和諧或動盪，以及重大感情際遇的時機。

關鍵星曜： 天府或紫微入夫妻宮，代表配偶能幹、有威儀。紅鸞或天喜催動婚期。文昌、文曲入此宮可能代表配偶有文化藝術修養——但也可能有感情糾葛。

對宮影響： 官祿宮為其對宮。若官祿宮星曜強旺如紫微坐鎮，則配偶可能事業心重，或婚姻深受職業野心影響。

🔍 Practical Tip

Late marriage indicators: Sha stars (擎羊, 陀羅, 火星, 鈴星) in the Spouse Palace often delay but don't prevent marriage. Hua Ji (化忌) flying into this palace from the Life Palace's Heavenly Stem is one of the strongest indicators of marital difficulty.

4. 子女宮 Zǐ Nǚ Gōng — Children Palace

Core Meaning: Governs offspring potential, relationship with children, sexuality, and raw creative energy . In modern readings it also extends to romantic encounters of a more physical nature ("Peach Blossom" affairs) and creative output such as artistic works or business ventures.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Tong (天同) indicates fertility and ease with children. Tai Yin (太陰) favors daughters. Sha stars may indicate difficult births or strained parent-child relationships. Tian Xing (天刑) here can mean a child with a strong, rebellious temperament.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Property Palace (田宅宮) is the opposite. A strong Property Palace supports the idea that children will inherit well or that domestic conditions nurture child-rearing.

核心意義： 主管 子嗣潛力、親子關係、性慾及原始創造力 。在現代解讀中也延伸至桃花（情慾際遇）及創造性產出如藝術作品或創業項目。

關鍵星曜： 天同入子女宮代表生育順利、與子女關係融洽。太陰利生女兒。煞星可能代表生產困難或親子關係緊張。天刑入此宮可能意味著子女性格剛烈、叛逆。

對宮影響： 田宅宮為其對宮。田宅強旺則暗示子女能繼承產業，或家庭環境有利於養育子女。

🔍 Practical Tip

For entrepreneurs: the Children Palace represents your "creative output" — products, innovations, ventures. A strong Children Palace with Lu Cun (祿存) or Hua Lu (化祿) can indicate profitable creative projects even if literal offspring are not the native's focus.

5. 財帛宮 Cái Bó Gōng — Wealth Palace

Core Meaning: Reveals money-making ability, income sources, spending habits, and financial management style . This palace shows how you earn money — the Property Palace shows how you keep it. Active earners vs. passive investors are distinguished here.

Key Stars to Watch: Wu Qu (武曲) is the quintessential wealth star — disciplined, strategic. Tai Yin (太陰) favors passive income and real estate. Tan Lang (貪狼) can mean big wins but also big losses (speculative nature). Lu Cun (祿存) is steady, accumulated wealth.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Blessings Palace (福德宮) is the opposite. If Blessings is strong, wealth comes with mental contentment. If Blessings is troubled, high earnings may be accompanied by anxiety or inability to enjoy money.

核心意義： 揭示 賺錢能力、收入來源、消費習慣及理財風格 。此宮展示你 如何賺錢 ——田宅宮則展示你 如何守財 。主動賺取者與被動投資者的差異在此可見。

關鍵星曜： 武曲是典型的財星——自律、有策略。太陰利被動收入和房地產。貪狼可能大起大落（投機性質）。祿存代表穩定、累積型財富。

對宮影響： 福德宮為其對宮。福德強旺則財富與心靈滿足並行。福德受困則高收入可能伴隨焦慮或無法享受金錢之苦。

🔍 Practical Tip

The Wealth Palace alone does not determine how rich you become. You must combine it with the Property Palace (fixed assets), the Career Palace (professional income), and the Blessings Palace (opposite) — the full financial San Fang Si Zheng.

6. 疾厄宮 Jí È Gōng — Health Palace

Core Meaning: Maps out illness patterns, vulnerable organs, physical constitution, and general vitality . In deeper readings, it also reflects the "subconscious body" — hidden physical traits, karma of the flesh, and the native's relationship with their own physical form.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Liang (天梁) here is protective — a natural "doctor star" that mitigates illness. Lian Zhen (廉貞) can indicate reproductive or urinary system issues. Huo Xing (火星) or Ling Xing (鈴星) may signal inflammation, fever, or sudden accidents. Ju Men (巨門) often relates to digestive or oral issues.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Parents Palace (父母宮) mirrors hereditary health conditions. Problematic stars in Parents suggest genetic predispositions or health issues inherited from the parental lineage.

核心意義： 揭示 疾病模式、脆弱器官、身體體質及整體生命力 。更深層的解讀中，也反映「潛意識的身體」——隱藏的身體特徵、肉身業力，以及命主與自身身體的關係。

關鍵星曜： 天梁入疾厄宮有保護作用——天生的「醫星」可減輕疾病。廉貞可能代表生殖或泌尿系統問題。火星、鈴星可能暗示發炎、發燒或突發意外。巨門常與消化或口腔問題相關。

對宮影響： 父母宮反映遺傳性健康狀況。父母宮有凶星暗示基因易感性或來自父母血統的健康問題。

🔍 Practical Tip

Health Palace analysis is time-sensitive. Natal stars show constitutional tendencies, but actual illness often manifests only when a Da Xian or Annual Palace activates problematic star combinations. Check the Sha star transits carefully for health prediction.

7. 遷移宮 Qiān Yí Gōng — Travel Palace

Core Meaning: Governs the external environment, public image, overseas luck, travel safety, and interactions with society at large . If the Life Palace is who you are inside , the Travel Palace is who you are to the world . It also indicates whether one thrives at home or abroad.

Key Stars to Watch: Tai Yang (太陽) in a bright position here means international fame. Tian Ma (天馬) indicates frequent relocation or a career involving constant travel. Zi Wei (紫微) in Travel means you are treated like royalty when away from home.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Life Palace (命宮) is the opposite. A significant gap between the two reveals a discrepancy between internal reality and external perception — the classic "public persona vs. private self" dynamic.

核心意義： 主管 外在環境、公眾形象、海外運勢、出行安全及與社會的互動 。若命宮代表你 內在 的自己，遷移宮就是你呈現給 世界 的樣子。也指示命主更適合在家鄉還是在外地發展。

關鍵星曜： 太陽廟旺入遷移宮代表國際名聲。天馬代表頻繁遷居或工作需要經常出差。紫微入遷移宮表示在外受人尊崇。

對宮影響： 命宮為其對宮。兩宮之間差距顯著，揭示內在實相與外在認知之間的落差——即經典的「公眾人格 vs. 私人自我」。

🔍 Practical Tip

For immigration or relocation questions, the Travel Palace is primary. Tian Ma + Lu Cun or Hua Lu in the Travel Palace is the classic "migrate and prosper" configuration. Multiple Sha stars warn of accidents or difficulties during travel.

8. 交友宮 Jiāo Yǒu Gōng — Friends Palace

Core Meaning: Reflects relationships with subordinates, colleagues, social networks, and the broader public . Historically called the "Servants Palace" (奴僕宮), it governs luck with cooperation, employee management, and the quality of one's social connections.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Fu (天府) here means trustworthy, loyal subordinates. Lian Zhen (廉貞) + Tan Lang (貪狼) indicate entertaining but potentially unreliable social circles with much wining and dining. Po Jun (破軍) warns of betrayal by associates.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Siblings Palace (兄弟宮) is its opposite. This creates an axis of "close bonds vs. broad connections." A person with strong Friends but weak Siblings excels at networking but may struggle with intimate emotional relationships.

核心意義： 反映與 下屬、同事、社交網絡及廣大公眾 的關係。古稱「奴僕宮」，主管合作運、員工管理及社交連結的品質。

關鍵星曜： 天府入此宮代表下屬忠誠可靠。廉貞加貪狼代表交際場面精彩但可能虛浮、多酒食應酬。破軍警示被朋友或合夥人背叛。

對宮影響： 兄弟宮為其對宮，形成「親密羈絆 vs. 廣泛人脈」的軸線。交友強而兄弟弱的人擅長社交，但可能在親密情感關係上有所不足。

🔍 Practical Tip

For managers and business owners: the Friends Palace is your "employee luck" indicator. Hua Ji (化忌) or Di Jie (地劫) here warns of financial losses through subordinates. Always cross-check with the Wealth Palace before expanding your team.

9. 官祿宮 Guān Lù Gōng — Career Palace

Core Meaning: Defines the professional path, working style, career status, and administrative aptitude . It shows not just what career suits you, but how you approach work — with discipline, creativity, or restlessness. Also governs academic achievement in student years.

Key Stars to Watch: Zi Wei (紫微) or Tian Fu (天府) here marks leadership roles and managerial positions. Wu Qu (武曲) favors finance, military, or technical fields. Tian Ji (天機) indicates advisory or strategic roles. Wen Chang (文昌) + Wen Qu (文曲) combination signals literary, academic, or media careers.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Spouse Palace (夫妻宮) is its opposite. A strong Career opposing a weak Spouse often means career obsession at the expense of marital quality — the classic "married to the job" pattern.

核心意義： 定義 職業道路、工作方式、事業地位及行政能力 。不僅顯示 什麼 職業適合你，還展示你 如何 對待工作——是自律、有創意還是浮躁。學生時期也主管學業成就。

關鍵星曜： 紫微或天府入官祿宮代表領導角色和管理職位。武曲利財經、軍事或技術領域。天機代表幕僚或策略性角色。文昌加文曲組合暗示文學、學術或媒體事業。

對宮影響： 夫妻宮為其對宮。官祿強而夫妻弱，常見事業至上而犧牲婚姻品質——經典的「嫁給工作」格局。

🔍 Practical Tip

Career Palace + Wealth Palace + Life Palace form the "Achievement Triangle." For career consultation, always read all three together. A strong Career Palace with a weak Wealth Palace may mean a prestigious but poorly compensated profession (e.g., academics, public service).

10. 田宅宮 Tián Zhái Gōng — Property Palace

Core Meaning: Governs real estate, home conditions, ancestral inheritance, fixed assets, and the domestic atmosphere . While the Wealth Palace shows cash flow, the Property Palace shows accumulated, stored wealth — the "treasury." It also reveals the quality of one's living environment.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Fu (天府) here is the classic real estate magnate configuration. Wu Qu (武曲) + Lu Cun (祿存) means owning multiple properties. Huo Xing (火星) or Ling Xing (鈴星) warn of fire hazards at home or arguments within the household. Di Kong (地空) may indicate empty or barren living conditions.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Children Palace (子女宮) is opposite. A strong Property with weak Children may show wealth accumulated but not passed on effectively, or luxurious surroundings but few or distant offspring.

核心意義： 主管 房地產、居住條件、祖產繼承、固定資產及家庭氛圍 。財帛宮展示現金流，田宅宮則展示累積、儲存的財富——即「金庫」。也揭示居住環境的品質。

關鍵星曜： 天府入此宮是經典的房產大亨格局。武曲加祿存代表擁有多處房產。火星、鈴星警示家中火災隱患或家庭爭吵。地空可能代表居所空曠或生活條件不佳。

對宮影響： 子女宮為其對宮。田宅強而子女弱，可能財富累積卻未能有效傳承，或居住優越但子嗣稀少或疏離。

🔍 Practical Tip

For real estate investment timing, check when the Da Xian or Annual Palace activates the Property Palace with Hua Lu (化祿) or Lu Cun (祿存) transits. This is the optimal window for property acquisition.

11. 福德宮 Fú Dé Gōng — Blessings Palace

Core Meaning: Reveals the mental state, inner happiness, hobbies, spiritual inclinations, capacity for enjoyment, and longevity potential . It is the palace of the soul's comfort . A person with a troubled Blessings Palace may achieve great material success but feel perpetually empty or anxious inside.

Key Stars to Watch: Tian Tong (天同) is the happiest star here — carefree enjoyment and contentment. Tian Liang (天梁) provides philosophical satisfaction and spiritual protection. Ju Men (巨門) may cause overthinking and insomnia. Hua Ji (化忌) here is one of the most troublesome placements — chronic mental unease.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Wealth Palace (財帛宮) is opposite. This axis determines the "material vs. spiritual wealth" balance. Strong Blessings with weak Wealth: content but poor. Strong Wealth with weak Blessings: rich but miserable.

核心意義： 揭示 心理狀態、內在幸福感、興趣愛好、靈性傾向、享受能力及壽命潛力 。這是 靈魂安適 之宮。福德宮受困的人，即使物質成就卓越，內心也可能長期空虛或焦慮。

關鍵星曜： 天同入福德宮最為歡喜——無憂無慮、知足常樂。天梁帶來哲學上的滿足和靈性庇護。巨門可能導致過度思慮和失眠。化忌入此宮是最棘手的組合之一——慢性心理不安。

對宮影響： 財帛宮為其對宮，此軸線決定「物質財富 vs. 精神財富」的平衡。福德強而財帛弱：知足但清貧。財帛強而福德弱：富有但痛苦。

🔍 Practical Tip

The Blessings Palace is the single most important palace for assessing quality of life and mental health. In modern practice, this palace often reveals susceptibility to depression, anxiety disorders, or existential crises. Always check this palace alongside the Health Palace.

12. 父母宮 Fù Mǔ Gōng — Parents Palace

Core Meaning: Governs upbringing, relationship with parents, hereditary traits, interactions with authority figures (bosses, teachers), and documentation/legal matters . It reveals the quality of parental nurturing and whether the native receives "Sky Luck" — the protection and guidance of elders.

Key Stars to Watch: Tai Yang (太陽) here indicates a strong, influential father. Tai Yin (太陰) favors a nurturing, supportive mother. Tian Xing (天刑) can mean a strict, authoritarian parent or legal troubles involving documentation. Po Jun (破軍) warns of early separation from parents or a tumultuous childhood.

Opposite Palace Influence: The Health Palace (疾厄宮) is opposite. This axis is the "body-heredity" connection — the Health Palace shows your constitution while Parents shows where those traits come from genetically and environmentally.

核心意義： 主管 成長環境、與父母的關係、遺傳特質、與權威人物（老闆、老師）的互動，以及文書/法律事務 。揭示父母養育的品質，以及命主是否得到「天運」——長輩的庇護和引導。

關鍵星曜： 太陽入此宮代表父親強勢且有影響力。太陰利母親慈愛、支持。天刑可能代表父母管教嚴厲或涉及文書的法律糾紛。破軍警示早年與父母分離或童年動盪。

對宮影響： 疾厄宮為其對宮。此軸線是「身體—遺傳」的連結——疾厄宮展示你的體質，父母宮展示這些特徵在基因和環境上的來源。

🔍 Practical Tip

In modern contexts, the Parents Palace also governs your relationship with bosses and authority figures. If you want to know how a client deals with supervisors or government officials, this is the palace to examine — not the Career Palace.

✦ ◆ ✦

6. San Fang Si Zheng — The Master Framework (三方四正詳解)

The San Fang Si Zheng (三方四正) — literally "Three Directions, Four Correct" — is the most powerful analytical framework in Zi Wei Dou Shu. It groups four palaces into a single assessment unit: the target palace , its two triangular partners (120° apart, forming the San Fang 三方), and its opposite palace (180° apart, the Si Zheng 四正).

No serious reading of any palace is complete without considering its full San Fang Si Zheng grouping. The stars in the triangular partners exert approximately 50–60% influence on the target palace, while the opposite palace contributes 60–70% .

📐 The Four Major Assessment Groupings

AssessmentTarget PalaceTriangle Partner 1Triangle Partner 2Opposite Palace
Personal Destiny命宮 Life財帛宮 Wealth官祿宮 Career遷移宮 Travel
Financial Capacity財帛宮 Wealth命宮 Life遷移宮 Travel福德宮 Blessings
Career Prospects官祿宮 Career命宮 Life遷移宮 Travel夫妻宮 Spouse
Marriage Quality夫妻宮 Spouse遷移宮 Travel福德宮 Blessings官祿宮 Career

Complete San Fang Si Zheng Map

Below is the full set of triangular groupings for all 12 palaces:

Target PalaceSan Fang Partner ASan Fang Partner BOpposite (Dui Gong)
命宮 Life財帛宮 Wealth官祿宮 Career遷移宮 Travel
兄弟宮 Siblings疾厄宮 Health田宅宮 Property交友宮 Friends
夫妻宮 Spouse遷移宮 Travel福德宮 Blessings官祿宮 Career
子女宮 Children交友宮 Friends父母宮 Parents田宅宮 Property
財帛宮 Wealth命宮 Life遷移宮 Travel福德宮 Blessings
疾厄宮 Health兄弟宮 Siblings交友宮 Friends父母宮 Parents
遷移宮 Travel夫妻宮 Spouse財帛宮 Wealth命宮 Life
交友宮 Friends子女宮 Children疾厄宮 Health兄弟宮 Siblings
官祿宮 Career命宮 Life夫妻宮 Spouse夫妻宮 Spouse
田宅宮 Property兄弟宮 Siblings子女宮 Children子女宮 Children
福德宮 Blessings夫妻宮 Spouse官祿宮 Career財帛宮 Wealth
父母宮 Parents疾厄宮 Health田宅宮 Property疾厄宮 Health

⚠️ Common Mistake

Beginners often read a single palace in isolation and panic when they see Sha stars. Always check the full San Fang Si Zheng grouping first. A single Sha star in the Life Palace can be effectively neutralized by auspicious stars in Wealth, Career, and Travel — the triangle "rescues" the target.

✦ ◆ ✦

7. Da Xian — Ten-Year Palace Activation (大限解讀)

The Zi Wei chart is a living map that evolves over time . Every 10 years, a new palace is "activated" as the Da Xian (大限, Great Limit) period shifts. This means the 12 palaces serve dual purposes: they are both permanent life-domain indicators and temporal markers for life stages .

How Da Xian Works

The starting palace for your first Da Xian (typically ages 2–11 or similar, depending on the Five Elements Bureau 五行局) and the direction of movement are determined by the Five Elements classification of the chart:

  • Yang charts (Yang Heavenly Stem for the Life Palace): Da Xian moves clockwise .
  • Yin charts (Yin Heavenly Stem for the Life Palace): Da Xian moves counter-clockwise .

The age range for each Da Xian period is determined by the Five Elements Bureau (五行局) :

  • Water Bureau (水二局): Starts at age 2
  • Wood Bureau (木三局): Starts at age 3
  • Metal Bureau (金四局): Starts at age 4
  • Earth Bureau (土五局): Starts at age 5
  • Fire Bureau (火六局): Starts at age 6

大限運作原理

首個大限的起始宮位（通常為2至11歲或類似年齡段，取決於五行局）和行進方向由命盤的 五行分類 決定：

  • 陽盤 （命宮天干為陽干）：大限 順時針 行進。
  • 陰盤 （命宮天干為陰干）：大限 逆時針 行進。

每個大限的年齡範圍取決於 五行局 ：

  • 水二局： 從2歲起行
  • 木三局： 從3歲起行
  • 金四局： 從4歲起行
  • 土五局： 從5歲起行
  • 火六局： 從6歲起行

🔄 Overlaying Natal and Da Xian Stars

When a Da Xian activates a palace, you must read two layers simultaneously :

  1. Natal Stars (本命星): The permanent stars placed at birth — these form the "foundation" or baseline.
  2. Da Xian Stars (大限星): The Da Xian period generates its own set of Si Hua (四化) transformations based on the Heavenly Stem of the Da Xian Palace. These temporary stars overlay on top of natal stars.

The interaction between the two layers creates the nuance of each 10-year period. A natal Hua Lu (化祿) in a palace receiving a Da Xian Hua Ji (化忌) means that a previously fortunate area of life faces temporary obstruction.

Practical Example

Consider a person with a Metal Bureau (金四局) Yang chart:

Da Xian PeriodAgesPalace ActivatedKey Focus
1st Da Xian4–13Life Palace (命宮)Early identity formation, health foundation
2nd Da Xian14–23Parents Palace (父母宮)Education, relationship with authority
3rd Da Xian24–33Blessings Palace (福德宮)Inner values, lifestyle choices
4th Da Xian34–43Property Palace (田宅宮)Home buying, family stability
5th Da Xian44–53Career Palace (官祿宮)Peak professional achievement
6th Da Xian54–63Friends Palace (交友宮)Social legacy, mentoring

Note: This example assumes clockwise movement (Yang chart). Yin charts reverse the direction. The actual palace sequence depends on the starting position of your Life Palace.

💡 Reading Tip: "Double Layer" Method

When interpreting a Da Xian period, follow this checklist:

  1. Identify the Da Xian Palace and its natal stars — this is the "background energy."
  2. Calculate the Da Xian Si Hua (四化) from the Heavenly Stem of the Da Xian Palace — this is the "foreground trigger."
  3. Overlay Da Xian stars onto the natal chart and note any palace receiving both Natal Lu and Da Xian Ji (conflict) or Natal Ji and Da Xian Lu (relief).
  4. Check the Da Xian Palace's San Fang Si Zheng for additional support or obstruction.
  5. Finally, examine the Annual Palace (流年) within that Da Xian for pinpoint timing.
✦ ◆ ✦

8. Palace Quick-Reference Table (宮位速查表)

The following table consolidates all 12 palaces with their Chinese names, opposite palaces, San Fang partners, associated elements, and life domains for rapid reference during chart reading.

PalaceChineseOpposite PalaceSan Fang PartnersElementLife Domain
Life命宮Travel 遷移Wealth 財帛 + Career 官祿Varies by BranchSelf, identity, appearance, destiny grade
Siblings兄弟宮Friends 交友Health 疾厄 + Property 田宅Varies by BranchSiblings, peers, close bonds, cash-flow stability
Spouse夫妻宮Career 官祿Travel 遷移 + Blessings 福德Varies by BranchMarriage, romance, partner quality
Children子女宮Property 田宅Friends 交友 + Parents 父母Varies by BranchOffspring, sexuality, creativity
Wealth財帛宮Blessings 福德Life 命宮 + Travel 遷移Varies by BranchIncome, spending, financial management
Health疾厄宮Parents 父母Siblings 兄弟 + Friends 交友Varies by BranchIllness, constitution, vulnerable organs
Travel遷移宮Life 命宮Spouse 夫妻 + Wealth 財帛Varies by BranchPublic image, overseas, external luck
Friends交友宮Siblings 兄弟Children 子女 + Health 疾厄Varies by BranchSubordinates, social network, cooperation
Career官祿宮Spouse 夫妻Life 命宮 + Travel 遷移Varies by BranchProfession, status, working style
Property田宅宮Children 子女Siblings 兄弟 + Friends 交友Varies by BranchReal estate, home, ancestral inheritance
Blessings福德宮Wealth 財帛Spouse 夫妻 + Career 官祿Varies by BranchMental state, hobbies, spiritual life
Parents父母宮Health 疾厄Children 子女 + Property 田宅Varies by BranchUpbringing, heredity, authority, bosses

📋 How to Use This Table

When reading any palace: (1) Identify the natal stars in the target palace. (2) Check the opposite palace column — those stars exert 60–70% influence. (3) Check the San Fang partners — those stars exert 50–60% influence. (4) Assess the combined picture before making any interpretation. Never read a palace in isolation.

✦ ◆ ✦

🎯 Next: The Four Transformations

Now that you understand the stages (Palaces) and the actors (Stars), you must learn the Triggers . Proceed to the Si Hua & Flying Stars guide.

Next: Si Hua & Flying Stars →