ZWDS Chart Construction (紫微斗數排盤)
Manual construction of a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart requires a 10-step process using the lunar birth date, time, and gender. The chart is laid out in a 4×3 grid of 12 palaces arranged in counter-clockwise order.
10-Step Manual Chart Construction
- Determine Lunar Birth Data: Convert solar birth date to lunar calendar. Identify lunar month, day, and hour branch (時辰).
- Find the Life Palace (命宮): Using the lunar birth month and hour branch through the standard formula table. The Life Palace is the starting point of the entire chart.
- Arrange the 12 Palaces: Place all 12 palace names in the grid counter-clockwise from the Life Palace position.
- Find the Zi Wei Star Position: Using the lunar birth day, locate the palace where the Purple Star (紫微) sits, using the Zi Wei positioning table.
- Deploy the 14 Major Stars: From the Zi Wei position, deploy all major stars to their fixed relative positions.
- Place the Left and Right Auxiliary Stars: Zuo Fu (左輔) and You Bi (右弼) — derived from the lunar birth month.
- Place the Four Transformation Stars (四化): Based on the birth year's Heavenly Stem, identify which major stars receive Hua Lu (化祿), Hua Quan (化權), Hua Ke (化科), and Hua Ji (化忌).
- Place Remaining Auxiliary Stars: Tian Ma (天馬), Hua Ji secondary stars, and the 12 Life Stars based on birth year branch.
- Determine the Body Palace (身宮): Derived from the birth hour branch. The Body Palace modifies the Life Palace's expression.
- Set the Big Luck Periods (大限 Da Xian): Starting age determined by gender, birth year polarity, and Life Palace position. Each period spans 10 years.