Purple Star Astrology
(Zi Wei)

About Purple Star Astrology

Purple Star Astrology (紫微 Zi Wei, or 紫微斗數 Zi Wei Dou Shu) is a traditional Chinese method of character analysis and fortune telling. It significantly expands upon the well-known cycle of Chinese Years (the 12 animal signs) and the Four Pillars of Destiny to provide a detailed portrait of the person.

Purple Star birth charts are similar in some ways to those of Western astrology. For example, both consider astrological influences in various areas of human life (Houses or 'Palaces' in the two systems). Technically, however, Purple Star astrology is very different to Western astrology.

Unlike Western astrology, Purple Star charts consider only the positions of the fixed stars (not the planets), notably those close to the Pole Star, associated with the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major).

There are various schools and systems of Purple Star astrology which differ not only in their assumptions and computational methods but also in the number, identification and interpretation of stars. Some approaches recognise just 14 stars, whereas others consider more than one hundred. In many cases, these 'stars' are purely symbolic and do not correspond directly with actual stars or other astronomical bodies.

Our calculator uses the earliest recorded system and includes just 19 stars. Also, unlike many systems, the method we use does not distinguish between male and female charts (this appears to be a later development of the original system). Those interested in learning more about the history and different schools of Purple Star astrology are advised to consult the sources listed below.

About Our Calculator

The system and computational procedures we use follow very closely those described in Derek Walters' The Chinese Astrology Workbook (1989).

Birth (and other) charts can be generated for any date from 1912 to 2099. For best results you will need to have an exact or close estimate of the time of birth. You will also need to know the Time Zone and whether any Daylight Savings adjustment should be applied. You can find this information easily using an online search for your location and birthdate. If you prefer to use Beijing Time for the calculations, select GMT +8:00 as the time zone.

Simply enter your birth data and click SUBMIT. All calculations are performed locally on your device and no names or other data are recorded by us. Your birth chart will be shown immediately, together with a tabulated summary to aid interpretation (see below for a detailed description of the various chart elements). If you wish, you can COPY the chart as an image.

Note that, while based closely on traditional concepts, the textual descriptors of the 19 stars and 12 houses shown in the chart and table are our own attempts to express the key ideas in a way that is more appropriate for modern English-speaking users. We hope you find these useful. For reference, the Chinese characters, Pinyin romanization, and common English translations are also shown in the Table.

Structure of the Birth Chart

Example Chart

Birth Chart of Diana, Princess of Wales
Born 1st July 1961, 19:45 BST, Sandringham, England

The 13 Houses

How to Interpret the Chart

The Birth Chart is interpreted by considering how the meaning of each Star relates to the House in which it appears. Take into account whether the star is fortunate or unfortunate and pay special attention to the influence of Modifiers. Where more than one Star appears in a House, consider the ways in which their influences may combine.

To aid interpretation, all the key information for your chart is summarised in your Purple Star Interpretation Guide.

Each House should be considered, but you should focus especially on the SELF and ACTION Houses, as well as any Houses that seem particularly active. If you have a particular question in mind, focus on the most relevant House or Houses. For example, if you wish to query whether you will marry and have children, you should examine the SPOUSE and CHILDREN Houses.

Caution and Disclaimer

This calculator is provided "as is" for entertainment purposes only. Users accept all risks and liabilities.

While we have made every effort to ensure computational accuracy, please report any errors you may discover.

Note that there are many different schools and systems of Purple Star Astrology (many of which are excessively complex) and the results obtained here may differ significantly from those of other online calculators, most of which are suitable only for Chinese-speaking users.

Further Reading

Walters, D. (1989). The Chinese Astrology Workbook: How to calculate and interpret Chinese horoscopes. Aquarian Press.

Walters, D. (2002). Chinese Astrology: The most comprehensive study of the subject ever published in the English language (Revised Edition). Watkins Publishing.

Yu, J. (2005). Zi Wei Dou Shu Correspondence Course.

Zi Wei Dou Shu (Wikipedia).