Basic Structure
The basic structure of Zi Wei Dou Shu is based on the year, month, date, and time of the birth. Put fourteen master stars and others stars (over hundreds of stars) on the twelve palaces wall separately and then determine the five elements, later fix the position of Zi Wei star. Other master stars will be fixed positions following with Zi Wei. The process for this action is called Starting Plate (Qi-Pan) (or Arranging Plate (Pai-Pan)). When the arrangement of the stars is finished, it is called Tian Pan. From the relations among the stars in the plate, divinatory can estimate and calculate the favourable or unfavourable turns in life or good/bad fate in life.
Personnel matters and Fate
Each master star in Dou Shu has its characteristic. For example, Zi Wei is regarded as Emperor. Tian Ji is regarded as counselor. Tian Liang is regarded as honest and upright official. Po Jun is regarded as general in war. Using the social structure to match with the stars in the sky and then using the distribution of the stars to estimate the human life is a biggest feature of Dou Shu. Yet the modern society and ancient society are different. So some discussion that based on the ancient events might not match with the events in modern age.
Ming Chu
A character made by nature. It means that the pattern is natural but not acquired. It is a place of natural soul (Hun). If the happiness is in the palace like life, wealth, property, children, marriage, career, happiness and the main star Miao Wang and Chang Sheng Di Wang, then it is good. If in the palace like friends, health, travel, parents, it is common. If it meets a malignant star, then it is bad. The constellation is based on life palace. If the life palace is in Xi, then the Ming Chu is Tan Lang.
In Chou=Ju Men, Yin=Cun Lu, Mao=Wen Qu, Chen=Lian Chen, Si=Wu Qu, Wu=Po Jun, Wei=Wu Qu。Shen=Lian Chen,You=Wen Qu。Xu=Cun Lu, Hai=Ju Men
Shen Chu
A character made by acquirement. It means that the pattern of the acquirement that is done through the effort. It is a place of natural vigor (Po). The constellation should be arranged by the Earthly Branches for the year of the birth. If the happiness is in the palace like life, wealth, property, children, marriage, career, happiness and the main star Miao Wang and Chang Sheng Di Wang, then it is good. If in the palace like brothers, friends, health, travel, parents, it is common. If it meets a malignant star, then it is bad. If the Earthly Branches for the year of the birth is in Zi, then the Shen Chu is Mars.
In Chou = Tian Xiang, Yin = Tian Liang, Mao=Tian Tong, Chen=Wen Chang, Si=Tian Ji, Wu=Mars, Wei=Tian Xiang, Shen=Tian Liang, You=Tian Tong, Xu=Wen Chang, Hai=Tian Ji
Dou Jun
It is used to figure out the twelve months. Use the number of the month of the birth as the starting point. Calculate it in counterclockwise from the life palace. Then count it clockwise by using the number of the time of the birth. The last palace that reached by calculation is Dou Jun, the first month of that prediction year.
Prediction Year
It is based on the Earthly Branches. For example, the prediction year of Jia Zi year is located in the palace of Zi.
Prediction Month
There are many ways to discuss and judge the prediction month. If the position of Dou Jun is located in the parent palace of the life plate, then the prediction month for each year should be calculated starting parents palace.
Thirteen Palace
There are Yin and Yang in a palace. The year of the birth in the yang palace means nobility and in the yin palace means richness.
Six Yang Palaces
Life, marriage, wealth, travel, career and happiness
Six Yin Palaces
Brother, children, health, friends, property and parents
Six Internal Palaces
Life, wealth, health, career, property and happiness
Six External Palaces
Brother, marriage, children, travel, friends and parents