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Chinese Metaphysics · Zi Wei Dou Shu 紫微斗数

Zi Wei Dou Shu: Astrology for Kings.

The Emperor's Science, in plain English. Map a life into its twelve palaces — self, wealth, career, marriage, health, children, property — and read the decade you are living through, without a translator and without a teacher holding the answers.

18 modules99 lessonsLifetime access

  • Read the whole chart, not one sign — twelve palaces, fourteen major stars, and how they argue with each other.
  • Time it properly, with the Four Transformations (四化) and the ten-year cycles (大限) that set each decade.
  • Learn a system, not a script: the reasoning behind every judgement, so you can defend it and revise it.
Enrol — $1,688.00 USDSee the curriculum

Self-paced and online · Lifetime access, updated as the course grows · Payment plan available at checkout

An illustrated astrologer at a lamplit desk with a purple-star chart unrolled before him, constellations and a palace diagram above
A Zi Wei Dou Shu chart: the twelve palaces and the fourteen major starsThe twelve palaces around the square, each on its Earthly Branch and running counter-clockwise from the Self Palace in 午 — Siblings, Spouse, Children, Wealth, Health, Travel, Friends, Career, Property, Fortune and Parents — with the fourteen major stars of the 紫微在午 chart placed in them, the four transformations 禄 权 科 忌 marked on 廉贞, 破军, 武曲 and 太阳, and the Triangle drawn across the Self, Wealth and Career palaces.紫微斗数 · The Twelve Palaces三方四正 · The Triangle命宫Life午紫微兄弟Siblings巳天机夫妻Spouse辰七杀子女Children卯太阳忌天梁财帛Wealth寅武曲科天相疾厄Health丑天同巨门迁移Travel子贪狼交友Friends亥太阴官禄Career戌廉贞禄天府田宅Property酉福德Fortune申破军权父母Parents未紫微斗数Zi Wei Dou Shu命宫 午 · 十四主星十二宫 · 三方四正禄权科忌四化 · The Four Transformations
The twelve palaces, the fourteen major stars and the four transformations — the chart this masterclass teaches you to read.

The System

What is Zi Wei Dou Shu? The Emperor's Science

Zi Wei Dou Shu 紫微斗数 — "purple star astrology" — was the Imperial Court's own method, kept for governing an empire and choosing its officers. It maps a life into twelve palaces (宫), one for each of its domains: the self, wealth, career, marriage, health, children, property, parents. Into those palaces fall the fourteen major stars, and how they sit together — and which of the four transformations they carry — is the reading.

  • Twelve palaces, one for every domain of a life.
  • Fourteen major stars, and the four transformations (四化) that change what they mean.
  • The Triangle (三方四正): a palace is read with the two that support it, and the one opposite.

The Problem

Your horoscope reads one sign. This reads twelve palaces.

Most astrology flattens a whole life into a single archetype. Zi Wei Dou Shu does the opposite: it maps the life into twelve distinct palaces and reads each one against the others, so "wealth" is answered separately from "career", and "marriage" separately from "self".

  • The Life Palace

    Who you are, and the frame every other palace is read against.

  • The Wealth Palace

    How money arrives, how it leaves, and whether it holds.

  • The Career Palace

    The work you are built for, and the standing it brings you.

  • The Spouse Palace

    What you bring to a partnership, and what you need from one.

What You'll Learn

What You'll Learn

Four things this masterclass gives you that no horoscope column can.

  • The Chart

    The Architecture of a Life

    十二宫

    Master the fundamental architecture of the chart to see how the 12 Life Palaces organise and influence every aspect of your reality.

  • The Stars

    The Fourteen Major Stars

    十四主星

    Decode the archetypal meanings of the 14 Major Stars to uncover deep insights into personality, potential, and behavioural motivations.

  • The Method

    Reading Combinations

    星曜组合

    Acquire the essential interpretive techniques needed to synthesise star combinations and assess the quality of critical life sectors such as wealth and career.

  • The Timing

    Ten-Year Luck Cycles

    四化 · 大限

    Learn to identify and analyse the 10-Year Luck Cycles to forecast major life trends and pinpoint strategic timing for future decisions using the Four Transformer stars (四化).

The curriculum

18 modules · 99 lessons

  1. Announcements3 lessons
    1. About The English Names Of The Stars
    2. An Important Reminder - Ethics and Responsibility On Zi Wei Dou Shu
    3. Some Rules For This School & Online Courses
  2. Introduction To Zi Wei Dou Shu3 lessons
    1. History Of Zi Wei Dou Shu
    2. Why Is Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数) Seemingly More Popular?
    3. Not Just About Forecasting And Predicting The Future
  3. The Zi Wei Dou Shu Chart5 lessons
    1. Plotting The Chart
    2. The 12 Palaces Or Houses
    3. The Stars In Zi Wei Dou Shu
    4. Outward Facing Palaces
    5. Inward Facing Houses
  4. Deepdive 12 Palaces12 lessons
    1. Life Palace (命宫)
    2. Siblings Palace (兄弟宫)
    3. The Spouse Palace (夫妻宫)
    4. The Children Palace (子女宫)
    5. The Wealth Palace (财帛宫)
    6. The Illness / Health Palace (疾厄宫)
    7. The Travel / Migration Palace (迁移宫)
    8. The Servants/Friends Palace (奴仆宫 / 仆役宫)
    9. The Career Palace (官禄宫)
    10. The Property / Real Estate Palace (田宅宫)
    11. The Fortune and Virtue Palace (福德宫)
    12. The Parents Palace (父母宫)
  5. The 5 Different Levels Of Stars7 lessons
    1. 甲級星 (Jia Grade Stars) - The Board of Directors / The Royalty
    2. 乙級星 (Yi Grade Stars) - The Senior Managers / The Ministers
    3. 丙級星 (Bing Grade Stars) - The Department Heads / The Officials
    4. 丁級星 (Ding Grade Stars) - The Team Leaders / The Attendants
    5. 戊級星 (Wu Grade Stars) - The Interns / The General Populace
    6. The 六煞 (Liù Shā) and 四化 (Sì Huà
    7. How They Work Together
  6. Closer Look At Jia Level Stars (甲级星)18 lessons
    1. The Emperor Star (紫微)
    2. The Strategist - 天机 (Tiān Jī) Star
    3. The Sun - 太陽 (Tài Yáng)
    4. The General & Finance Minister - 武曲 (Wǔ Qū)
    5. "Star of Blessings" or "The Child Star" - 天同 (Tiān Tóng)
    6. "The Judge," "The Politician," "The Courtesan" - 廉貞 (Lián Zhēn)
    7. "The Treasury"， "The Duke"， or "The Southern Emperor" - 天府 (Tiān Fǔ)
    8. The Moon - 太陰 (Tài Yīn)
    9. “The Greedy Wolf" - 貪狼 (Tān Láng)
    10. “The Great Gate" - 巨門 (Jù Mén)
    11. “The Minister" or "The Seal"
    12. ”The Heavenly Sage" - 天梁 (Tiān Liáng)
    13. “The Seven Killings" - 七殺 (Qī Shā)
    14. "The Army Breaker" or "The Pioneer" - 破軍 (Pò Jūn)
    15. Left & Right Deputy (左辅右弼)
    16. Wen Chang (文昌) and Wen Qu (文曲)
    17. Tian Kui (天魁) and Tian Yue (天鉞)
    18. Lu Cun (祿存) and Tian Ma (天馬)
  7. Closer Look At Yi-Level Stars (乙级星)9 lessons
    1. 天官 (Tiān Guān) - The Heavenly Official
    2. 天福 (Tiān Fú) - The Heavenly Blessing
    3. 天廚 (Tiān Chú) - The Heavenly Chef
    4. 天刑 (Tiān Xíng) - The Heavenly Punishment
    5. 天姚 (Tiān Yáo) - The Heavenly Charm
    6. 解神 (Jiě Shén) - The Resolving God
    7. 紅鸞 (Hóng Luán) - The Red Matchmaker
    8. 天喜 (Tiān Xǐ) - The Heavenly Joy
    9. Reading the Yi Grade Stars Together
  8. Six Sha Stars (六煞)3 lessonsOpens 3 days after you join
    1. The Weapons: Qing Yang (擎羊) & Tuo Luo (陀罗)
    2. The Fires: Huo Xing (火星) and Ling Xing (铃星)
    3. The Voids: Di Kong (地空) & Di Jie (地劫)
  9. Chart Structure & Brightness Level Of Stars4 lessonsOpens 6 days after you join
    1. Chart Structures
    2. Auspicious Chart Structures
    3. Inauspicious Structures
    4. The Levels of Star Brightness
  10. The Four Transformers3 lessonsOpens 9 days after you join
    1. Four Transfomers (四化)
    2. Zi Wei Dou Shu's Flying Stars
    3. Self-Transformation (自化)
  11. The Hierarchy of Destiny: Integrating Fate [命], Decade [大限], and Annual [流年] Luck.4 lessonsOpens 12 days after you join
    1. The Core Framework – Fate [命] vs. Luck [運]
    2. The Three Plates – Heaven, Earth, and Man
    3. The Chronology of Focus – The Three Life Stages
    4. Advanced Forecasting – Timing and Intensity
  12. Advanced Theory5 lessonsOpens 15 days after you join
    1. Derived Houses 「宫为转换」
    2. The He Luo Deduction Method
    3. The Six Lines of the Chart
    4. Detailed Explanation of the Four Transformations [四化]
    5. Basic Methods of Analysis using He Luo Four Transformations [河洛四化分析論斷的基本方法]
  13. Phenomena of the Four Transformations from the Twelve Palace Stems2 lessonsOpens 18 days after you join
    1. Palace Stem Transformations (十二宫干四化): An Overview
    2. The Phenomena of the Self Palace Stem Transforming into Various Palaces.
  14. Good Chart vs Bad Charts 2 lessonsOpens 21 days after you join
    1. What makes a good Zi Wei Dou Shu chart?
    2. What makes a bad Zi Wei Dou Shu Chart?
  15. Synthesising What We've Learned So Far - How To Start A Reading10 lessonsOpens 24 days after you join
    1. The Art of Synthesis - From Static Parts to a Living Story
      1. The Three-Layer Reading Process - Time is Everything
      2. Establishing the Tai Ji (立太極) - The Art of Answering Any Question
      3. Palace Interactions - Uncovering Hidden Relationships
    2. The Dynamic Chart - Activating Time and Predicting Events
      1. The Decade Chart (大限盤) - The Story of a 10-Year Chapter
      2. The Annual Chart (流年盤) - The Events of a Single Year
      3. Activation (引動) - The Moment of Impact
    3. Advanced Techniques - The Secret Sauce of Interpretation
      1. Self-Transformation (自化 - Zì Huà) - A Palace's Internal State
      2. Introduction to Flying Star Astrology (飛星 - Fēi Xīng) - Palaces in Conversation
    4. Practical Application & The Astrologer's Code
      1. Thematic Readings - Creating Your Diagnostic Checklist
      2. The Astrologer's Code - The Ethics of a Reading
  16. Common Mistakes and Pitfalls5 lessonsOpens 27 days after you join
    1. The Literal Interpretation Trap
    2. The Black-and-White Fallacy – Unlocking the Power of "Bad" Stars
    3. "Tunnel Vision" Analysis – Breaking the Boundaries of the 12 Palaces
    4. Rigid Fatalism & Ignoring Modern Context – Evolving Your Chart Reading
    5. Misjudging Transformations (Hua) – The Illusion of Absolute Good and Bad
  17. FAQ / Debates in ZWDS (Schools of Thought)3 lessonsOpens 30 days after you join
    1. The San He (Three Harmonies) vs The Fei Xing (Flying Star) / Si Hua School
    2. The Solar and Lunar Calendar Debate
    3. Birth Time Rectification
  18. Conclusion1 lessonOpens 33 days after you join
    1. Let Me Know Your Questions

What's included

  • 99 lessons in 18 modules
  • Lifetime access
  • Online, at your own pace; some modules open over your first 33 days
  • Payment plan: 3 monthly payments, then it stops automatically.
Sean Chan, smiling with his arms crossed, beside an open red lacquered window

Your Instructor

Meet Sean Chan

Sean Chan 嶦孝顏 was born in Taiwan and raised in Singapore. A graduate of NUS Business School and the University Scholars Programme, his entry into Chinese metaphysics was not by design — it began at 18, with a book on Chinese astrology left lying around the house, and deepened into a lifelong vocation.

With over fifteen years of practice and more than 8,500 clients served across the world, Sean specialises in BaZi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, Qi Men Dun Jia and Feng Shui — deploying all four disciplines together in consultation to deliver readings of uncommon depth and precision. This masterclass distils that practice into the most comprehensive English-language Zi Wei Dou Shu course available: built not to make you dependent on a teacher, but to make you independent as a practitioner.

“I don't believe in selling charms or telling clients what they want to hear. My job is to give you the clearest possible picture of where you are, where you're headed — and what you can actually do about it.”
  • Practitioner since 2010
  • BaZi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, Qi Men Dun Jia and Feng Shui
  • Featured in Harper's Bazaar, Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao
Read my story

The Way

What Sets Us Apart

義 · Our values

  • Autonomy — a strategy so you do not need a master forever.
  • Scholar's rigour — every claim tested against historical precedent, not modern opinion.
  • Feudal classics — the curriculum built faithfully from the original Chinese texts.
  • Radical transparency — the why and the how behind every insight, fully explained.
  • Exceptional value — one price, everything included, no hidden tiers.

忌 · The industry norm

  • Zodiac forecasting scams, designed to keep you coming back every year.
  • Certification mills — "practitioners" certified in three days, teaching the week after.
  • Watered-down courses — "New Age" interpretations that are unreliable and misleading.
  • No logic explained — "trust me", with zero accountability.
  • Expensive & Shallow — tiered courses that cost five times more and deliver far less.
  • 10,000+professional readings
  • 15years of practice

As featured in

  • CNA
  • South China Morning Post
  • Harper's Bazaar
  • Lianhe Zaobao
  • Rice Media
  • T Singapore, The New York Times Style Magazine
  • Our Grandfather Story
  • HeyKaki
  • ZULA

Have questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this course for?

    Complete beginners and enthusiasts who know the basics but struggle to connect the dots. It is built for anyone who wants deeper self-awareness, clarity on their life path, or a practical framework for reading relationships and career potential.

    If you want to move beyond generic horoscopes and learn a logical, systematic way to interpret a chart — without prior knowledge of Chinese metaphysics or the Chinese language — this is for you.

  • I know nothing about Chinese astrology. Will I be lost?

    No — this is the ideal starting point. The course was built from the ground up for complete beginners, and jargon-heavy, translation-dependent teaching is deliberately avoided. Everything is explained in plain English with the logic shown. By Module 3 most students are reading their own chart.

  • What will I be able to do at the end?

    Read a chart from structure to interpretation. You will know the vocabulary — the 12 Palaces and the 14 Major Stars — and then the dynamic methods: the Four Transformations (四化), the Triangle Method and the ten-year cycles. By the end you can decode personality, identify wealth and career potential, read relationships, and forecast life events.

  • How is this different from a cheap online course?

    Budget courses teach you what the stars mean. This one teaches you how to think like a practitioner — the Triangle Method, Si Hua dynamics and the timing frameworks most courses never reach. It is built from the classical texts, and every judgement is shown with its reasoning.

  • Are the modules released all at once?

    The course opens in stages, a few days apart, so that each module has time to settle before the next one arrives. Every module's own page says when it opens, and once open it is yours for good.

  • Where is the course held?

    Online, on this academy, self-paced and from anywhere in the world. It works in any browser on your phone, tablet or computer, with no app to install.

  • Will I have lifetime access?

    Yes — lifetime access to every module, including the updates and additions made afterwards. In the extremely unlikely event that the school has to close, you will be told well in advance.

Enrolment

One Course. One Price.

No hidden upsells, no yearly subscription, no inner circle. The complete masterclass, yours to keep, with every update included.

  • The full curriculum, from first principles to advanced practice
  • Lifetime access, with new material added as it is written
  • A payment plan, if you would rather spread it

Zi Wei Dou Shu 「紫微斗数」 Masterclass

18 modules · 99 lessons · lifetime access

  • Pay in full$1,688.00 USD one-time payment
  • 3 monthly payments$638.00 USD every month for 3 months
Enrol now

Secure checkout · Self-paced · Questions before you enrol? Message me on Instagram @masterSeanChan