The Marrow of the Bones (骨髓赋)
*The most concentrated core mnemonic verses of Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数), from a Ming Dynasty printed edition, approximately 1,500 characters in total.*
The most concentrated core mnemonic verses of Zi Wei Dou Shu, approximately 1,500 characters in total. Ni Haixia cites this rhapsody multiple times in his *Tian Ji* (天纪), making it a must-read classic for students of Zi Wei.
The full text below is arranged by original chapter and section, and is in the public domain. The interpretation pages will automatically cite the corresponding passage when relevant stars are hit.
General Overview
*The basic foundational principles of Zi Wei Dou Shu*
> The stars of Tai Ji are the masters of all stars. The Emperor's throne of Zi Wei is the most exalted among all stars. Tian Fu is the commanding star, transforming into Hua Lu and Hua Quan for the Northern and Southern Dippers; Zuo Fu and You Bi are the stars presiding over sacrifice.
> Zi Wei is the ruler, with Zuo Fu and You Bi as ministers. Tian Fu is the subject, with Lu Cun as the treasury. Tian Ji is benevolent, Tian Liang is sheltering — encountering them brings good fortune; Lian Zhen is imprisonment, Po Jun is depletion — meeting them brings misfortune.
> The key to reading a chart lies first in examining the Life Palace (命宫). The main stars of the Life Palace determine its pattern, and the Trinity (三方四正) determines where its strengths are applied. Next, examine the Body Palace (身宫), which determines one's later years and final refuge. Then examine the Decade Limit (大限) and Annual Year (流年), which determine the rhythm of advance and retreat throughout one's life.
On the Zi Wei Star
*The dignity of the Emperor's throne — with support, it brings nobility*
> Zi Wei is the star of the Emperor's throne. With the support of Fu and Bi, it brings nobility; with Chang and Qu, it brings elegance; with Kui and Yue, it brings the aid of noble patrons. If Zi Wei sits alone without support, nobility will not last long; only when auspicious stars from the Trinity (三方四正) shine upon it does it become a truly orthodox grand pattern.
> Zi Wei in Zi or Wu is the nobility of "facing south with the back to the north," presiding over great wealth and high rank; Zi Wei in Chou or Wei together with Po Jun in the same palace presides over firmness and decisive action; Zi Wei in Yin or Shen together with Tian Fu in the same palace is called the "Zi-Fu in the Same Palace" pattern, presiding over upright character and abundant food and clothing.
> Zi Wei in the Career Palace (官禄宫), without malefic stars clashing or breaking, will surely hold high office; Zi Wei in the Property Palace (田宅宫) presides over ancestral property, with the ability to acquire more on one's own; Zi Wei in the Spouse Palace (夫妻宫) presides over a dignified spouse of extraordinary bearing, but marriage should be late rather than early.
> Zi Wei is averse to Kong and Jie (empty and robbery), presiding over position without emolument. Zi Wei is averse to being a lone ruler without support, presiding over standing alone on a peak, unable to accomplish great things. Zi Wei with Hua Quan presides over autocracy, Zi Wei with Hua Ke presides over fame, Zi Wei with Hua Ji presides over being constrained by others.
On the Qi Sha Star
*The general star is solitary — suited to military posts*
> Qi Sha is the general star, resolute and decisive in nature. When Qi Sha guards the Life Palace, it does not like to share the palace with various auspicious stars — walking its own path is its proper pattern. When Qi Sha meets Kong and Jie, it presides over loneliness and wandering, with a career difficult to accomplish.
> The "Qi Sha Facing the Dipper" pattern: Qi Sha in Zi or Wu, Yin or Shen, with Zi Wei and Tian Fu shining from the opposite palace, presides over noble rank and flourishing prosperity. It is most suited for military, police, and martial posts, and for expanding territory. A lifetime of irresistible nobility, but one must undergo tempering to become a great vessel.
> When Qi Sha meets Yang and Tuo, it presides over punishment, injury, and bloodshed; when Qi Sha meets Huo and Ling, it presides over martial valor and fierce strength; when Qi Sha meets Hua Lu, it presides over martial nobility throughout life; when Qi Sha meets Hua Ji, it instead presides over depression, with a career marked by many failures.
The Sha-Po-Lang Pattern
*Pioneering and venturing — a fate of change*
> When the three stars Qi Sha, Po Jun, and Tan Lang gather in the Life, Travel, Wealth, and Career palaces, it is called the "Sha-Po-Lang Pattern." It presides over a life of much change, unwilling to be ordinary — suited to entrepreneurship, military or police work, and sales. In youth, one is prone to impulsiveness and setbacks; only after middle age can one stabilize and consolidate.
> When the Sha-Po-Lang Trinity has Hua Lu or Hua Quan, initiative is powerful and great things can be accomplished; if the Trinity has excessive malefic stars (Yang, Tuo, Huo, and Ling all shining), initiative leads to no achievement, and it is better to remain still and守 (guard).
The Ji-Yue-Tong-Liang Pattern
*Steady accumulation — suited to public service*
> When the four stars Tian Ji, Tai Yin, Tian Tong, and Tian Liang all enter the Life, Travel, Wealth, and Career palaces, it is called the "Ji-Yue-Tong-Liang Pattern." It presides over refined manners, intelligence, and good strategy. It is most suited for public service, academia, arts, medicine, and service industries that require steady accumulation, and is not suited for great risks or speculation.
> "Ji-Yue-Tong-Liang makes an official" — the ancients said that those with this pattern should hold public office and administrative or clerical work, living a stable life. When further joined by Chang and Qu with Hua Ke, it presides over widespread fame. It is most averse to excessive malefic stars, which would instead preside over constant change and unease.
On the Four Transformation Stars
*The auspicious and inauspicious nature of Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, and Hua Ji*
> Hua Lu presides over wealth, affinity, and the realization of ability; Hua Quan presides over authority, decisiveness, and standing alone; Hua Ke presides over fame, noble patrons, and documents; Hua Ji presides over illness, maleficence, and profound lessons.
> Hua Lu entering the Life Palace presides over wealth flowing in from all directions; Hua Quan entering the Life Palace presides over bearing great responsibilities; Hua Ke entering the Life Palace presides over widespread fame; Hua Ji entering the Life Palace presides over needing tempering before becoming a great vessel.
> Hua Ji entering the Wealth Palace presides over money coming and going; Hua Ji entering the Career Palace preside over career setbacks; Hua Ji entering the Spouse Palace presides over many twists and turns in marriage; Hua Ji entering the Children Palace presides over thin affinity with children or friction between parent and child.
> When Lu Cun and Hua Lu together shine upon the Life Palace's Trinity, it is called "Double Lu Facing the Wall," presiding over wealth rivaling Tao Zhu; when Hua Ke and Hua Quan together shine, it is called "Ke and Quan Double Meeting," presiding over both fame and authority.
On the Fu-Bi and Kui-Yue Stars
*The nobility of the Six Auspicious Stars*
> Zuo Fu and You Bi are the "minister stars," presiding over assistance and noble patrons; Chang Wen and Wen Qu are the "literary stars," presiding over intelligence and elegance; Tian Kui and Tian Yue are the "noble patron stars," presiding over having someone to support you at critical moments.
> When the Six Auspicious Stars all gather in the Life Palace's Trinity (三方四正), it presides over a lifetime of unending noble patrons and excellent interpersonal relations. Even if the chart is ordinary, one can leverage the power of the Six Auspicious Stars to achieve extraordinary accomplishments.
> Fu and Bi flanking the Life Palace: When Zuo Fu and You Bi flank the two palaces before and after the Life Palace, it presides over a lifetime of noble patronage and help in times of trouble. It is most auspicious when in the same palace with Zi Wei, called the "Ruler and Ministers Celebrating Together" pattern.
On the Six Malefic Stars
*The inauspicious nature of Yang, Tuo, Huo, Ling, Kong, and Jie*
> Qing Yang and Tuo Luo are the "malefic stars," presiding over bloodshed, disputes, and obstacles; Huo Xing and Ling Xing are the "fiery stars," presiding over impulsiveness, haste, and injury; Di Kong and Di Jie are the "Void (空亡)," presiding over wealth depletion, empty fame, and unreality.
> Malefic stars are not entirely inauspicious — malefic stars are like whetstones, capable of tempering a power to break through that ordinary people lack. In youth, one is prone to impulsiveness and self-harm; only after middle age can one transform maleficence into authority.
> Yang and Tuo flanking Hua Ji: When Qing Yang and Tuo Luo flank the palace containing the Hua Ji star, it presides over great inauspiciousness. During that year and that Decade Limit (大限), one must be especially vigilant against bloodshed, legal troubles, and major upheavals.
> Kong and Jie flanking the Life Palace: When Di Kong and Di Jie flank the two palaces before and after the Life Palace, it presides over a lifetime suited to the ethereal rather than the practical — suited to pursuing arts, religion, metaphysics, and other "non-material" occupations, and not suited to commerce or investment.
On the Twelve Palaces
*The presiding images and auspicious/inauspicious nature of each palace*
> The Life Palace is the root, the Trinity is its application: the Wealth Palace presides over sources of wealth, the Career Palace presides over career, the Travel Palace presides over external connections. Only when auspicious stars from the Trinity (三方四正) shine upon it can the chart be fully realized and applied.
> The Spouse Palace reveals the spouse's temperament, the Children Palace reveals affinity with children, the Health Palace (疾厄宫) reveals the body's vulnerable points, and the Travel Palace reveals fortune when外出 (going out). The main stars and Four Transformations of each palace determine the auspiciousness, inauspiciousness, advance, and retreat of that domain.
> The Property Palace (田宅宫) is the chart's treasury — whether earned wealth can be retained is seen in this palace; the Fortune Palace (福德宫) is spiritual enjoyment — whether the heart is at peace is seen in this palace; the Parents Palace (父母宫) presides over relationships with elders, and also presides over documents and contracts.
> An empty palace borrows from the opposite palace for interpretation — when a palace has no main star, borrow the main star of its opposite palace to interpret the matters of that palace. For example, if the Life Palace is empty, borrow the main star of the Travel Palace to determine the chart pattern.