Tử Vi Chart Patterns Through Diagrams: 16 Classic Patterns, How Each Forms and Why It Is Considered Noble

Title: Tử Vi (Vietnamese astrology) configurations through diagrams: 16 classic configurations, how each one forms and why it is considered noble

What is a Tử Vi configuration and why do students often look it up through diagrams?

A Tử Vi configuration is a named combination of stars, recorded in the old Đẩu Số (Purple Star Astrology) texts, formed when a group of major stars and auxiliary stars all fall into certain palace positions. According to the book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số, configurations such as Thất Sát triều đẩu, Tử Phủ đồng cung, Nhật Nguyệt tịnh minh, Nguyệt lãng thiên môn, Cự Nhật đồng cung, Anh tinh nhập miếu, Hùng tú triều viên, and Thạch trung ẩn ngọc are all listed and interpreted separately. Students often draw a diagram of the 12 palaces and then mark the star positions, because a configuration only appears when you can see the whole picture of the tam phương tứ chính (the three directions and four sides), rather than sitting neatly within a single palace.

One thing needs to be said right away to avoid misunderstanding: a configuration is one layer of reading, not a verdict. The same configuration name may be defined differently from one book to another, and merely adding one malefic star such as Kình Dương, Đà La, Hỏa Tinh, Linh Tinh, Địa Không, or Địa Kiếp can reverse the meaning. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 recounts a chart with the Mệnh palace correctly at Mùi, the Sun at Mão and the Moon at Hợi, which is exactly the Minh châu xuất hải position, but Kình Dương sitting in the Mệnh palace made the native intelligent and talented yet plagued by gossip and ups and downs throughout life, and when a major period brought Hóa Kỵ to clash with the Mệnh palace, lawsuits cost him his career. That is an example of the saying "having the configuration but not the position".

The Tử Phủ group: when the emperor star and the treasury star meet

Tử Phủ đồng cung

Tử Vi and Thiên Phủ sit together in one palace, which according to the given data is together in Thân, with the Mệnh also placed at Thân. According to the records in Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13, the ancients held that this configuration brings lasting fortune and longevity along with a life of few upheavals. However, this configuration requires the support of Tả Phù, Hữu Bật, Thiên Khôi, and Thiên Việt to fully work; without them, the native tends to be conservative, content with his lot, and lacking in breakthroughs. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số, on the other hand, judges Tử Phủ đồng cung to be "tịnh phi thậm mỹ", meaning not truly as beautiful as its name suggests, showing that the schools do not entirely agree on how noble this configuration is.

Tử Phủ triều viên

Tử Vi and Thiên Phủ are in Thân, the Mệnh is placed at Thìn, and these two stars shine toward it through the triad. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 quotes the ancients as saying that this configuration governs extremely great emoluments and the highest wealth and honor, and that those who have it often become high officials or leaders of large organizations. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14, however, defines Tử Phủ triều viên differently: with the Mệnh at Dần, Tử Phủ at Ngọ and Tuất pay court to it; with the Mệnh at Thân, Tử Phủ at Tý and Thìn pay court to it, called the image of ruler and minister facing each other. This is where the schools differ most clearly in definition, so when checking a diagram you need to note which convention you are following. This configuration needs Tả Hữu and auspicious stars to be brilliant; meeting the four malefics makes it merely ordinary and adds misfortune and illness.

Thất Sát triều đẩu

Thất Sát is at Dần ruling the Mệnh, with Tử Vi and Thiên Phủ at Thân in the opposite palace, creating the posture of a malefic star paying court to the emperor's seat. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số places Thất Sát triều đẩu in the group governing power, while the book Kỹ thuật xem Tử Vi đơn giản records that this configuration applies when Thất Sát rules at Dần or Thân. The condition for the configuration to form is that it is not broken by other malefic stars, and that Thất Sát itself must be in a favorable position; if blocked by Tuần Triệt or clashed and broken by Hỏa Linh, then power easily turns into isolation and excessive rigidity.

Hùng tú triều viên

Liêm Trinh is at Thân ruling the Mệnh, with Tham Lang in the opposite palace. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14 describes this as a configuration of leaving one's homeland to build a career, yet governing wealth, honor and renown, and it can astonish others. Its weakness is likened to a rooster's crow: it rings out once and then stops, meaning wealth and honor do not last, often flaring up in youth and then fading quietly. People with this configuration are quite resilient, endure hardship, are hot-tempered but straightforward, and value efficiency. Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số also places Hùng tú triều viên in the group governing training and tempering, that is, it emphasizes self-discipline over heaven-given fortune.

The Nhật Nguyệt group: when the sun and the moon shine together

Minh châu xuất hải

The Mệnh is at Mùi with no major star, the Sun is at Mão, the Moon is at Hợi, and the two bright stars shine toward it. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 remarks that this configuration is of the precious kind, pictured as a fine pearl rising from the bottom of the deep sea, and it also gives a specific chart of a male born in the year Nhâm Thân, fifth lunar month, fifth day, Tuất hour, to illustrate: the Sun located at Mão has Thiên Lương transformed into Lộc accompanying it, the Moon located at Hợi meets Lộc Tồn, and with Khôi Việt at Mão and Tỵ added, the noble quality increases further. This configuration breaks when the Mệnh is invaded by a malefic star, typically Kình Dương, and when a major period brings Hóa Kỵ to clash with the Mệnh.

Nhật Nguyệt tịnh minh

The Sun is at Dần, the Moon is at Tý, both are prosperous, shining toward the Mệnh. The book Kỹ thuật xem Tử Vi đơn giản defines Nhật Nguyệt tịnh minh as when the three directions or four sides contain both the Sun and the Moon ruling in prosperous positions. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14, however, records that this configuration applies when the Mệnh is placed at Sửu, the Sun at Tỵ, and the Moon at Dậu, and stresses that the major star of the Mệnh palace must be prosperous and auspicious for it to fit the configuration. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 adds a comparison: if Nhật Nguyệt tịnh minh is placed in the Tỵ Dậu position, it is also of the precious kind, but the tendency leans toward a career as a public servant or state official, and it rarely grows suddenly rich as in the case of Minh châu xuất hải. The book Tử Vi kinh nghiệm quyển hạ warns that Âm Dương hàm tối especially avoids meeting Linh Tinh, Hỏa Tinh, Thiên Hình, Thiên Riêu, and Địa Kiếp; but if it meets Hóa Kỵ and a favorably placed Đà La, then it is instead regarded as five-colored clouds paying court to the sun and moon.

Nguyệt lãng thiên môn

The Moon is at Hợi ruling the Mệnh. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số records briefly "Nguyệt lãng thiên môn hữu phá cách", meaning this configuration can be broken, showing that the author did not regard it as a guarantee of wealth and honor. The condition for the configuration to form is that the Moon must be bright, not violated by malefic stars such as Kình, Đà, Hỏa, Linh, Không, and Kiếp, and it needs auspicious stars to converge and shine on it. If the Moon is dimmed or accompanied by malefic stars, the beauty of the moon at the gate of heaven remains mere form.

Nhật lệ trung thiên

The Sun is at Ngọ ruling the Mệnh, that is, the sun standing at noon. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14 states the condition clearly: no malefic stars, and with auspicious stars added it is the correct configuration, and only those born in the years Canh or Tân, and born during the day, fit the configuration. This is an example showing that a configuration depends not only on star positions but also on the year stem and the birth hour, something a static diagram cannot fully express.

Cự Nhật đồng cung

Cự Môn and the Sun are together at Dần, with the Mệnh placed at Dần. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số places this configuration in the group favoring verbal talent, that is, an advantage in speaking, debating, and explaining. The condition for the configuration to form is that the Sun must be bright and Cự Môn not fallen, and that it does not meet Hóa Kỵ or malefic stars that turn verbal talent into gossip. If Cự Môn transforms into Kỵ, speaking talent easily turns into notoriety and lawsuits.

Nguyệt sinh thương hải

The Moon and Thiên Đồng are together at Tý ruling the Mệnh. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 distinguishes this clearly from Minh châu xuất hải: the case where the Mệnh is placed at Tý with the Moon accompanied by Thiên Đồng is called Minh châu hải, but the mandatory condition is that the Moon at Tý must be in a temple position, entirely different from the Moon at Hợi. The difference in palace position completely changes the meaning, so the two configurations cannot be merged into one. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 7 also mentions the Minh châu hải configuration with the image of a precious pearl in the middle of the ocean, the Moon at Tý likened to a bright moon on the night of the full moon, talent and virtue complete.

Nhật Nguyệt chiếu bích

The Sun and the Moon are together at Sửu, the Mệnh is placed at Tuất, and the two stars shine in opposition toward the Mệnh. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14 defines Nhật Nguyệt chiếu mệnh exactly according to this position: with the Mệnh at Sửu, the Sun and Moon are together at Mùi; with the Mệnh at Mùi, the Sun and Moon are together at Sửu, opposing each other. The book Tử Vi kinh nghiệm quyển hạ cites a verse predicting that those who do not achieve fame and office do so only because the Sun and Moon contend together at Sửu Mùi, but if they meet Tả Phù, Hữu Bật, Văn Khúc, and Văn Xương, then they do achieve renown. Thus with the same star position, the outcome reverses depending on the accompanying auxiliary stars.

Nhật Nguyệt giáp mệnh

The Mệnh is at Mùi, flanked by the Sun at Ngọ and the Moon at Thân, the two stars pressing on either side of the Mệnh. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 14 records that Nhật Nguyệt giáp mệnh applies when the Mệnh sits at Sửu or Mùi, with the Sun and Moon in temple and prosperous positions flanking it in the two adjacent palaces, and it requires the major star of the Mệnh palace to be prosperous and auspicious for it to fit the configuration. That means the Mệnh palace itself must have a good major star; otherwise the two lights flanking it are just a beautiful scene with an empty interior.

The malefic star group and special configurations: when strength must be tempered

Thạch trung ẩn ngọc

Cự Môn is at Ngọ ruling the Mệnh. The book Kỹ thuật xem Tử Vi đơn giản records that Thạch trung ẩn ngọc applies when Cự Môn rules the Tý or Ngọ palace. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số notes instead that "Thạch trung ẩn ngọc kết cấu bổ tạp", meaning the structure of this configuration is complex and not uniform. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 explains that Cự Môn is by nature the star of verbal talent, debate, and gossip; only when placed in a temple and prosperous position such as Tý or Ngọ does it have enough strength to hold the pearl and bring its talent into play, while when placed at Dậu it falls into a fallen position, its strength eroded, and even transforming into Lộc, Quyền, or Khoa it is only like straw fire burning bright for a time and then going out.

Anh tinh nhập miếu

Phá Quân is at Ngọ ruling the Mệnh. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số records "Anh tinh nhập miếu nghi loạn bất nghi trì", meaning this configuration suits times of upheaval and does not suit stagnation and stability. The condition for the configuration to form is that Phá Quân must be favorably placed and not broken by malefic stars; if it meets many malefic stars, the spirit of breaking the mold easily turns into dissipation. The book Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 17 adds a note: when there are malefic stars but they are accompanied by Địa Không and Địa Kiếp, in some cases success can still come from a great ideal, because Không Kiếp breaks the old mold to open creative space, but only when the other good stars are strong enough to control them; otherwise it is still a broken configuration.

Tham Vũ đồng hành

Vũ Khúc and Tham Lang are together at Sửu, with the Mệnh placed at Sửu. According to the records in Tử Vi kinh nghiệm quyển hạ, Tham Vũ đồng hành at Sửu Mùi is only truly good when accompanied by Quyền and Lộc, in the pattern of poverty first and wealth later, that is, poor first and rich afterward. The condition for the configuration to form lies in having Hóa Quyền, Hóa Lộc, or Lộc Tồn converge and shine on it; lacking Lộc, these two stars easily fall into greed and dissipation. This is an example showing that with the same star combination, merely a difference in the four Transformations completely changes the meaning.

Cơ Nguyệt Đồng Lương

Thiên Cơ and the Moon are at Thân ruling the Mệnh, Thiên Lương is at Tý, and Thiên Đồng is at Thìn. The book Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số records briefly "Cơ Nguyệt Đồng Lương tác lại nhân", meaning this configuration is usually associated with clerks, office workers, employees, and civil servants rather than great merchants or the very wealthy. The condition for the configuration to form is that this set of stars must converge with Văn Xương, Văn Khúc, Tả Hữu, and Lộc Tồn; if it meets malefic stars, it easily becomes a person full of schemes but with few achievements. This configuration is also one of those defined differently among the schools, so when checking a diagram you must note which convention you are using.

Why do books interpret the same configuration name differently?

There are three main reasons. First, the old books use different star-placement systems and palace definitions, so the same configuration name may correspond to two different star positions, as Tử Phủ triều viên is defined differently in Tuyển tập bài viết Tử Vi chọn lọc số 13 and số 14. Second, a configuration does not stand alone but must be placed within the whole picture of the four Transformations, Tuần Triệt, and malefic stars, so two charts with the same configuration name can give opposite results, as in the case of Kình Dương sitting in the Mệnh breaking the Minh châu xuất hải position. Third, the views of the writers differ: Vương Đình Chi đàm Đẩu Số tends to rate some configurations low that other books praise, for instance Tử Phủ đồng cung being regarded as "tịnh phi thậm mỹ", or Thất Sát triều đẩu being emphasized for power rather than fortune and emolument.

Therefore, when using a diagram to look up a configuration, you should do three things: note which book's convention you are following, check malefic stars and Tuần Triệt at the same time, and see whether the birth-year Transformations break the position. A configuration is one layer of reading that helps with orientation, not a fixed sentence pronounced on a person's life.

Where do the sixteen configurations sit on the chart?

The table below records the star positions exactly according to the diagrams in this article, redrawn from the book by Từ Tăng Sinh; the positions of the 14 major stars in each diagram have been checked against the star-placement method.