What is tu vi? In short, tu vi (Vietnamese astrology) is a traditional divination system that uses a person's birth time and date to cast a chart, then interprets character, life tendencies and fortune cycles from that chart. It is a reference tradition that has not been verified by science, and readings are always relative rather than a fixed verdict.
This article serves as a gateway: it gives you the overall map of the topic, helps you see where you stand, and points to which branch to explore next.
How do tu vi and Bat Tu differ?
Many people confuse the two systems. Tu vi dau so casts a chart based on birth time and date, places stars into 12 palaces, and interprets the network of stars and palaces. Bat Tu (Four Pillars) instead converts birth time and date into Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, forming four pillars with eight characters, then analyzes Five Elements relationships, strength and the Useful God. Both share the same foundation of yin yang, Five Elements and sexagenary cycles, but their approaches differ. Beginners often start with tu vi because the chart is more visual, then expand to Bat Tu to understand the Five Elements more deeply.
How is a tu vi chart cast?
Casting a chart involves basic steps: determining birth time and date in the lunar calendar, locating the Menh and Than palaces, placing major and minor stars according to fixed rules, and arranging them into the 12 palaces. Each step has its own rules, and a small error can shift the entire chart. Understanding how a chart is cast is therefore a required foundation before discussing interpretation. This is also the part most prone to confusion for beginners, especially in converting birth hours and locating palaces.
What do the 12 palaces in a tu vi chart mean?
The 12 palaces form the framework of the chart, each representing a life domain: Menh, Phu Mau, Phuc Duc, Dien Trach, Quan Loc, No Boc, Thien Di, Tat Ach, Tai Bach, Tu Tuc, Phu The, Huynh De. The Menh palace shows the core self, Quan Loc reflects work attitude and style, Tai Bach relates to money, Phu The speaks of marriage and partners, Tu Tuc relates to children, and Tat Ach reflects health and hidden mental states. No palace stands alone; proper interpretation must place each palace in relation to the whole chart. This branch has the largest number of detailed articles in the topic.
What are the most important major and minor stars?
Stars in tu vi are divided into several groups. Major stars include Tử Vi, Thiên Phủ, Thái Dương, Thái Âm, and the Sát Phá Tham group. Minor stars include the Six Auspicious Stars such as Tả Phù, Hữu Bật, Văn Xương, Thiên Khôi, along with the Six Malefic Stars such as Kình Dương, Hỏa Tinh, Địa Không, Địa Kiếp. There are also specialized star sets such as the Four Peach Blossom stars (Hồng Loan, Thiên Hỉ, Hàm Trì, Thiên Diêu), the pair Long Trì and Phượng Các, and stars like Thiên Hình, Thiên Diêu, Cô Thần, Quả Tú. Each star has its own element, strength level and combination patterns; no star is entirely good or entirely bad.
What roles do the Four Transformations and the Truong Sinh Cycle play?
The Four Transformations include Hoa Loc, Hoa Quyen, Hoa Khoa and Hoa Ky, an energy layer that changes the tone of stars and palaces. Hoa Loc governs smooth flow and growth, Hoa Ky governs obstacles and worries, but position and context determine actual meaning. The Truong Sinh Cycle contains 12 stars describing the cycle of birth, growth, peak, decline and death, from Duong, Moc Duc, Quan Doi, Lam Quan, De Vuong to Suy, Benh, Tu, Mo. These two layers add depth to a chart, but are also easily misread if taken out of context.
How do nap am and the Sexagenary Cycle relate to tu vi?
Nap am assigns Five Elements names to each Stem-Branch pair in the 60-year cycle, such as Hai Trung Kim, Lu Trung Hoa, Dai Hai Thuy, or Duong Lieu Moc. Nap am is often used when discussing the nap am destiny of a birth year, and in some cases as additional reference for elemental qualities. Note that nap am does not replace tu vi chart interpretation; it is a supplementary layer, not a decisive factor. This branch has many detailed articles because each nap am has its own name and meaning.
Why should tu vi be treated only as reference knowledge?
Tu vi is a systematic divination tradition with a long history, but readings depend heavily on the practitioner's experience, the quality of input data and each person's real context. No perfectly ideal chart exists, and there is no formula that fits every case. Concepts such as saving stars, resolving stars or bad fortune cycles carry cultural and warning meanings more than fixed prophecies. A reasonable approach is to use tu vi as a prompt for self-reflection, not as a substitute for real decisions or a bet on luck.
Where should beginners start learning tu vi?
A suggested path: first grasp yin yang, Five Elements and Stem-Branch cycles, then learn how to cast a chart, next study the meaning of the 12 palaces, then move to star groups and the Four Transformations. Once the foundation is set, explore specialized topics such as the Phu The palace, Quan Loc palace, Dao Hoa stars or Thai Tue. Learning tu vi requires patience and a clear mind, avoiding absolutizing any star or palace. In parallel, studying Bat Tu will deepen your understanding of the shared Five Elements foundation of both systems.
