Ziwei Concepts
What Are the Four Transformations (Si Hua) in Ziwei Doushu?
Also called: Si Hua, Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji
Plain Explanation
The Four Transformations are Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, and Hua Ji in Ziwei Doushu. They are not four independent stars. Each is attached to a particular star according to a Heavenly Stem; in the natal chart, the birth-year transformations follow the Heavenly Stem of the birth year. The names alone do not establish favorable or unfavorable outcomes.
The Four Transformations attach to main stars or to stars such as Wen Chang, Wen Qu, Zuo Fu, and You Bi, read as a star plus its transformation, for example Lian Zhen Hua Lu. This entry covers the birth-year transformations in the natal chart. Periods such as decades and years, as well as palace stems, also produce transformations; those readings are outside this entry's scope. The four summaries below draw on the modern explanation on iztro.com, which is not a consensus across all schools. Read each with its star, palace, and the whole chart.
Example
For someone born in a Jia (甲) year, the birth-year transformations are Lian Zhen Hua Lu, Po Jun Hua Quan, Wu Qu Hua Ke, and Tai Yang Hua Ji. On this site's chart, those four stars carry the markers Lu, Quan, Ke, and Ji. Each marker follows its star's palace rather than occupying a separate box.
The illustration shows how transformations attach to stars. Which palace each star occupies differs from chart to chart, and this is not a personality or life judgment.
Birth-year Heavenly Stem and transformed stars
| Birth-year Heavenly Stem | Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji (in order) |
|---|---|
| Jia (甲) | Lian Zhen (廉贞), Po Jun (破军), Wu Qu (武曲), Tai Yang (太阳) |
| Yi (乙) | Tian Ji (天机), Tian Liang (天梁), Zi Wei (紫微), Tai Yin (太阴) |
| Bing (丙) | Tian Tong (天同), Tian Ji (天机), Wen Chang (文昌), Lian Zhen (廉贞) |
| Ding (丁) | Tai Yin (太阴), Tian Tong (天同), Tian Ji (天机), Ju Men (巨门) |
| Wu (戊) | Tan Lang (贪狼), Tai Yin (太阴), You Bi (右弼), Tian Ji (天机) |
| Ji (己) | Wu Qu (武曲), Tan Lang (贪狼), Tian Liang (天梁), Wen Qu (文曲) |
| Geng (庚) | Tai Yang (太阳), Wu Qu (武曲), Tai Yin (太阴), Tian Tong (天同) |
| Xin (辛) | Ju Men (巨门), Tai Yang (太阳), Wen Qu (文曲), Wen Chang (文昌) |
| Ren (壬) | Tian Liang (天梁), Zi Wei (紫微), Zuo Fu (左辅), Wu Qu (武曲) |
| Gui (癸) | Po Jun (破军), Ju Men (巨门), Tai Yin (太阴), Tan Lang (贪狼) |
This table matches the transformations used by this site's chart. Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu gives Tian Fu as Hua Ke for Ren years, while this site's chart uses Zuo Fu; the other nine stems agree. Other schools assign some stems differently, so confirm which table a source uses before comparing charts.
How to Check
- 1
Hua Lu — increase
This can mean amplifying a star's qualities, involving gain or satisfaction. What increases depends on the star; it does not necessarily mean more money.
- 2
Hua Quan — control and responsibility
This can be read through control, execution, and responsibility, possibly with pressure or conflict. It does not establish that someone has authority or will be promoted.
- 3
Hua Ke — reputation and support
This is often explained through recognition, reputation, and help from others. It does not guarantee a good reputation, passing an exam, or obtaining a qualification.
- 4
Hua Ji — concern and preoccupation
This often describes strong concern, a sense of lack, or preoccupation, which may also motivate effort. It does not mean disaster must occur.
What It Is Used For
The Four Transformations mark particular changes to certain stars in the natal chart and are often as important as the main stars when reading a palace. Identify which star and palace each birth-year transformation falls on, then read it with that palace's topic and the stars sharing it, rather than drawing conclusions from a star name or the word Ji alone.
Common Misunderstandings
Hua Ji is not simply bad, and Hua Lu does not guarantee gain
Traditional readings often treat Hua Lu, Hua Quan, and Hua Ke as favorable transformations and Hua Ji as one requiring attention. Modern explanations also describe Hua Ji as an area of strong concern or preoccupation and Hua Lu as increase. The meaning depends on the star, the palace, and the whole chart; one character does not establish an outcome.
Hua Lu is not the Lu Cun star
Lu Cun is a separate star placed by the birth-year Heavenly Stem and can appear in a palace on its own. Hua Lu must attach to a star. The names are similar, but the concepts differ.
Transformation tables can differ between sources
For Ren years, for example, Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu gives Hua Ke to Tian Fu, while this site's chart gives it to Zuo Fu. The same birth data can therefore show different markers under different tables; check this before comparing charts from different sources.
Birth-year transformations are not the only transformations
Period transformations arise from the Heavenly Stems of decades, years, and other periods, and palace-stem transformations are derived from each palace's stem. They share the same names but use different reference points and should not be conflated with the birth-year set.
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Updated 2026-10-17 · Editorial Policy