Our Methodology

Theoretical Foundation

TianJiBu's analysis system is built on three canonical texts that have been tested through centuries of practice and form the core theoretical framework of Chinese metaphysics.

• Yuan Hai Zi Ping (淵海子平) — The foundational text for BaZi Four Pillar analysis, compiled during the Song Dynasty by Xu Dasheng from the teachings of Xu Ziping. It established the paradigm of centering analysis on the Day Master and using the Month Branch as the primary reference point — the basis of all subsequent BaZi study.
• San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會) — Written by Wan Minying during the Ming Dynasty, this twelve-volume work systematically covers Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, Nayin, Shen Sha, and chart patterns. It remains the most comprehensive encyclopedia of BaZi theory.
• Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu (紫微斗數全書) — The foundational text for Zi Wei Dou Shu, establishing the twelve-palace and star system. It details the characteristics of major stars such as Zi Wei, Tian Ji, Tai Yang, and Wu Qu, along with methods for arranging and interpreting the twelve palaces.

"To read a chart, take the Day as the self, the Year as the root, the Month as the stem, the Day as the flower, and the Hour as the fruit." — Yuan Hai Zi Ping

Beyond these three core texts, our interpretation framework also draws on advanced works such as Zi Ping Zhen Quan (子平真詮), Qiong Tong Bao Jian (窮通寶鑑), and Di Tian Sui (滴天髓), ensuring completeness and depth.

Charting Precision

Accurate charting is the first step in any meaningful analysis — every interpretation that follows depends on it. TianJiBu applies three layers of technical assurance:

• Astronomical calendar data — Precise perpetual calendar algorithms covering 1900 to 2100 for Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch calculations. Solar-term transition times are accurate to the minute, preventing month-pillar errors at term boundaries.
• True solar time correction— Using the Spencer 1971 equation of time combined with longitude-based adjustment, the system automatically computes true solar time for any birth location worldwide. This eliminates errors caused by time zones and daylight saving time, with correction accuracy within ±30 seconds.
• Zi Wei charting engine — Strictly following star-placement rules, the engine positions 108+ stars starting from the Zi Wei star, then arranging the 14 major stars, six auspicious stars, six inauspicious stars, the Four Transformations, and auxiliary stars — each step faithful to canonical methods.

Interpretation Framework

Our interpretation system integrates hundreds of traditional rules, organized and validated by our research team. Every rule traces back to a classical source and has been cross-verified against documented cases.

Each report is generated from the specific data in your chart, analyzed along dimensions such as Ten Gods, Five Elements, and palace positions. We do not use cookie-cutter templates — content is dynamically composed based on the actual Stem-and-Branch combinations in your chart.

The BaZi report structure follows the analytical framework of Zi Ping Zhen Quan and Qiong Tong Bao Jian, moving from chart-type identification through Five Elements balance, Ten Gods configuration, pattern strength, and into Major Luck and annual forecasts. Zi Wei Dou Shu reports unfold palace by palace, integrating Three-Directions, Four-Positionals, and the Four Transformations for a comprehensive reading.

Key principles guiding the interpretation process:

• Assess the Day Master's strength first, then determine favorable and unfavorable elements.
• Consider the overall configuration — Month Branch, Hour Pillar, Year Pillar — rather than isolated factors.
• Combine annual forecasts with Major Luck trends, emphasizing dynamic change over time.
• Keep language objective and balanced — no fear-mongering, no unrealistic optimism.

Academic References

Chinese astrology has attracted growing academic interest in recent years. Our framework draws on the following research:

• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University — Quantitative BaZi Research — A research team explored statistical correlations between Stem-and-Branch combinations and personality traits and career tendencies, providing a methodological reference for modernizing traditional astrology.
• Lu Zhiji, A History of Chinese Fate Calculation — A systematic review of Chinese astrology from pre-Qin through Ming and Qing dynasties, offering an in-depth academic examination of Ziping methodology's evolution and social impact.
• Ho Peng Yoke, Chinese Mathematical Astrology — A cross-cultural analysis of the computational logic underlying Chinese astrology from the perspective of mathematical astronomy.

We value how academic research complements and refines traditional practice, while recognizing that Chinese astrology is fundamentally an experience-based symbolic system whose readings should inform — not dictate — life decisions.

Continuous Improvement

We regularly update our rule library based on the latest research and real-world feedback, continuously improving analytical accuracy and expressive clarity.

User feedback is central to our improvement process. Every piece of input — whether confirming a reading's accuracy or suggesting a better way to phrase something — enters the team's periodic review cycle.

All content is reviewed and approved by our research team. Members with years of hands-on BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu experience rigorously back-test every rule change to ensure no bias or error is introduced.

We believe the value of traditional Chinese astrology lies in the wisdom accumulated over millennia. Our mission is to present that wisdom with rigor and clarity, using modern technology to make it more precise and more accessible.