【KO's Insights】
〈 What is the origin of ZiweiDoushu? 〉
To be honest, the origin of ZiweiDoushu remains a mystery to this day. The classic book on ZiweiDoushu, ZiweiDoushuQuanshu (The Complete Book of ZiweiDoushu), mentions that it was created by Chen Tuan (XiyiXiansheng) through observing the stars. Chen Tuan (around 871–989 AD) was a famous Taoist priest and master of the I Ching during the Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, later revered as an immortal in Taoism. However, many people believe this may have been a name borrowed for its creation. As for who exactly invented ZiweiDoushu, there is no definitive evidence at present.
The more common theory is that ZiweiDoushu began to take shape during the Tang and Song Dynasties and gradually matured during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. ZiweiDoushuQuanshu may have been revised by different people over different periods. From the content of the book, it’s clear that the theory of ZiweiDoushu was influenced by ancient Chinese astronomy, the Five Elements and Yin-Yang theory, Taoist philosophy, and even astrology from the West, Central Asia, and India. It truly is a large fusion of ideas.
As for why the stars in ZiweiDoushu are arranged the way they are in the life chart and what the underlying principles of the star arrangements are, although many books have attempted to answer this question, there is still no convincing explanation to this day.
Since the origin of ZiweiDoushu are so mysterious, how should we understand it? I would say that after years of practice, I’ve found that ZiweiDoushu is actually quite useful, especially in helping people understand their destiny and fortune. Although its origin and the underlying principles of the star arrangements are unclear, ZiweiDoushu has provided me with practical help, much like how I watch TV. I may not understand the workings of the television, but as long as it shows me good programs, I will keep watching it.