Zi Wei Dou Shu Algorithm & Python Library Guide: Chart Calculation, Open Source Tools & Implementation

I. Introduction: What is Zi Wei Dou Shu?

Keywords: zi wei dou shu, ziwei

1. History and Applications of Zi Wei Dou Shu

Zi Wei Dou Shu is an important branch of Chinese traditional astrology, originating from the integration of ancient I Ching principles and astronomical observations. As a destiny interpretation system based on celestial bodies and stellar configurations, it has been widely inherited by imperial nobility and folk scholars throughout history.

Applications:

  • Personal Destiny Analysis: Helps individuals understand their personality, potential, health, marriage, wealth, and other aspects of life.
  • Career Planning and Decision Making: Provides guidance on career changes and timing choices for job seekers and entrepreneurs.
  • Cultural and Psychological Adaptation: Under modern life pressures, offers a path for self-understanding and internal adjustment through traditional astrology.
  • Technology and Tradition Integration: In recent years, with the development of Big Data and AI, more astrological tools use algorithms for automated chart report generation, improving analysis efficiency and result readability.

2. Differences from Four Pillars of Destiny

While both Zi Wei Dou Shu and Four Pillars of Destiny are important systems in Chinese astrology, they have significant differences in principles and methodology:

  • Theoretical Foundation:
    • Zi Wei Dou Shu primarily relies on stellar configurations, palace analysis, and four transformations theory.
    • Four Pillars of Destiny is based on the relationships between Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and Five Elements.
  • Chart Creation Method:
    • Zi Wei Dou Shu requires determining the destiny palace and placing stars in their respective positions.
    • Four Pillars focuses on calculating the eight characters based on birth date and time.
  • Interpretation Perspective:
    • Zi Wei Dou Shu uses visual relationships between palaces and stars.
    • Four Pillars uses the balance of five elements and ten gods configuration.

3. Importance of Automation

With the rapid development of information technology, chart calculation automation has become crucial:

  • Efficiency Improvement: Traditional manual calculation is time-consuming and error-prone.
  • Standardization: Automated processes ensure consistency in calculations.
  • Personalized Analysis: Software algorithms can quickly generate targeted reports.
  • Data Collection: Automation facilitates data gathering for algorithm optimization.
  • Multi-platform Access: Integration with various online tools and mobile applications.

II. Understanding the Zi Wei Dou Shu Calculation Algorithm

Keywords: zi wei dou shu calculation algorithm, chart calculation

1. Main Elements of the Chart

A complete Zi Wei Dou Shu chart consists of:

  • Destiny Palace and 12 Palaces
  • Major Stars and Minor Stars
  • Four Transformation Stars
  • Palace Stems and Body Palace
  • Year, Month, and Day Cycles

2. Input Data Requirements

Required data for chart generation:

  • Birth Date (Solar/Lunar Calendar)
  • Birth Time (12-Hour System)
  • Gender
  • Optional: Birth Location

3. Core Calculation Steps

The calculation process includes:

  • Calendar Conversion
  • Destiny Palace Determination
  • Star Placement
  • Four Transformations Calculation
  • Palace Relationships Analysis

III. Technical Challenges and Solutions

1. Core Algorithm Challenges

While the Zi Wei Dou Shu chart generation process appears straightforward conceptually, several technical challenges need to be addressed:

a. Solar-Lunar Calendar Conversion

  • Complex lunar calendar logic:
    • Leap month determination
    • Solar term divisions
    • Historical calendar rule coverage (from 1900 to present)

b. Solar Term Precision

  • Star placement often depends on solar terms rather than fixed dates
  • Requires precise calculation of 24 solar term transition times
  • Needs high-precision astronomical calendar support

c. Star Placement Rule Variations

  • Different schools (traditional vs. modern) have varying placement details
  • Some support "full day chart" while others distinguish between "first/second half of night"
  • Need configuration options or plugin mechanism for different algorithm branches

d. Body Palace and Lords Determination

  • Multiple methods for body palace calculation across different schools
  • Destiny and body lords selection involves year stem, birth hour, and gender
  • Lack of standardized unified logic

2. Implementation Solutions

To address these challenges, consider the following solutions:

a. Calendar System

  • Use established astronomical libraries
  • Implement comprehensive validation
  • Maintain detailed conversion tables

b. Calculation Precision

  • Implement high-precision algorithms
  • Use astronomical ephemeris data
  • Regular calibration with reference data

c. Rule Management

  • Create flexible configuration system
  • Support plugin architecture
  • Document variation handling

3. Data Management

Efficient data management is crucial:

  • Storage Solutions:
    • Optimized data structures
    • Caching mechanisms
    • Compression techniques
  • Performance Optimization:
    • Query optimization
    • Index management
    • Cache strategies
  • Security Measures:
    • Data encryption
    • Access control
    • Backup procedures

4. Testing and Validation

Comprehensive testing strategy:

  • Unit Testing:
    • Individual component validation
    • Edge case coverage
    • Algorithm accuracy
  • Integration Testing:
    • System component interaction
    • Data flow validation
    • API functionality
  • Validation:
    • Expert review
    • Historical data comparison
    • User feedback integration

IV. Python Library Usage Guide

1. Why Choose Python for Zi Wei Dou Shu Implementation?

  • Cross-platform Development: Python runs uniformly on servers, desktops, mobile devices, or cloud platforms.
  • Rich Time Processing and Astronomical Libraries: lunardate, ephem, pytz, datetime for handling lunar calendar, solar terms, and timezone issues.
  • Extensible Module Structure: Star calculations and chart logic can be implemented modularly for easy testing and optimization.
  • Seamless API/Web Service Integration: Easy to return results in JSON format for frontend display or mobile app calls.

2. Module Structure Design

The Zi Wei Dou Shu calculation process can be divided into several functional modules:

Module Name Function Description
lunar_converter.py Solar ⇄ Lunar calendar conversion, solar term identification
time_utils.py Timezone handling, true solar time correction
palace_locator.py Determine destiny palace, body palace, palace sequence
star_allocator.py Place major and minor stars according to rules
transformation_calc.py Calculate four transformations based on year stem
chart_builder.py Build final chart object (12 palaces, stars, transformations)

3. Example Implementation

Sample code for destiny palace location:

def locate_main_palace(year, month, day, hour, gender):
    """
    Locate destiny palace position (0-11, corresponding to twelve palaces)
    Parameters:
        year, month, day : birth date (solar)
        hour : birth hour (0-23)
        gender : "male" or "female"
    Returns:
        palace index
    """
    lunar_info = solar_to_lunar(year, month, day)
    lunar_month = lunar_info.month
    hour_index = get_hour_branch_index(hour)  # Zi = 0, Chou = 1 ...
    base_index = get_base_from_lunar_month(lunar_month)
    
    if gender == "male":
        palace_index = (base_index + hour_index) % 12
    else:
        palace_index = (base_index - hour_index + 12) % 12
    
    return palace_index

4. Technical Considerations

Key technical points to consider:

  • Lunar Calendar Accuracy:
    • Support for leap month handling
    • Solar term calculations
    • Use of authoritative astronomical libraries
  • Solar Term Determination:
    • Precise calculation based on location
    • True solar time consideration
  • Timezone Handling:
    • Local time to standard time conversion
    • True solar time adjustments
  • School Variations:
    • Support for different calculation methods
    • Configurable star placement rules
    • Plugin architecture for different schools

5. Using Ziwei AI API

For quick implementation, you can use the Ziwei AI API which provides complete chart calculation and analysis.

I. API Introduction

The Ziwei AI API provides chart generation and analysis capabilities for Zi Wei Dou Shu, suitable for integration into astrology platforms, mini-programs, public accounts, chatbots, and other applications.

II. Usage Process

  • Register to obtain access_token (Contact: [email protected])
  • Construct POST request according to API parameters
  • Choose output format (txt, json, or app format)
  • Receive analysis results for display or user interaction

III. Detailed Parameter Specifications

Parameter Type Required Description
access_token string Yes Authorization token for authentication
ty string Yes Output format: txt (text), json (structured data), app (for app rendering)
username string No User nickname for report display
gender int Yes Gender: 0 for female, 1 for male
dt int Yes Date type: 0 for lunar calendar, 1 for solar calendar
y int Yes Birth year (e.g., 1990)
m int Yes Birth month (1-12)
d int Yes Birth day (1-31)
h int Yes Birth hour (0-23)
lc int No Career report flag (1 to include)
ll int No Relationship report flag (1 to include)

IV. Sample Requests

// Basic Chart Request
{
    "access_token": "your_token_here",
    "ty": "json",
    "gender": 1,
    "dt": 1,
    "y": 1990,
    "m": 8,
    "d": 15,
    "h": 10
}

// Full Analysis Request
{
    "access_token": "your_token_here",
    "ty": "json",
    "username": "John",
    "gender": 1,
    "dt": 1,
    "y": 1990,
    "m": 8,
    "d": 15,
    "h": 10,
    "lc": 1,
    "ll": 1
}

V. Response Format Examples

// Basic Chart Response
{
    "chart": {
        "destinyPalace": "Wu Palace",
        "stars": {
            "destinyPalace": ["Zi Wei", "Tian Ji"],
            "spousePalace": ["Tai Yin", "Tian Liang"]
        }
    }
}

// Full Analysis Response
{
    "chart": {
        // Chart data as above
    },
    "analysis": {
        "career": {
            "current": "Career development shows positive trends...",
            "future": "Opportunities for advancement in 2025..."
        },
        "relationships": {
            "current": "Harmonious period for relationships...",
            "advice": "Focus on communication and understanding..."
        }
    }
}

VI. Implementation Notes

  • API Rate Limits:
    • Basic tier: 100 requests/day
    • Professional tier: 1000 requests/day
    • Enterprise tier: Custom limits
  • Error Handling:
    • Invalid parameters return 400 status
    • Authentication errors return 401 status
    • Rate limit exceeded returns 429 status
  • Best Practices:
    • Implement proper error handling
    • Cache results when possible
    • Use appropriate timeout settings

VII. Contact Information

  • Technical Support Email: 📧 [email protected]
  • WeChat Official Account: Ziwei AI
  • Documentation Website: https://ziweiai.com.cn

V. Building a Calculator

Keywords: zi wei dou shu calculator, zi wei dou shu calculation algorithm, python zi wei dou shu API

In this section, we will demonstrate how to build an efficient Zi Wei Dou Shu calculator using Python, and implement stable and reliable chart generation and analysis functionality through the Ziwei AI official API.

Recommended Approach: Using Ziwei AI Official API

Due to the complexity of Zi Wei Dou Shu involving astronomical calendars, lunar calendar conversion, star placement, and four transformations, we recommend developers to directly integrate with Ziwei AI's API service to significantly reduce algorithm development and testing costs.

Development Process

Step 1: Collect User Birth Information

Through web forms, mini-program interfaces, or terminal scripts, collect:

  • Birth date and time (solar/lunar calendar)
  • Gender
  • Leap month status if applicable
  • Optional: specific years for analysis

Step 2: Call Ziwei AI Chart Generation API

Package user information into a POST request to the Ziwei AI endpoint:

http://www.whitegrit.com/api/generate

Core API Features:

  • Support for birth chart, decennial, yearly, monthly, daily, and hourly calculations
  • Returns structured JSON data suitable for display and analysis
  • Provides themed analysis reports for career, wealth, and relationships

Step 3: Render Palace and Star Visualization

After receiving JSON data, display on webpage:

  • Palace structure (Destiny, Parents, Siblings, etc.)
  • Major stars list (Zi Wei, Tian Ji, Tai Yang, etc.)
  • Four transformation data

Use HTML/Markdown tables or graphical components for display.

Output Format Options

Format Type - Use Case

JSON - Suitable for system integration and further analysis

HTML - Direct web page embedding

Markdown - Note applications / content platform publishing

💡 Python Implementation Example

import requests

url = "http://www.whitegrit.com/api/generate"
payload = {
    "access_token": "your_token_here",
    "ty": "json",
    "gender": 1,
    "dt": 1,  # Solar calendar
    "y": 1990,
    "m": 8,
    "d": 15,
    "h": 10,
    "lc": 1,  # Career report
    "ll": 1,  # Relationship report
}

response = requests.post(url, data=payload)
data = response.json()

# Output palace information
for palace in data.get("palaces", []):
    print(f"Palace {palace['name']}: Main star is {palace['main_star']}")

Recommended Demo Project

GitHub Project (includes API integration + frontend display):

ZiWei-AI-Python-Demo

Project Features:

  • Chart generation demo using Ziwei AI API
  • Quick Python implementation
  • Frontend visualization examples

Getting API Access Token

Official website: https://ziweiai.com.cn

Contact email: 📧 [email protected]

WeChat Official Account: Ziwei AI

Summary

Using Ziwei AI's chart generation API, developers can quickly build a complete, professional, and intelligent Zi Wei Dou Shu system without deep algorithmic research, while still producing clear chart structures and high-quality analysis reports. This is particularly suitable for astrology product development and MVP prototype validation.

VI. Future Development

Keywords: zi wei dou shu AI, python fortune-telling tool, intelligent astrology systems

Summary: Combining Traditional Wisdom with Modern Technology

As a treasure of Chinese traditional culture, Zi Wei Dou Shu contains rich philosophical thoughts and pattern recognition capabilities, with precise and complex chart calculation logic. With the development of artificial intelligence, big data, and automation technology, we are in an era of transformation where traditional astrology is becoming intelligent and productized.

Using Python as the development language and integrating with Ziwei AI's API services, developers can efficiently build a complete system with:

  • Professional and accurate chart generation
  • Intelligent interpretation and analysis
  • Personalized consultation services

Current Achievements

Through the content discussed, we have achieved these core objectives:

  • One-click chart generation using Ziwei AI API (birth chart / decennial / yearly / monthly / daily / hourly)
  • Automatic structured analysis reports (career, wealth, relationships, etc.)
  • Complete request handling, data parsing, and visualization using Python

These form the foundation layer of an astrological chart system.

Future Work Directions

1. AI Interpretation Module

  • Automated natural language interpretation generation
  • Machine learning-based pattern recognition
  • Personalized analysis and recommendations
  • Integration with large language models

2. Platform and Technology Expansion

  • Mobile application development
  • Cloud-based services
  • API ecosystem expansion
  • Integration with other divination systems

3. Research and Development

  • Advanced algorithmic improvements
  • Historical data analysis
  • Cross-cultural adaptation
  • Modern interpretation frameworks

VII. FAQ

Common Questions

1. What is the accuracy of calculations?

The calculations follow traditional methods with modern precision, incorporating astronomical data and validated algorithms for accurate results.

2. How are special cases handled?

Special cases such as leap months, unusual birth times, and cross-timezone births are managed through comprehensive rule systems and data validation processes.

3. What about different time zones?

Time zones are handled through proper conversion and adjustment, with consideration for historical timezone changes and daylight saving time where applicable.

4. How secure is the data?

Data security is ensured through:

  • Encryption of sensitive information
  • Secure API authentication
  • Regular security audits
  • Privacy-focused data handling

5. What support is available for developers?

  • Comprehensive API documentation
  • Sample code and implementation guides
  • Technical support via email
  • Regular updates and improvements

6. Can the system be customized?

Yes, the API and implementation can be customized for specific needs, including:

  • Custom report formats
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Specialized analysis requirements
  • White-label solutions