New to astrology? This is the place to start. Tian Qi reads five systems, and this guide explains each one in plain English: what it is, what it is good for, and which one fits your question. You need no background; every term is explained as it appears.
BaZi (八字 / Four Pillars of Destiny)
Your elemental blueprint, read from your birth date and time: personality, strengths, and the decade-by-decade timing of your life.
Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗數 / Purple Star Astrology)
A detailed twelve-palace star map of your whole life (career, wealth, relationships, health) and when each area lights up.
Qi Men Dun Jia (奇門遁甲 / The Mystical Gates)
A chart for a moment rather than a birth: read the energy of right now to time a decision or choose a favourable direction.
Western Astrology
The sky at the moment you were born (Sun, Moon, Rising, the planets, and the twelve houses), read the way the West has for two thousand years.
Horary Astrology
A Western chart cast for the exact moment you ask one clear question, a focused answer drawn from that single snapshot of the sky.
Common beginner questions
Which system should I start with if I'm new to all this?
Start with BaZi. It reads your birth date and time as a simple elemental blueprint of your personality, strengths, and life timing, the most grounded entry point. From there, Zi Wei Dou Shu adds a detailed life map, and Qi Men Dun Jia or horary answer specific, in-the-moment questions.
Do I need to know my exact birth time?
For BaZi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, and a Western natal chart, yes: the hour changes parts of the reading, so an accurate birth time matters. Qi Men Dun Jia and horary don't use your birth time at all: they read the moment you ask the question.
Is this the same as my Chinese zodiac animal sign?
No. Your zodiac animal is only one piece, the branch of your birth year. BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu use your full birth date and time (eight characters, or a twelve-palace map), which is far more detailed than the animal alone.
Is astrology fortune-telling? Is my fate fixed?
These systems are read as a map and a weather forecast, not a fixed verdict. They show tendencies, strengths, and timing (the seasons you're moving through), so you can make better-informed choices. What you do with that is up to you.
What's the difference between BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu?
BaZi is your elemental blueprint: four pillars and eight characters built from the Five Elements, giving the core pattern of who you are. Zi Wei Dou Shu is a star map: over a hundred symbolic stars placed across twelve life palaces, adding palace-by-palace detail on career, wealth, relationships, and more.
What is Qi Men Dun Jia used for?
Timing and decisions. Instead of your birth, Qi Men casts a nine-palace chart for a specific moment to answer a precise question: the best time to act, the direction that favours you, and whether the door ahead is open or blocked.
What is horary astrology?
Horary is a Western technique that casts a chart for the exact moment you ask one clear, pressing question, then reads that single snapshot of the sky for a focused answer. The moment the question is asked is the chart. It is the West's closest cousin to Qi Men Dun Jia.
How much does a reading cost?
Creating your chart is free. AI readings are priced per reply in small tokens, and you start with 5 free readings when you sign up, so you can try before paying anything.