Si Hua, the Four Transformations: Meaning and Table by Year Stem
Si Hua (四化), the Four Transformations, is the layer of Zi Wei Dou Shu that makes a chart move. The same star reads differently once it takes Hua Lu (化祿), Hua Quan (化權), Hua Ke (化科) or Hua Ji (化忌): smoother, stronger, better known or harder to let go. A heavenly stem decides which stars transform, starting with the stem of your birth year. This guide explains each transformation, gives the full table with the classic mnemonic, shows how to find your own set, and covers the decade, yearly, flying and self layers. Add your birth details and the chart marks where yours fall.
- Hua Lu
- Hua Quan
- Hua Ke
- Hua Ji
- Ten stems
- Birth year
Updated October 26, 2026
Example chart
Your birth-year Si Hua
This page shows a sample chart: May 12, 1990 · 14:30 · Taipei.
The example chart is a 庚 year (1990), so its Si Hua are:
- Hua LuTai Yangin the Travel Palace
- Hua QuanWu Quin the Friends Palace
- Hua KeTai Yinin the Life Palace
- Hua JiTian Tongin the Career Palace
The Zi Wei year changes at Lunar New Year (正月初一), not at 立春, so births in January or early February may take the stem of the year before.
庚
Where the 庚-year Si Hua land
What Si Hua means: four ways a star can change
Si Hua means four transformations: Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke and Hua Ji. Every star has a fixed character, but once a heavenly stem comes into play, four stars change how they behave. Lu adds resources and ease, Quan adds power and drive, Ke adds reputation and order, and Ji adds attachment along with the lessons it brings. A star carrying one of them is called a transformed star.
A transformation never floats free. It rides on a star and sits in a palace, so every reading asks three questions: which star, which transformation, which palace. Tai Yang with Hua Ji in the Career Palace usually means working hard for slow recognition; Wen Chang with Hua Ji in the Parents Palace moves the issue to paperwork, exams and conversations with elders.
Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke and Hua Ji at a glance
Each transformation has its own guide covering all twelve palaces and the classic combinations. Here is the short version of each.
Hua Lu: resources, ease and goodwill
Hua Lu is the welcome one. Things flow in where it sits: chances, income, favours and good moods. Its palace is where effort feels light, though easy gains are also easy to spend.
Read moreHua Quan: power, drive and responsibility
Hua Quan makes a star assertive and weighty. In its palace you want the final say, and you usually have the ability to back it up. Overdone, it turns into stubbornness or a fight for control.
Read moreHua Ke: reputation, order and helpers
The gentlest of the four, and very durable: clear thinking, a good name and people willing to help when trouble comes. Tradition says Hua Ke eases the pressure around it.
Read moreHua Ji: attachment, sticking points and homework
The most misunderstood of the four. Hua Ji is not bad luck but the place you care about most and get stuck most often, a theme you keep practising. Knowing its palace tells you where to spend your patience.
Read more
Zi Wei Dou Shu Si Hua table by year stem
Each row of the table is one heavenly stem, read left to right as Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke and Hua Ji. We use the common edition from the Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the same table our chart calculator runs on, so what you read here always matches your chart.
The one table has three uses. Look it up with your birth-year stem for the birth-year set, with the stem of a decade palace or a calendar year for the decade and yearly sets, and with any palace's own stem for flying transformations. Only the stem you bring to the table changes.
| Stem | Years ending in | 祿Hua Lu | 權Hua Quan | 科Hua Ke | 忌Hua Ji |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 甲 | Lian Zhen | Po Jun | Wu Qu | Tai Yang | |
| 乙 | Tian Ji | Tian Liang | Zi Wei | Tai Yin | |
| 丙 | Tian Tong | Tian Ji | Literary Star | Lian Zhen | |
| 丁 | Tai Yin | Tian Tong | Tian Ji | Ju Men | |
| 戊 | Tan Lang | Tai Yin | Right Assistant* | Tian Ji | |
| 己 | Wu Qu | Tan Lang | Tian Liang | Artistry Star | |
| 庚Example | Tai Yang | Wu Qu | Tai Yin* | Tian Tong* | |
| 辛 | Ju Men | Tai Yang | Artistry Star | Literary Star | |
| 壬 | Tian Liang | Zi Wei | Left Assistant* | Wu Qu | |
| 癸 | Po Jun | Ju Men | Tai Yin | Tan Lang |
- * 戊: some books give 太陽 化科 instead of 右弼.
- * 庚: some books give 天同 化科 and 太陰 化忌, among other variants. We follow the common table.
- * 壬: some books give 天府 化科 instead of 左輔.
- The Zi Wei year changes at Lunar New Year (正月初一), not at 立春, so births in January or early February may take the stem of the year before.
How to find and read your birth-year Si Hua
Start with the stem of your birth year. The last digit of the Western year gives it: 4 is Jia, 5 Yi, 6 Bing, 7 Ding, 8 Wu, 9 Ji, 0 Geng, 1 Xin, 2 Ren and 3 Gui. Someone born in 1987 has a Ding year, so Tai Yin takes Hua Lu, Tian Tong Hua Quan, Tian Ji Hua Ke and Ju Men Hua Ji.
January and February births need one extra check. Zi Wei Dou Shu starts the year at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January, and our engine does not switch at the solar term Li Chun either. Born on 20 January 1990, before that year's Lunar New Year on 27 January, you count as a 1989 Ji year: Wu Qu Hua Lu, Tan Lang Hua Quan, Tian Liang Hua Ke and Wen Qu Hua Ji.
Then find the four stars on your chart. Hua Lu's palace shows where things come to you, Hua Quan's where you lead, Hua Ke's where you are recognised and Hua Ji's where your homework is. Read each one with its opposite palace and its trine for the full picture.
The Si Hua mnemonic: one line per stem
Students learn the table as ten five-character lines, one per stem. The first character is the stem and the next four are the stars taking Lu, Quan, Ke and Ji, each cut to a single character, such as Yang for Tai Yang, Yin for Tai Yin, Chang for Wen Chang and Zuo for Zuo Fu.
The same lines work for flying transformations: swap the year stem for a palace stem and you know which four stars that palace sends out. The table mnemonic and the flying-star mnemonic are one and the same set.
- 甲廉破武陽 (Jia): Lian Zhen, Po Jun, Wu Qu, Tai Yang
- 乙機梁紫陰 (Yi): Tian Ji, Tian Liang, Zi Wei, Tai Yin
- 丙同機昌廉 (Bing): Tian Tong, Tian Ji, Wen Chang, Lian Zhen
- 丁陰同機巨 (Ding): Tai Yin, Tian Tong, Tian Ji, Ju Men
- 戊貪陰右機 (Wu): Tan Lang, Tai Yin, You Bi, Tian Ji
- 己武貪梁曲 (Ji): Wu Qu, Tan Lang, Tian Liang, Wen Qu
- 庚陽武陰同 (Geng): Tai Yang, Wu Qu, Tai Yin, Tian Tong
- 辛巨陽曲昌 (Xin): Ju Men, Tai Yang, Wen Qu, Wen Chang
- 壬梁紫左武 (Ren): Tian Liang, Zi Wei, Zuo Fu, Wu Qu
- 癸破巨陰貪 (Gui): Po Jun, Ju Men, Tai Yin, Tan Lang
Birth-year Si Hua for each of the ten stems
Here is each year's set and the general direction it points. What it means for you depends on where the four stars land in your chart; the same set can look very different from one chart to the next.
Jia years (ending in 4): Lian Zhen Lu, Po Jun Quan, Wu Qu Ke, Tai Yang Ji
A set about clearing out and rebuilding. Lian Zhen Hua Lu turns charm and connections into resources, Po Jun Hua Quan gives the nerve to start over, and Wu Qu Hua Ke lends credit to money and execution. Tai Yang Hua Ji marks where you give a lot and are seen too little; keep some energy for yourself there.
Yi years (ending in 5): Tian Ji Lu, Tian Liang Quan, Zi Wei Ke, Tai Yin Ji
Brains and care. Tian Ji Hua Lu rewards flexibility and planning, Tian Liang Hua Quan makes you the person others ask for a decision, and Zi Wei Hua Ke hangs a dignified sign over your door. Tai Yin Hua Ji thins out security, as savings that never feel like enough or worry about family; steady saving and routines help most.
Bing years (ending in 6): Tian Tong Lu, Tian Ji Quan, Wen Chang Ke, Lian Zhen Ji
Like a good-natured, clever student. Tian Tong Hua Lu makes life comfortable and people friendly, Tian Ji Hua Quan puts someone in charge of the plan, and Wen Chang Hua Ke helps exams, licences and writing. Lian Zhen Hua Ji is the hot one: where it sits, pride or a grudge can jam things, so drop the face-saving before you negotiate.
Ding years (ending in 7): Tai Yin Lu, Tian Tong Quan, Tian Ji Ke, Ju Men Ji
The Lu goes to the moon star, so money fills up the way the moon does, a little each night: good for saving, poor for gambling. Tian Tong Hua Quan gives gentle people a firm streak and Tian Ji Hua Ke gets your thinking remembered. Ju Men Hua Ji is the year's homework: how you say things and how you clear up misunderstandings.
Wu years (ending in 8): Tan Lang Lu, Tai Yin Quan, You Bi Ke, Tian Ji Ji
Tan Lang takes the Lu, so socialising, talents and fun can all become opportunities. Tai Yin Hua Quan puts you in charge of the household and the savings, and You Bi Hua Ke means someone quietly fills the gap at the key moment. Tian Ji Hua Ji is where you keep overturning your own plans; test ideas small before changing everything.
Ji years (ending in 9): Wu Qu Lu, Tan Lang Quan, Tian Liang Ke, Wen Qu Ji
Practical and money-minded. Wu Qu, the wealth star, takes the Lu directly, Tan Lang Hua Quan sharpens ambition and social skill, and Tian Liang Hua Ke brings mentors and a clean name. Wen Qu Hua Ji tends to show up in words, in contracts, forms and messages, so one more look before you sign or send saves a lot of trouble.
- Example
Geng years (ending in 0): Tai Yang Lu, Wu Qu Quan, Tai Yin Ke, Tian Tong Ji
Sun and moon both move in this set. Tai Yang Hua Lu pays back public effort, Tai Yin Hua Ke gets private care noticed, and Wu Qu Hua Quan makes you act on decisions at once. Where Tian Tong Hua Ji sits, happiness does not arrive on its own; plan the things that make you glad rather than wait for the mood.
Xin years (ending in 1): Ju Men Lu, Tai Yang Quan, Wen Qu Ke, Wen Chang Ji
Ju Men's Lu turns explaining, teaching and research into income. Tai Yang Hua Quan gives influence and the will to stand up front, and Wen Qu Hua Ke rewards talent and expressive skill. With Wen Chang Hua Ji in the same set, speaking is the strength and formal paperwork the weak spot.
Ren years (ending in 2): Tian Liang Lu, Zi Wei Quan, Zuo Fu Ke, Wu Qu Ji
A set about being handed responsibility. Tian Liang Hua Lu rewards you for looking after others, Zi Wei Hua Quan puts you where decisions are made, and Zuo Fu Hua Ke gives you a deputy you can count on. Where Wu Qu Hua Ji sits, money and efficiency are the pressure; plan cash and timelines early instead of forcing it.
Gui years (ending in 3): Po Jun Lu, Ju Men Quan, Tai Yin Ke, Tan Lang Ji
Po Jun takes the Lu, so changing tracks and replacing the old pays off. Ju Men Hua Quan turns expert opinion into influence, good for teaching, negotiating and research, and Tai Yin Hua Ke builds a name for care and gentleness. Tan Lang Hua Ji marks what you want most and find hardest to satisfy; set a limit rather than suppress the wish.
Which stars transform, and which never do
The ten stems produce forty transformations, but not every star gets one. In the Complete Book table, Tian Fu, Tian Xiang and Qi Sha never transform. Zi Wei takes only Hua Quan (Ren years) and Hua Ke (Yi years). Tian Liang has Lu, Quan and Ke but never Ji, while Tai Yang and Tian Tong have Lu, Quan and Ji but never Ke. Only Tian Ji, Wu Qu and Tai Yin take all four, and Tai Yin takes Hua Ke twice, in Geng and Gui years.
Four auxiliary stars transform too. Wen Chang takes Hua Ke in Bing years and Hua Ji in Xin years, Wen Qu takes Hua Ke in Xin years and Hua Ji in Ji years, Zuo Fu takes Hua Ke in Ren years and You Bi in Wu years. Tian Kui, Tian Yue and the malefic stars never transform. The three major stars that do not transform still feel the effect through the stars beside them; Tian Xiang in particular is read through the palaces on either side.
Why Si Hua tables differ: the Wu, Geng and Ren stems
Most schools agree on the table; the disputes sit in three stems. For Wu years, Hua Ke goes to You Bi or to Tai Yang. For Ren years, Hua Ke goes to Zuo Fu or to Tian Fu. Geng is the most argued: one edition has Tai Yin Hua Ke and Tian Tong Hua Ji, another swaps them to Tian Tong Hua Ke and Tai Yin Hua Ji, and a few bring Tian Fu or Tian Xiang in.
We use the common Complete Book edition: You Bi Hua Ke in Wu years, Tai Yin Hua Ke with Tian Tong Hua Ji in Geng years, and Zuo Fu Hua Ke in Ren years. Our chart uses the same table. If another teacher or app gives a different result, check which version they use, and read a whole chart by one set of rules rather than mixing them.
Layers of Si Hua: birth year, decade, year, flying and self
Si Hua works in layers. The birth-year set is the base colour of a life, the decade and yearly sets are the weather of each period, and flying and self transformations show how palaces act on one another. Learn the birth-year layer first, then add the others one at a time.
Birth-year Si Hua: the base layer
Set by your birth-year stem, the four stars carrying Lu, Quan, Ke and Ji are your built-in strengths and homework. They colour your whole life and every other layer is read against them, so they are the first thing to find on any chart.
Decade Si Hua: a new theme every ten years
Each decade runs through one palace. Look up that palace's stem in the table and you have the decade's Si Hua, which shows what lights up and what stalls for those ten years. A decade Hua Ji landing on or opposite your birth-year Hua Lu palace, for example, marks something to protect.
Yearly Si Hua for 2026 and 2027
The yearly set comes from the year's stem. 2026 is a Bing Wu year: Tian Tong Hua Lu, Tian Ji Hua Quan, Wen Chang Hua Ke and Lian Zhen Hua Ji. 2027, a Ding Wei year, brings Tai Yin Hua Lu, Tian Tong Hua Quan, Tian Ji Hua Ke and Ju Men Hua Ji. The year turns at Lunar New Year here too.
Palace-stem Si Hua, or flying stars
Every palace has its own stem, laid out from the birth-year stem starting at the Yin (寅) palace. Look up a palace's stem and see which palace each of its four transformations flies into, read as, say, the Wealth Palace sending Hua Ji into the Spouse Palace. Start with the Life Palace, then Wealth and Career. Open any palace on our chart to see where its stem's transformations go.
Self-transformation (Zi Hua)
When a palace's stem transforms a star sitting in that same palace, it is a self-transformation. Born in a Wu or Gui year, your Yin palace has the stem Jia, which turns Tai Yang into Hua Ji; if Tai Yang sits there (paired with Ju Men), that palace self-transforms Ji. Energy flows out: self Lu gives but does not keep, self Ji ties a knot and often lets go. Our chart lists every self-transformation.
Si Hua: common questions
Short answers to what people search for most. The sections above go deeper.
Zi Wei AI reading
Your whole chart, read palace by palace
Seven chapters written for your chart. The first, your Life and Body palaces, is free with a free account.
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- 1Life and Body palacesFree
- 2Personality
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- 6Family and wellbeing
- 7Decades and years
Draw your own Zi Wei chart
Enter your birth date and hour to draw all 12 palaces, the 14 major stars with their brightness, your Si Hua, and the decade and year layers. Free, no sign-up.
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