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The four transformations (Si Hua) explained

The four transformations are the part of Zi Wei Dou Shu that turns a static map into a dynamic reading. Each Heavenly Stem “transforms” four stars into Lu, Quan, Ke and Ji. This page explains what each means, the three ways they are used, and gives the ten-stem table.

What the four mean

Hua Lu — abundance and connection: things flow, help arrives. Hua Quan — authority and initiative: wanting and being able to take charge. Hua Ke — renown and support: good reputation, structure, the right help. Hua Ji — obstruction and attachment: the area you can't let go of, which is often where you try hardest and grow most. None of them is a verdict; the palace they land in decides the area, and the star's brightness and surroundings decide the strength.

Three ways they are used

Birth-year transformations: the stem of the birth year transforms four stars in your natal chart — your baseline. Annual and decade transformations: the stem of a year or a decade transforms four stars, which are overlaid on the natal chart to show what is activated then. Palace-stem (flying) transformations: each palace has its own stem, which flies four transformations into other palaces, describing how one area of life pulls on another; a Hua Ji landing in a palace also confronts the palace opposite it.

The ten-stem table (Lu · Quan · Ke · Ji)

Jia: Lian Zhen · Po Jun · Wu Qu · Tai Yang. Yi: Tian Ji · Tian Liang · Zi Wei · Tai Yin. Bing: Tian Tong · Tian Ji · Wen Chang · Lian Zhen. Ding: Tai Yin · Tian Tong · Tian Ji · Ju Men. Wu: Tan Lang · Tai Yin · You Bi · Tian Ji. Ji: Wu Qu · Tan Lang · Tian Liang · Wen Qu. Geng: Tai Yang · Wu Qu · Tai Yin · Tian Tong. Xin: Ju Men · Tai Yang · Wen Qu · Wen Chang. Ren: Tian Liang · Zi Wei · Zuo Fu · Wu Qu. Gui: Po Jun · Ju Men · Tai Yin · Tan Lang. This is the table from the Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu used by 9zi.ai; some schools differ on a few stems.

How to use it on your chart

First find where your four birth-year stars sit; those palaces are your baseline. Then check the current decade and year transformations: which natal palaces do they land in? Finally look at palace-stem transformations for the relationships you care about, for example how the Career palace's Hua Ji relates to the Spouse palace. The encyclopedia has an entry for each transformation in each palace.

Q: Is Hua Ji bad?

Not by itself. It marks attachment and lessons — often the area you care about most. Whether it's difficult depends on the palace, the star and the surrounding stars.

Q: What are the 2027 transformations?

2027 is a Ding year: Tai Yin Hua Lu, Tian Tong Hua Quan, Tian Ji Hua Ke, Ju Men Hua Ji.