Tianfu Star

Tianfu is one of the fourteen major stars, and it stands for stability and holding on to resources.

A chart has twelve cells, and each cell is called a palace. Enter your birth date and hour in the free Ziwei Doushu calculator. The chart labels are in Chinese, so look for the cell showing 天府. The palace name on that cell is where Tianfu sits for you.

If that cell is your Life Palace, this is called Tianfu in the Life Palace.

Tianfu's position is set by Ziwei, and the two always mirror each other across the Yin and Shen cells. If Ziwei is in Zi, Tianfu is in Chen. If Ziwei is in Yin, Tianfu is in Yin too.

So when Ziwei is in Yin or Shen, both stars share one cell.

Wherever Tianfu sits, it never drops to Fallen. Brightness says how freely a star works in that cell. There are seven levels. The strongest is Temple and the weakest is Fallen, with five steps in between: Prosperous, Gaining Ground, Beneficial, Neutral and Not Gaining Ground.

Tianfu is at Temple in six branches, Prosperous in Wu and You, and Gaining Ground in the other four. Of the fourteen major stars, it is the only one that never sinks to the three lowest levels.

With Tianfu in your Life Palace, you tend to be steady and patient, and you value security. The Complete Book of Ziwei Doushu calls Tianfu "the ruler of wealth," the star in charge of money. So you are usually better at keeping what you have than at chasing quick wins.

Where you tend to shine

• You work step by step, so the tasks you take on rarely go wrong.
• You know how to save and share out resources, so money tends to be less tight.
• You stay calm when others panic.

Where you tend to get stuck

• You lean cautious, so you may think too long when a chance comes.
• Change unsettles you, and a new setting takes you a while.
• You rarely say where you stand, so people find you hard to read.

How this plays out also depends on the Three Directions and Four Squares (San Fang Si Zheng). That is the group of four palaces you read together, starting from the Life Palace.

There are four kinds of pairing: Tianfu shares the palace with Ziwei, Wuqu or Lianzhen, or sits alone. Sharing the palace means sitting in the same cell. The opposite palace is the cell directly across, and in every case Qisha sits there.

Yin and Shen: Tianfu with Ziwei

With Ziwei beside it, you tend to be steady and still have your own views. It only counts as the Ziwei–Tianfu Together pattern when your four key palaces meet some conditions, set out on the Ziwei page.

Zi and Wu: Tianfu with Wuqu

It shares the palace with Wuqu. Wuqu leans toward earning money decisively, and Tianfu toward keeping it. Together, you tend to be practical and planned about money.

Chen and Xu: Tianfu with Lianzhen

It shares the palace with Lianzhen. You tend to look gentle but hold firm principles, and you like doing things by the rules.

The other six branches: Tianfu alone

Tianfu is the only major star in your Life Palace, so its steady side shows most clearly. Qisha opposite adds drive, so you can still act when you need to.

Tianfu tends to suit steady work that involves managing resources.

• Finance and accountingKeeping the books and budgets plays to its knack for holding on to money.
• AdministrationKeeping an organisation running in good order.
• InsurancePlanning long-term protection for others.
• Real estateAssets that build up over the long run.
• Warehousing and logisticsStoring goods and moving them where they are needed.

Which field fits you also depends on the stars in your Career Palace.

Wherever Tianfu sits, you tend to seek stability in that area of life.