Lian Zhen, the Authority Star
In a Nutshell
The fifth star of the Northern Dipper, element Yin Fire, whose transformed breath is Confinement.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Element | Yin Fire |
| Transformed breath | Confinement (Qiu) |
| Group | 5th star of the Northern Dipper |
| Office | In the Dipper governs rank and office; in the numbers wields authority and command |
What is the Lian Zhen star?
The Lian Zhen star is one of the fourteen major stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the fifth star of the Northern Dipper. Elementally it belongs to Yin Fire, and within the Dipper group it stands fifth, in the same Dipper line as Tan Lang and Ju Men. The fourteen major stars divide into Northern Dipper, Southern Dipper, and central groups, and Lian Zhen is a key member of the Dipper line — chart work usually reads it alongside the other Dipper stars, so the positional ties between them are worth attention.
The *Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu* (Book 1, "Questions and Answers on the Stars") calls Lian Zhen a Fire star, the fifth of the Northern Dipper, that "governs rank in the Dipper and authority in the reckoning", and says that when badly placed it "turns Prisoner into Killing". "Prisoner" is the image that sets Lian Zhen apart from the other major stars. The original passage is quoted below.
In a real chart, note which palace Lian Zhen lands in and which stars share or face it — that is the key step in reading. Lian Zhen takes on different traditional colorings in each of the twelve palaces, so study it palace by palace against what each palace governs. A full Zi Wei chart lays out the stars and palaces at a glance. The old verdicts on Lian Zhen carry a strong coloring of their era; take the star's attributes, its element and transformed breath, and its structural ties, and do not get stuck on the literal wording.
Classical sources
"Lian Zhen belongs to Fire and is the fifth star of the Northern Dipper. In the Dipper it governs rank; in the reckoning it governs authority and command. When it is not in a bright or prosperous palace and also meets the Official Talisman, it is said to "turn Prisoner into Killing"."
Plain words: Lian Zhen is Fire, the fifth star of the Northern Dipper, governing rank and authority; badly placed it is said to "turn Prisoner into Killing".
Source: *Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu* (Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu), Book 1, "Questions and Answers on the Stars" · "What does Lian Zhen govern?" — original: 廉贞属火，北斗第五星也。在斗司品秩，在数司权令。不临庙旺，更犯官符，故曰「化囚为杀」。
*For entertainment purposes only.*