Tian Liang, the Sheltering Star
In a Nutshell
The second star of the Southern Dipper, element Earth, whose transformed breath is Shelter.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Element | Wu Earth |
| Transformed breath | Shelter (Yin) |
| Group | 2nd star of the Southern Dipper |
| Office | Governs longevity; lord of the Parents palace |
What is the Tian Liang star?
The Tian Liang star is one of the fourteen major stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the second star of the Southern Dipper. Elementally it belongs to Wu Earth, and within the Southern Dipper group it stands second, just after Tian Fu and in the same Southern Dipper line as Tian Tong. The old books say Tian Liang governs longevity, its transformed breath "Shelter" — the star of blessing, protection, and long years, steady and weighty by nature.
The *Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu* (Book 1, "Questions and Answers on the Stars") calls Tian Liang an Earth star, the second of the Southern Dipper, which "governs longevity, transformed into Shelter and Blessed Longevity, lord of Parents". "Shelter" is a technical image for protection and blessings. The original passage is quoted below.
In a real chart, note which palace Tian Liang lands in and which stars share or face it — that is the key step in reading. Tian Liang 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 writings on Tian Liang run heavily on longevity and parents and carry the coloring of their era; take the star's attributes, its element and transformed breath, and its structural ties.
Classical sources
"Tian Liang belongs to Earth and is the second star of the Southern Dipper. It governs longevity; its transformed breath is Shelter and Blessed Longevity; it is lord of Parents."
Plain words: Tian Liang is Earth, the second star of the Southern Dipper, governing longevity; transformed into Shelter, it is lord of the Parents palace.
Source: *Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu* (Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu), Book 1, "Questions and Answers on the Stars" · "What does Tian Liang govern?" — original: 天梁属土，南斗第二星也。司寿，化气为荫、为福寿，乃父母之主。
*For entertainment purposes only.*