Tian Xiang, the Minister Star
In a Nutshell
The fifth star of the Southern Dipper, element Water, whose transformed breath is the Seal.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Element | Ren Water |
| Transformed breath | Seal (Yin) |
| Group | 5th star of the Southern Dipper |
| Office | In the Dipper governs the symbol of clothing and salary |
What is the Tian Xiang star?
The Tian Xiang star is one of the fourteen major stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the fifth star of the Southern Dipper. Elementally it belongs to Ren Water, and within the Southern Dipper group it stands fifth, next to Tian Liang. The star system divides into Dipper, Southern Dipper, and central groups, and Tian Xiang belongs to the Southern Dipper line — chart work often reads it alongside the other Southern 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 Tian Xiang a Water star, the fifth of the Southern Dipper, "the lodge governing rank", whose "transformed breath is called Seal; it is the civil star of career, assisting the Emperor". "Seal" is a technical image for official seals, documents and position. The original passage is quoted below.
In a real chart, note which palace Tian Xiang lands in and which stars share or face it — that is the key step in reading. Tian Xiang 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, and there are lookups for common star combinations. The old writings on Tian Xiang run heavily on salary and seals and carry the coloring of their era; take the star's attributes, its element and transformed breath, and its structural ties.
Classical sources
"Tian Xiang belongs to Water and is the fifth star of the Southern Dipper. It is the lodge governing noble rank, a star of blessing and goodness; its transformed breath is called Seal; it is the civil star of career, in the position of assisting the Emperor."
Plain words: Tian Xiang is Water, the fifth star of the Southern Dipper, governing rank; transformed into Seal, it is the civil star of career that assists the Emperor star.
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 Xiang govern?" — original: 天相属水，南斗第五星也。为司爵之宿，为福善，化气曰印，是为官禄文星，佐帝之位。
*For entertainment purposes only.*