Zi Wei Dou Shu ( Purple Star Astrology ) is a form of fortune-telling in Chinese culture. It remains one of the most well-respected processes for laying out "The Destiny Path" or "Fate".

The requester or the person seeking the fortune telling advice presents a person's moment of birth: year month day and time to the fortune interpreter. Without this crucial information the analysis cannot take place.

Calculations are worked out to chart the stars into 12 different palaces or Gong. This would then be one's Natal Birth Chart or Mìng Pán. By integrating the stars and palaces their attributes environmental factors the Five elements Yin and Yang concept and all the possible combinations and variations not only can personalities be understood but personal and professional relationships can be predicted. The end result is a calculated translation of one's destiny in detail including events that have already happened in the past for verification purposes.