How Zi Wei Dou Shu Schools Handle Leap Months
A leap month is a defined calendrical interval, but Zi Wei Dou Shu traditions do not all map it into chart rules identically.
Common method types
- Preserve the leap month: use a school-specific table.
- Treat it like the regular month: no separate leap handling.
- Split the month: assign early and late portions differently.
- Convert first: verify the Gregorian date, then apply an engine rule.
Why charts differ
A changed month assignment can alter palace placement and later calculations. This may be a rule difference rather than a software defect.
Comparison steps
- Verify the leap month in a reliable calendar.
- Preserve the original leap notation.
- Document each tool’s rule.
- Compare implementations only under the same rule.
- Disclose school differences.
Conclusion
Separate calendrical fact from interpretive convention. Transparent rules matter more than claiming one universal answer.
Sources and editorial note
Written and editorially reviewed by the StarDestiny AI editorial team; last updated 2026-08-08. The guide draws on this site’s iztro 2.5.8 implementation, calendrical concepts published in the Chinese Astronomical Ephemeris, IANA Time Zone Database rules, and editorial comparison of common Zi Wei Dou Shu methods. Astrological interpretation is presented as cultural tradition, not an empirical scientific conclusion.