How to Verify a Zi Wei Dou Shu Chart
When two tools disagree, audit layers from source input to school rules instead of declaring one defective immediately.
Layer 1: source record
- Contemporaneous record or memory?
- Gregorian or lunar?
- Leap month?
- 12- or 24-hour time?
- Correct city?
Layer 2: time rules
Check historical zone, DST, true solar time, and day-change rules. Change only one parameter at a time.
Layer 3: calendar conversion
Cross-check the converted Gregorian date with a reliable independent calendar. If this differs, later comparisons are premature.
Layer 4: school parameters
- Leap-month method.
- Palace and stem derivations.
- Transformation tables.
- Brightness tables.
- Decadal and nominal-age rules.
Comparison template
| Item | Tool A | Tool B |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar input | ||
| Converted date | ||
| Time zone/solar time | ||
| Hour/day change | ||
| Life/Body Palace | ||
| Transformation rules |
Conclusion
Verify input, time, calendar, school, then interpretation—in that order.
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.