Purple Emperor紫微 · Zi Wei
The chief star, called the seat of the emperor. Tradition links it with dignity, leadership and the power to soften trouble.
- Element
- earth
- Group
- Central sky
紫微屬土，中天星，南北斗化帝座，為官祿主。
Zi Wei belongs to earth, a star of the central sky. Across both Dippers it transforms into the emperor’s seat, master of the Career palace.
Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vol. 2
紫微為帝座，在諸宮能降福消災。
Zi Wei is the emperor’s seat. In any palace it brings blessing and removes disaster.
Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vol. 1
In plain words
The Quan Shu sees Zi Wei as the ruler of the whole chart, able to soften the harm of other stars. But a ruler needs company. Without Zuo Fu and You Bi beside it, the book calls it a lonely ruler. With Tian Fu, Tian Xiang and the writing stars around it, the reading is rank or great wealth.
Sources Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vols. 1 and 2, from an online transcription, not yet checked against a printed edition. The plain text is ours, and it leaves out the book’s harshest lines about death and about women.