The Iron (Wu Qu, 武曲) star
The money star. Hard and decisive — effective more than warm.
One of the fourteen main stars of Purple Star Astrology (Zi Wei Dou Shu, 紫微斗数). They are not stars in the sky: they are fourteen named markers that your birth date and hour place around a ring of twelve palaces, and each palace stands for one part of life. What this star means depends on which palace it lands in.
When this site works out a chart’s type, it counts this star with the Fu Xiang Chao Yuan family (府相朝垣): The Custodian, built to hold — stable, managerial, keeps what others build.
What the classic Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu (紫微斗数全书) says it is
The sixth star of the northern dipper, Metal, and the ruler of the Wealth palace. In the same palace as the Treasury (天府) there is long life. It exercises its authority across the twelve palaces, and its ground may be Exalted (庙), Strong (旺) or Fallen (陷). In a person it means a firm and decisive nature, with gladness and anger both in it, and blessing or calamity both possible. Meeting the trapped (囚) star in the Zhen, the east (震) palace it certainly means a broken undertaking and long delay. Running with the Hoard and the Steed (禄马), wealth is made in a distant province. Sharing the palace with the Wolf (贪狼), a mean and grudging person. With the Disruptor (破军) in the country of wealth, money reaches the hand and comes to nothing. Malefics gathered make calamity; benefics gathered make good fortune. Master Xiyi (希夷先生) says: The Iron (武曲) is Metal, governing long life in heaven and wealth in the reckoning. It fears being held down and badly placed, and welcomes the Hoard (禄存) governing with it. With the Moon (太阴) it shares authority; the Treasury and the Minister (天相) are its assisting stars; Wealth and Property are its particular charge. Harsh malefics, the Great Drain (大耗) and the trapped meeting in the Zhen, the east palace, and one certainly meets wood falling and thunder striking. The Disruptor and the Wolf meeting in the Kan, the north (坎) palace, and one drowns. Meeting the Hoard and the Steed, wealth is made in a distant province. Meeting the Wolf, the early years are unfavourable — hence the saying that Iron holding the Self is no light blessing, and that a Wolf does not open out for a young man. Well placed with the peach blossom (桃花) in the same palace, it profits itself and costs others. With the General (七杀) and the Flare (火星), wealth is taken by robbery. Meeting the Blade (擎羊) and the Millstone (陀罗), solitude and harm; meeting the Disruptor, honour is hard to show. With the Disruptor in the same place, and coming into either limit, it certainly means disputes. Broadly, the Iron holding the Self makes a person firm, strong and decisive; born under Yang Wood (甲) or Yin Earth (己) the blessing is thick, and one goes out a general and returns a minister. Getting the Wolf and the Flare breaking in as well, it is certainly an honoured pattern. It likes a person born in the north-west; those born in the south-east are ordinary and do not keep the ancestral estate. With the four malefics breaking in, solitude and poverty in one form or another, and a scar lengthens the years. A woman with many benefics is an honoured wife; with malefics breaking in, solitude and harm.
答曰:武曲北斗第六星,屬金,乃財帛宮主。與天府同宮有壽,其施權於十二宮分,其臨地有廟、旺、陷宮。主於人,性剛果決,有喜有怒,可福可災。若陷囚會於震宮,必為破主淹留之舉。與祿馬交馳,發財於遠郡。若貪狼同度,慳吝之人。破軍同財鄉,財到手而成空。諸凶聚而作禍,吉集以成祥。希夷先生曰:武曲屬金,在天司壽,在數司財。怕受制入陷,喜祿存而同政。與太陰以互權,天府、天相為佐貳之星,財帛田宅為專司之所。惡殺耗囚會於震宮,必見木壓雷震。破軍貪狼會於坎宮,必主投河溺水。會祿馬則發財遠郡。貪狼會則少年不利。所謂武曲守命福非輕,貪狼不發少年郎是也。廟樂桃花同宮,利己損人。七殺火星同宮,因財被劫。遇羊陀則孤克,遇破軍難顯貴。若與破軍同位,更臨二限之中,定主是非之撓。蓋武曲守命,主人剛強果斷,甲己生人福厚,出將入相。更得貪火沖破,定為貴格。喜西北生人,東南生人平常,不守祖業。四殺沖破孤貧不一,破相延年。女人吉多為貴婦,加殺沖破孤克。
The Iron in each of the twelve palaces
Volume two of the classic goes palace by palace and says what each star does there. Each line below is its sentence for this star, translated. “Well placed” and “badly placed” refer to the star’s brightness in that branch.
Self palace (Ming Gong, 命宫)
who you are at core
Firm and decisive, straight without malice; small in build, high-voiced, large in capacity. With the Power transformation (化权) in the seat of the self and benefics arriving, blessing and long life — spirited, and out of the common run. With the Great Drain (大耗) and malefics breaking in, however much money comes it ends as nothing. In a woman's chart with the Treasury (天府), high spirit; with the two Aides (左右) and the Hoard (禄存) gathered, wealth and honour both.
武曲金,北斗化财,为财帛主。武曲性刚果决,心直无毒,形小声高而量大,有毛发之异。武曲入男命吉凶诀:武曲守命化为权,吉曜来临福寿全,志气峥嵘多出众,超凡入圣向人前。武曲之星守命宫,吉星守照始荣昌,若加耗杀来冲破,任是财多毕竟空。武曲入女命吉凶诀:女人武曲命中逢,天府加之志气雄,左右禄存相逢聚,富贵双全美无穷。武曲入限吉凶诀:大小二限逢武曲,若还入庙主财兴,更加文昌临左右,福禄双全得称心。武曲临限化权星,最利求谋事有成,更遇吉星同会合,文人名显庶人兴。武曲之星主官非,公吏逢之刑杖来,常庶遇之还负债,官员值此有惊怀。
Siblings palace (Xiong Di, 兄弟)
siblings, and the people alongside you
Well placed, two, and they do not get on. Badly placed with malefics, only one. With the Minister (天相), two. With the Disruptor (破军) or the General (七杀), one, and not harmonious. With the Scholar and the Artist and the two Aides (昌曲左右), three. With the six malefics, solitary.
武曲庙旺有二人,不合,陷宫加杀只一人,天相同二人,破军七杀同有一人,不和睦,加昌曲左右有三人,见羊陀火铃空劫孤单。
Spouse palace (Fu Qi, 夫妻)
marriage and close partnership
Estranged; better marrying late. Partners of the same age suit. With benefics, wealth comes through the wife; with malefics, property goes the same way. With the Wolf (贪狼), marrying late avoids harm. With the General (七杀), two or three wives lost. With the six malefics, worse.
武曲背克宜迟娶,同年夫妇也相当,加吉星因妻得财,凶娶因妻去产,贪狼同招迟无刑七杀同克二三妻,加羊陀火铃空劫更克。
Children palace (Zi Nü, the Children palace (子女))
children, and what you create
One son, or more from a later marriage. With the Disruptor (破军), harm, and only one. With the six malefics, the line ends. With the Wolf (贪狼), two sons late. With the Minister (天相), an adopted child first and then one of your own. With the General (七杀), solitary, or a child who is harmed.
武曲主一子或成至生者多,破军同主刑,止有一人,加羊陀火铃空劫绝祀,贪狼晚招二子,天相同先招外子,后亲生一子,七杀同主孤或伤残之子。
Wealth palace (Cai Bo, 财帛)
money coming in and going out
Plenty, and with a benefic transformation, a great household fortune. Without benefics, money made in busy places. With the Disruptor (破军), in from the east and out to the west — nothing first, something after. With the Minister (天相), abundant, made through people of standing. With the General (七杀), made from nothing. With the Wolf (贪狼), wealth only after thirty. With the Blade, Millstone, Flare and Ember (羊陀火铃) it does not gather, and the Void (空亡) is worst of all.
武曲丰足化吉有巨万家资,无吉加闹中进财,破军同东来西去先无后有,天相同财帛丰盈,遇贵生财成家,七杀同白手生财成家,贪狼同三十年后方发财,加羊陀火铃不聚极怕空亡。
Health palace (Ji E, the Health palace (疾厄))
the body, and what wears it down
Trouble in infancy; injury to the hands, feet, head or face. With the Blade and the Millstone (羊陀), illness recurring lifelong. With the Minister (天相), a hidden complaint; with the General (七杀), blood disorders; with the Wolf (贪狼) well placed, no illness — badly placed and with the four malefics, ailments of the eyes, hands and feet.
武曲襁褓灾迍手足头面有伤,羊陀同一生常有灾,天相同招暗疾,七杀同血疾,贪狼同庙旺无疾,陷地加四杀,眼手足疾痔疾疯疮。
Travel palace (Qian Yi, 迁移)
going out — travel, moving, elsewhere
Gains in busy places, and not from sitting still. With the Wolf (贪狼), a merchant on a large scale; with the General (七杀) or the Disruptor (破军), no rest for body or mind. With the Blade, Millstone, Flare and Ember (羊陀火铃), disputes abroad.
武曲闹忙中进少不宜静守,贪狼同作巨商,七杀破军同身心不得静守,加羊陀火铃在外招是非。
Friends palace (Pu Yi, 仆役)
friends and the people you work with
Well placed, not few — one call and a hundred answer. With the Treasury (天府), many servants; with the Disruptor (破军), resentment, and they leave, though some come in later years. With the Minister (天相), capable; with the General (七杀), they turn on you; with the Wolf (贪狼), they fall short.
武曲旺宫不少,一呼百诺,天府同多奴多婢,破军同招怨,会走,末年有招,天相同得力,七杀同,背主,贪狼同欠力。
Career palace (Guan Lu, 官禄)
work and standing
Well placed and sharing the palace with the Scholar and the Artist (昌曲) or the two Aides (左右), distinguished in military office; for ordinary people, fortune. Meeting the Merit transformation (化科), the Power transformation (化权) or the Fortune transformation (化禄), an office of wealth. With the Wolf (贪狼), a corrupt official; with the Disruptor (破军), a career begun in the ranks; with the General (七杀), merit won suddenly. Badly placed, or with the Millstone and the Ember (陀铃) or the Plunder and Trouble (劫忌), no share of distinction.
武曲入庙与昌曲左右同宫,武职峥嵘,常人发福,会科权禄为财富之官,贪狼同为贪污之官,破军同军旅内出身,与安身七杀同横立功名,陷宫及陀铃劫忌功名无分。
Property palace (Tian Zhai, 田宅)
home, property, what you keep
Alone and well placed, a great estate from the father. Badly placed, it comes only after loss. With the Disruptor (破军) and the Great Drain (大耗), the family property is scattered, and what there is does not last. With the Minister (天相), loss first and property after; with the General (七杀), no appetite for it; with the Treasury (天府), a household already made is kept; with the Wolf (贪狼), acquired late. Meeting Fire (火) or the Ember (铃), excellent — property flourishing. With the Void and the Plunder (空劫), in and out.
武曲单居旺地,得祖父大业,陷地退后方成,破军大耗同破荡家产,有也不耐久,天相同先见破后方有,七杀同心不欲,天府同守见成家业,贪狼同晚置,见火铃星同极美,田产茂盛,同空劫有进有退。
Wellbeing palace (Fu De, 福德)
peace of mind, and what you enjoy
Worry and effort; well placed, blessing enjoyed in peace. With the Disruptor (破军), east and west and never still; with the Minister (天相), health and calm in old age; with the General (七杀), little calm; with the Wolf (贪狼), blessing in later years. Meeting Fire (火) or the Ember (铃), ease. With the Blade and the Millstone (羊陀), effort that is at least effective.
武曲劳心费力,入庙安然享福,破军同东走西行,不宁静,天相同老境安康,七杀同欠安康,贪狼同晚年享福,见火铃星安逸,加羊陀操心得力。
Parents palace (Fu Mu, 父母)
parents, and anyone with authority over you
Harm early; if the inheritance recedes, no harm. With the Wolf (贪狼), harm; with the General (七杀), harm; with the Minister (天相) and the six malefics, harm and injury.
武曲克早,退祖业不刑,贪狼同刑克,七杀同有刑,天相同加羊陀火铃空劫刑伤。
Which star is in your Self palace?
That needs your birth hour and place. The chart corrects the hour to true solar time, using the timezone actually in force in your birth year.
The other thirteen: The Emperor · The Strategist · The Sun · The Blessing · The Mystic · The Treasury · The Moon · The Wolf · The Voice · The Minister · The Elder · The General · The Disruptor.