紫微斗數是源自中國古代的算命方法，用農曆的出生年、月、日和時辰來排個人命盤，進而窺探吉凶。
排個人命盤時，與西洋占星術不同，不查星曆：命盤分十二宮垣，以干支為經緯，星宿羅布，將中天諸星、北斗諸星、南斗諸星、神煞等諸星列置其中。透過命宮之納音五行數先推算出紫微星位置，其餘中、南、北三斗等共13顆星位置再因紫微星而排定，含紫微星在內共主星14顆，也因以紫微星為首，故稱為「紫微斗數」。
紫微斗數，相傳為五代方士陳摶（872年—989年）觀星所創，也有傳聞為呂祖呂洞賓所授予陳摶。紫微斗數的古籍稀少，截至目前，有關「紫微斗數」的古籍刻本，只有《紫微斗數全集》、《紫微斗數全書》、《紫微斗數捷覽》。[2]
其餘則為古鈔本，如《斗數綱要》、《斗數秘鈔》、《斗數演例》、《紫微斗數之捷徑》，以及民國初年王裁珊《斗數宣微》、《斗數觀測錄》。[3]
坊間流通最為廣泛的古籍版本為晚清木刻翻刻本《紫微斗數全集》及民國石印本《紫微斗數全書》。
《紫微斗數捷覽》成書於明萬曆九年(1581年)，為目前可考「紫微斗數」之名出現最早的年份。[4]
在《紫微斗數全書》內羅洪先（1504年—1564年）所著之序，時間為嘉靖庚戌(1550年)，比《紫微斗數捷覽》為早，但因《紫微斗數全書》現存的刻本晚於《紫微斗數捷覽》出現，故須再考究。
在萬曆三十五年（1607年）《萬曆續道藏》中之「紫微斗數」，其內容並非現代流通之紫微斗數，無論星曜名稱與排命盤方式都不同。
Ziwei doushu, sometimes translated into English as purple star astrology, is a form of fortune-telling in Chinese culture. The study of destiny (Chinese: 命學; pinyin: mìngxué) is one of the five arts of Chinese metaphysics. Along with the Four Pillars of Destiny, ziwei doushu is one of the most renowned[1] fortune-telling methods used in this study. Much like western astrology, ziwei doushu claims to use the position of the cosmos at the time of one's birth to make determinations about personality, career and marriage prospects, and more.
Traditionally, ziwei doushu is considered to have been created by a Taoist named Lu Chun Yang (呂純陽) during the Tang dynasty. It was further developed by Chen Xi Yi (陳希夷) during the Song dynasty and later on by Luo Hong Xian (羅洪先) during the Ming dynasty to its present-day form.[2] Its exact origin, however, is still debated among different schools.
Unlike the more commonly known Four Pillars of Destiny system of birth-chart divination, ziwei doushu is based on a purely lunar calendar and the position of the night sky. By contrast, Bazi is tied to the sexagenary cycle system of timekeeping, which is often mapped to traditional Chinese solar terms. Some believe that this difference makes the two systems complementary rather than competitors.
The study of destiny (Chinese: 命學; pinyin: mìngxué), of which ziwei doushu is a part, has traditionally been closely intertwined with astronomy. Historically, gifted astronomers and astrologers were recruited as officials to work in Imperial Courts during the dynastic eras, producing astrological charts for the emperor, as his personal fate had a direct bearing on his kingdom. The court astrologers also played an important role in determining the successor to the throne.[citation needed]
Astrologers observed the stars and noticed that among so many stars, only one was seemingly stationary while the rest revolved around it. This star was named the 'Emperor star' (紫微星)—the celestial equivalent of the Emperor and known in the West as Polaris. While this star in ziwei doushu has a physical basis, the rest of the system's "stars" are expressions of the cyclical passage of time and do not necessarily represent physical stars in the sky.
As with many other forms of fortune-telling, practitioners do not generally see the natal chart as an infallible guide as to what will happen, but more as a form of forecasting in detail. Destiny and fortune are considered structurally complex and are unlikely to be changed by a single element. An overly simplistic application of – for example – changing one's lucky colors and numbers is not expected to affect or change one's destiny in any significant way. However, practitioners believe that knowledge about future possibilities may allow one to gauge the situation in advance and make decisions from a position of strength. Ziwei doushu approaches the world and events from the idea that to view things in their proper context, it is important to recognise the "spiritual dynamic of the universe" to find the pattern of change that leads to "fundamental truth".[citation needed]
Ref. from wikipedia
