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The Cửu Diệu 九曜 and the Governing Star
Each year one Cửu Diệu 九曜 star governs a person, by year and by sex. Knowing which it is tells you whether to seek blessing or to guard against harm.
Auspicious stars
Thái Dương 太陽, Thái Âm 太陰 and Mộc Đức 木德 bring standing, wealth, happy occasions and benefactors. In a year with an auspicious star, make an offering of thanks and begin something large.
Inauspicious stars
La Hầu 羅睺, Kế Đô 計都, Thái Bạch 太白, Thổ Tú 土宿 and Vân Hớn 雲漢 answer to quarrels, lost money, gossip and obstruction. In a year with an inauspicious star, perform the rite and take care.
The governing star
It is set by the reckoned age and the sex, and repeats on a nine-year cycle. La Hầu 羅睺 is particularly ill for men, Kế Đô 計都 particularly ill for women, and Thủy Diệu 水曜 is good for men but ill for women.
The rite of remedy
Present the petition, light the right number of lamps, bow in the right direction and read the invocation on the day and hour the star descends, so that an auspicious star brings its full blessing and an inauspicious one is lightened.
The Table of the Nine Cửu Diệu 九曜 Stars
What each star is like and what it means, so you know how to conduct yourself in its year.
| Star | Nature | Meaning and what to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Thái Dương 太陽 | Auspicious | Benefactors, standing, happy occasions; very good for men |
| Thái Âm 太陰 | Auspicious | Wealth, happy occasions, benefactors; very good for women |
| Mộc Đức 木德 | Auspicious | Peace, wealth, good news; suits new undertakings |
| Thủy Diệu 水曜 | Good for men, ill for women | Wealth, but guard against quarrels and against water |
| La Hầu 羅睺 | Inauspicious | Quarrels, gossip, blood disorders; particularly ill for men |
| Kế Đô 計都 | Inauspicious | Obscurity, gossip, sorrow; particularly ill for women |
| Thái Bạch 太白 | Inauspicious | Lost money, ruined means; take care in the 5th lunar month |
| Thổ Tú 土宿 | Inauspicious | Obstruction, litigation, illness, loss |
| Vân Hớn 雲漢 | Inauspicious | Quarrels, ailments; guard against fire in the 2nd and 8th months |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the governing star worked out?
The governing star is set by the reckoned age, that is the lunar age, and by sex. Men and women follow a different order of stars, repeating on a nine-year cycle. The tool works out the age and looks up the right governing star for the year you choose.
Should I worry about an inauspicious star?
The stars of the year belong to folk belief and are for reflection and for seeking peace of mind. Meeting an inauspicious star is no cause for great worry; what matters is living well, keeping harmony, and taking care in matters that touch on the nature of that star.
When should the rite be performed?
Each star has its own day of descent in the lunar month and its own hour for the rite. Many people choose the full moon of the first lunar month, or the star's own day of descent that month. The tool shows the day and hour, the direction to bow and the number of lamps for each star.
Does an auspicious star need a rite too?
With an auspicious star it is still worth making an offering of thanks, so that the star's blessing comes in full and the heart stays sincere. It is also an occasion to remind yourself to do good, build merit and begin the year well.
A reference tool following the folk belief of the Cửu Diệu 九曜. The result is for peace of mind, and does not replace anyone's own effort and choices.