The Seven Lords of the Big Dipper 北斗七星君

The Seven Lords of the Big Dipper 北斗七星君

Paul Peng

The Seven Lords of the Big Dipper are seven star deities in Taoism, each presiding over one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation and governing the life and fate of those born under their watch.

The Seven Star Lords
First Star
Yangming 贪狼 (Tanlang) Star Lord

Palace: Celestial Pivot (Tian Shu)

Second Star
Yinjing 巨门 (Jumen) Star Lord

Palace: Celestial Rotation (Tian Xuan)

Third Star
Zhenren 禄存 (Lucun) Star Lord

Palace: Celestial Machine (Tian Ji)

Fourth Star
Xuanming 文曲 (Wenqu) Star Lord

Palace: Celestial Power (Tian Quan)

Fifth Star
Danyuan 廉贞 (Lianzhen) Star Lord

Palace: Jade Sway (Yu Heng)

Sixth Star
Beiji 武曲 (Wuqu) Star Lord

Palace: Kaiyang (Kai Yang)

Seventh Star
Tianguan 破军 (Pojun) Star Lord

Palace: Yaoguang (Yao Guang)

"The seven stars of the Big Dipper are, the first, the Tanlang Star Lord of the Tian Shu Palace; the second, the Jumen Star Lord of the Tian Xuan Palace; the third, the Lucun Star Lord of the Tian Ji Palace; the fourth, the Wenqu Star Lord of the Tian Quan Palace; the fifth, the Lianzhen Star Lord of the Yu Heng Palace; the sixth, the Wuqu Star Lord of the Kaiyang Palace; the seventh, the Pojun Star Lord of the Yaoguang Palace. Collectively, they are called the Seven Division Star Lords." Shangqing Jing (The Scripture of Highest Clarity)
"The first star of the Big Dipper, Tian Shu, is the soul and spirit of the Yangming Star; the second star, Tian Xuan, is the soul and spirit of the Yinjing Star; the third star, Tian Ji, is the essence of the soul of the Zhenren Star; the fourth star, Tian Quan, is the essence of the soul of the Xuanming Star; the fifth star, Yu Heng, is the spiritual essence of the soul of the Danyuan Star; the sixth star, Kaiyang, is the spiritual essence of the soul of the Beiji Star; the seventh star, Yaoguang, is the great brightness of the soul of the Tianguan Star." Huanglao Jing (The Scripture of Huangdi and Laozi)
Your Ruling Star by Birth Hour

According to Taoist tradition, each person's life is governed by one of the Seven Star Lords based on their birth hour. Find your ruling star below:

Star Lord & Title Birth Hour (Chinese) Time Range
Tanlang — Great Lord of Life
Tian Shu Palace
Zi 子 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Jumen — Prime Lord of Official Fortune
Tian Xuan Palace
Chou 丑 & Hai 亥 1–3 a.m. & 9–11 p.m.
Lucun — True Star Lord
Tian Ji Palace
Yin 寅 & Xu 戌 3–5 a.m. & 7–9 p.m.
Wenqu — Link Lord of Longevity
Tian Quan Palace
Mao 卯 & You 酉 5–7 a.m. & 5–7 p.m.
Lianzhen — Key Lord of Increasing Fortune
Yu Heng Palace
Chen 辰 & Shen 申 7–9 a.m. & 3–5 p.m.
Wuqu — Record Lord of Overcoming Calamities
Kaiyang Palace
Si 巳 & Wei 未 9–11 a.m. & 1–3 p.m.
Pojun — Pass Lord of the Loving Mother
Yaoguang Palace
Wu 午 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Each person can find their own ruling star based on their birth time. It is said that "the life, fate, and five body parts of all people are all under the charge of their 本命 (Benming, natal) star official."

All men and women, on their natal birth dates and various fasting days, should purify their body and mind, burn incense, hold this true text, recognize their own star lord belonging to the North Pole natal star, and pray as they wish. All good deeds will be responded to, and disasters and sins will be eliminated.

Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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