One of the most common moments of confusion when opening a chart is:"This person was born in a Geng year — which star is Geng year's Hua Lu." According to the (school's) four-transformation system, each of the 10 Heavenly Stems determines which 4 stars in the chart are "activated" with Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji, because these four positions directly influence the core direction of the chart, it is essential to look them up correctly.
Complete Quick-Reference Table for the Four Transformations of the 10 Heavenly Stems
The following is compiled according to established standards and is the version most commonly used for chart interpretation. Pay particular attention: Geng year Hua Lu is Tai Yang ; Wu year Hua Ke is You Bi. Ren year Hua Ke is Zuo Fu — these three differ most from other schools and are the most easily confused.
After Looking Up the Four Transformations, What Next?
Jia through Gui — which Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji does each Stem produce? Geng-year Hua Lu....
Many people memorize the four transformations but do not know where to look next — and that is the real problem. According to the deductive logic, the meaning of the four transformations comes from "which palace they fly into," not from the four transformations themselves. Therefore consulting the table is only the first step. The second step is finding the palace where that star sits in the chart, and then assessing what influence the life domain represented by that palace has received.
Example: For those born in a Ren year, Hua Lu falls on Tian Liang. Which palace does Tian Liang sit in on your chart. If It is in the Wealth Palace, it means the financial path carries the nature of benefactor patronage. Gaining wealth through helping others. If It is in the Spouse Palace, it means the other half carries the traits of an elder or a protective quality. The same Hua Lu, applied completely differently because the palace differs — therefore the four-transformation table is the starting point, not the endpoint.
- Hua Lu: find which palace this star is in — the affairs of career/wealth/relationships in that palace enter a state of smooth circulation
- Hua Quan: find which palace this star is in — the domain of that palace has increased initiative and control
- Hua Ke: find which palace this star is in — that palace gains the enhancement of reputation, literary grace, and examination fortune
- Hua Ji: find which palace this star is in — the domain of that palace will encounter the challenge of fixation, obstruction, and depletion
A friend born in a Geng year first looked at her chart believing her Geng year "Wu Qu Hua Lu" would give her excellent wealth — yet she actually always felt money slipped through her fingers. Later it was discovered she had used the wrong school: in the correct school, Geng year's transformation is Tai Yang Hua Lu, not Wu Qu Hua Lu, Tai Yang Hua Lu's wealth is "fame-driven wealth — first gain fame, then wealth follows". Relying on building a reputation through hard work and then converting it into income. Without first establishing a reputation, wealth simply cannot come in. This interpretive difference directly impacted her entire understanding of her wealth strategy.
The Difference Between Birth-Year, Major Cycle, and Annual Four Transformations
The table above looks up the "birth-year four transformations" — the four transformations determined by the Heavenly Stem of your birth year. This is the baseline tone of the chart, unchanging throughout life, representing your basic pattern and innate tendencies. However, two other equally important four-transformation layers exist: the major cycle four transformations (transformed by the palace stem of each approximately ten-year major cycle) and the annual four transformations (transformed by the current year's annual stem). According to the deductive approach, to read this year's fortune, these three layers must be stacked. The birth-year four transformations are the foundation. The major cycle four transformations are the structure. The annual four transformations are which door is opened this year.
Among the three layers of four transformations, the birth-year Hua Ji is most important, as it is a fixed "weakness point". The annual Hua Ji determines which period of this year is most likely to be triggered, and if the annual Hua Ji also clashes into the palace where the birth-year Hua Ji resides, that is a time that requires particular attention. This logic is the core framework for interpreting this year's fortune and the most practical step for reading a chart.
Interpretation boundary: This astrology and self-observation content is for reference only and should be checked against real conditions. It is not investment advice or financial advice. It is not medical advice or a diagnosis, nor is it legal or other professional advice. Consult qualified professionals when needed.
InstagramPublished 2026-04-14; last updated 2026-04-19
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