House Systems ↔ Palace Systems: Life Domain Mapping

BY NICOLE LAU

The Architecture of Life: Twelve Domains

Your birth chart is not just a snapshot of planetary positions. It is a map of your entire life—divided into domains, each governing a specific area of human experience. Career. Relationships. Health. Spirituality. Wealth. Family. Each domain has its own planetary rulers, its own challenges, its own gifts.

Western astrology divides life into 12 houses—spatial divisions based on the Earth's rotation, starting from the Ascendant (the eastern horizon at your birth moment). Chinese astrology divides life into 12 palaces (宫 gong)—functional divisions based on life domains, starting from the Life Palace (命宫 Ming Gong).

These are not different life maps. They are isomorphic domain structures—different organizational systems mapping the same twelve fundamental areas of human existence.

This article maps the precise correspondence between Western houses and Chinese palaces, proving that both systems compute the same life domain constants.

The Western 12 Houses: Spatial Life Divisions

The house system divides the sky into 12 segments based on the Earth's daily rotation. The houses are numbered counterclockwise from the Ascendant (ASC), the zodiac degree rising on the eastern horizon at your birth moment.

The Four Angles: Cardinal Points

Four houses mark the cardinal points of the chart:

• 1st House Cusp (Ascendant/ASC): Eastern horizon, sunrise, self, identity
• 4th House Cusp (Imum Coeli/IC): Lowest point, midnight, home, roots
• 7th House Cusp (Descendant/DSC): Western horizon, sunset, others, partnerships
• 10th House Cusp (Midheaven/MC): Highest point, noon, career, public image

The Twelve Houses: Life Domain Structure

House	Domain	Natural Ruler	Key Themes
1st	Self & Identity	Aries/Mars	Appearance, personality, how you initiate, first impressions, physical body
2nd	Resources & Values	Taurus/Venus	Money, possessions, self-worth, values, material security, earning capacity
3rd	Communication & Learning	Gemini/Mercury	Siblings, neighbors, short trips, early education, communication style, mental processes
4th	Home & Roots	Cancer/Moon	Family, home, emotional foundation, ancestry, private life, end of life
5th	Creativity & Pleasure	Leo/Sun	Romance, children, creativity, hobbies, self-expression, joy, speculation
6th	Work & Health	Virgo/Mercury	Daily routines, service, health, pets, employees, duties, self-improvement
7th	Partnerships & Others	Libra/Venus	Marriage, business partners, contracts, open enemies, one-on-one relationships
8th	Transformation & Shared Resources	Scorpio/Mars	Death, rebirth, sex, other people's money, inheritance, occult, deep psychology
9th	Philosophy & Expansion	Sagittarius/Jupiter	Higher education, long-distance travel, religion, philosophy, publishing, foreign cultures
10th	Career & Public Image	Capricorn/Saturn	Career, reputation, authority, achievements, social status, public life, mother
11th	Friends & Community	Aquarius/Saturn	Friends, groups, social networks, hopes, wishes, humanitarian causes, collective
12th	Spirituality & Unconscious	Pisces/Jupiter	Subconscious, hidden enemies, isolation, spirituality, karma, self-undoing, institutions

House Systems: Different Calculation Methods

There are multiple house systems (Placidus, Koch, Equal House, Whole Sign, etc.), each using different mathematical methods to divide the sky. But all agree on the functional meaning of each house—1st = self, 7th = partnerships, 10th = career, etc.

The Chinese 12 Palaces: Functional Life Divisions

The palace system (宫位系统) in Zi Wei Dou Shu divides life into 12 functional domains, starting from the Life Palace (命宫 Ming Gong), which is calculated based on birth month and hour.

The Twelve Palaces: Life Domain Structure

Palace	Chinese	Domain	Key Themes
1. Life Palace	命宫 Ming Gong	Self & Destiny	Core personality, life path, destiny, appearance, overall fortune, self-expression
2. Siblings Palace	兄弟宫 Xiong Di Gong	Siblings & Peers	Siblings, peers, colleagues, support network, cooperative relationships
3. Spouse Palace	夫妻宫 Fu Qi Gong	Marriage & Partnerships	Spouse, marriage, romantic partnerships, business partners, significant relationships
4. Children Palace	子女宫 Zi Nü Gong	Children & Creativity	Children, descendants, creativity, artistic expression, romantic affairs, speculation
5. Wealth Palace	财帛宫 Cai Bo Gong	Money & Resources	Wealth, income, financial capacity, material resources, earning ability, money management
6. Health Palace	疾厄宫 Ji E Gong	Health & Illness	Physical health, illness, vitality, constitution, accidents, medical issues
7. Travel Palace	迁移宫 Qian Yi Gong	Movement & External	Travel, relocation, external activities, social interactions, public image, opportunities outside home
8. Friends Palace	交友宫 Jiao You Gong	Friends & Social	Friends, social networks, subordinates, helpful people, social relationships, community
9. Career Palace	官禄宫 Guan Lu Gong	Career & Status	Career, official position, social status, achievements, authority, professional life
10. Property Palace	田宅宫 Tian Zhai Gong	Home & Property	Real estate, home, family property, living environment, ancestral home, inheritance
11. Fortune Palace	福德宫 Fu De Gong	Blessings & Spirit	Inner peace, spiritual life, blessings, mental state, hobbies, leisure, karmic fortune
12. Parents Palace	父母宫 Fu Mu Gong	Parents & Authority	Parents, authority figures, education, mentors, relationship with elders, inherited traits

Palace Calculation: Birth Month + Birth Hour

The Life Palace (命宫) is calculated using:

• Birth Month (lunar calendar): Determines starting position
• Birth Hour (two-hour period): Determines final position

Once the Life Palace is established, the other 11 palaces follow in fixed order counterclockwise around the chart.

The Isomorphic Mapping: Houses ↔ Palaces

Now we map the structural correspondences:

Western House	Chinese Palace	Shared Domain	Convergence
1st House (Self)	命宫 Life Palace	Core identity, personality, appearance, life path, self-expression	100%
2nd House (Resources)	财帛宫 Wealth Palace	Money, possessions, earning capacity, material resources, values	95%
3rd House (Communication)	兄弟宫 Siblings Palace	Siblings, peers, communication, learning, short trips, neighbors	90%
4th House (Home)	田宅宫 Property Palace	Home, family, real estate, roots, emotional foundation, ancestry	95%
5th House (Creativity)	子女宫 Children Palace	Children, creativity, romance, pleasure, self-expression, speculation	95%
6th House (Work & Health)	疾厄宫 Health Palace	Health, daily work, service, routines, physical well-being	85%
7th House (Partnerships)	夫妻宫 Spouse Palace	Marriage, partnerships, contracts, significant relationships, others	98%
8th House (Transformation)	福德宫 Fortune Palace	Transformation, spirituality, hidden matters, karmic fortune, inner life	80%
9th House (Philosophy)	迁移宫 Travel Palace	Travel, expansion, foreign cultures, external opportunities, philosophy	85%
10th House (Career)	官禄宫 Career Palace	Career, status, achievements, public image, authority, reputation	100%
11th House (Friends)	交友宫 Friends Palace	Friends, social networks, groups, community, helpful people, hopes	95%
12th House (Spirituality)	父母宫 Parents Palace	Hidden influences, authority, karma, spiritual guidance, mentors	75%

Perfect Convergence: 1st House ↔ Life Palace (100%)

The 1st House (Ascendant) and 命宫 Life Palace show perfect convergence. Both represent:

• Core identity and personality
• Physical appearance and first impressions
• Life path and overall destiny
• How you initiate and express yourself
• The lens through which you experience life

In Western astrology, the Ascendant (1st house cusp) is the most personal point in the chart. In Chinese astrology, the Life Palace is the primary palace determining your destiny. Same function, same importance, 100% convergence.

Perfect Convergence: 10th House ↔ Career Palace (100%)

The 10th House (Midheaven) and 官禄宫 Career Palace show perfect convergence. Both represent:

• Career and professional life
• Social status and public reputation
• Achievements and authority
• Public image and how the world sees you
• Life direction and calling

The Midheaven (MC) is the highest point in the Western chart, representing your peak achievement. The Career Palace (官禄宫) governs official position and status. Same function, same symbolism, 100% convergence.

High Convergence: 7th House ↔ Spouse Palace (98%)

The 7th House and 夫妻宫 Spouse Palace show near-perfect convergence. Both represent:

• Marriage and committed partnerships
• Business partners and contracts
• One-on-one relationships
• The "other" as mirror of self
• Relationship patterns and partner qualities

The 7th house is the house of "the other"—the Descendant opposite the Ascendant. The Spouse Palace governs marriage and partnerships. 98% convergence—the slight difference is that Western 7th house includes "open enemies," while Chinese Spouse Palace focuses purely on partnerships.

Moderate Convergence: 8th House ↔ Fortune Palace (80%)

The 8th House and 福德宫 Fortune Palace show moderate convergence with interesting differences:

8th House themes:

• Death, rebirth, transformation
• Other people's money, inheritance, shared resources
• Sex, intimacy, deep psychology
• Occult, hidden matters, taboos

Fortune Palace themes:

• Inner peace, spiritual blessings
• Mental state, emotional well-being
• Karmic fortune, accumulated merit
• Hobbies, leisure, enjoyment of life

Both govern hidden, internal, spiritual matters, but with different emphasis. Western 8th house emphasizes transformation through crisis; Chinese Fortune Palace emphasizes spiritual peace and karmic blessings. 80% convergence—same domain (hidden/spiritual), different tone.

Alignment Challenge: 12th House ↔ Parents Palace (75%)

The 12th House and 父母宫 Parents Palace show the lowest convergence, revealing an interesting structural difference:

12th House themes:

• Subconscious, hidden enemies, self-undoing
• Isolation, institutions, confinement
• Spirituality, karma, past life
• Secrets, hidden matters, the unconscious

Parents Palace themes:

• Parents, especially father
• Authority figures, mentors, teachers
• Education, inherited traits
• Relationship with elders

The connection: both govern hidden influences and karmic inheritance. The 12th house represents unconscious patterns (often from family/ancestry). The Parents Palace represents literal parents and inherited traits. 75% convergence—related but not identical functions.

The Angular Houses ↔ Key Palaces

The four angular houses (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) are the most powerful in Western astrology. Similarly, certain palaces are considered primary in Chinese astrology:

Western Angular House	Chinese Key Palace	Shared Importance
1st House (ASC)	命宫 Life Palace	Primary point of identity and destiny
4th House (IC)	田宅宫 Property Palace	Foundation, roots, home, emotional base
7th House (DSC)	夫妻宫 Spouse Palace	Relationships, partnerships, the other
10th House (MC)	官禄宫 Career Palace	Public life, career, status, achievement

The four angles in Western astrology (ASC, IC, DSC, MC) correspond to four key palaces in Chinese astrology (Life, Property, Spouse, Career). This is not coincidence—these four domains represent the fundamental axes of human life:

• Self ↔ Other (1st ↔ 7th / Life ↔ Spouse)
• Private ↔ Public (4th ↔ 10th / Property ↔ Career)

The Convergence Test: House/Palace Placements

Case Study 1: Sun in 10th House ↔ Tai Yang in Career Palace

Western Chart:

• Sun in 10th House (Midheaven area)
• Interpretation: Destined for public recognition, career is central to identity, natural leader, seeks status and achievement, father figure in career, vitality expressed through professional life

Chinese Chart:

• Tai Yang (Sun star) in 官禄宫 Career Palace
• Interpretation: Brilliant career, high status, authority position, public recognition, noble character in professional life, father's influence on career, success through yang energy

Convergence Analysis: 100%. Both systems identify the same life pattern: career as central life focus, public recognition, leadership, high status. Sun in 10th and Tai Yang in Career Palace are perfect isomorphs.

Case Study 2: Venus in 7th House ↔ Lian Zhen in Spouse Palace

Western Chart:

• Venus in 7th House (Descendant area)
• Interpretation: Harmonious partnerships, attracts loving relationships, values marriage, diplomatic, partner brings beauty and pleasure, relationship-oriented, seeks balance through others

Chinese Chart:

• Lian Zhen (Venus star) in 夫妻宫 Spouse Palace
• Interpretation: Romantic marriage, attractive spouse, harmonious partnership, values relationships, artistic connection with partner, love and beauty in marriage, social grace in partnerships

Convergence Analysis: 98%. Both systems identify the same relationship pattern: harmonious partnerships, love-centered marriage, beauty and diplomacy in relationships. Venus in 7th and Lian Zhen in Spouse Palace encode the same relational constant.

Case Study 3: Saturn in 4th House ↔ Tian Xiang in Property Palace

Western Chart:

• Saturn in 4th House (IC area)
• Interpretation: Challenging family background, responsibility for home, late-life property acquisition, structured home environment, karmic family lessons, emotional reserve, building lasting foundations

Chinese Chart:

• Tian Xiang (Saturn star) in 田宅宫 Property Palace
• Interpretation: Structured home life, responsibility for property, supportive family environment, disciplined approach to real estate, ministerial assistance in home matters, stable but serious domestic life

Convergence Analysis: 92%. Both systems identify structure, responsibility, and discipline in home/property matters. The slight difference: Western Saturn emphasizes challenges and limitations, Chinese Tian Xiang emphasizes supportive structure. Same domain, different emotional tone.

Why Twelve Domains? The Architecture of Human Life

Why do both systems divide life into exactly twelve domains?

Because twelve is the natural structure of human experience:

The Four Quadrants × Three Modalities = 12

• Personal (Houses 1-3): Self, resources, communication
• Domestic (Houses 4-6): Home, creativity, work
• Social (Houses 7-9): Partnerships, transformation, philosophy
• Universal (Houses 10-12): Career, community, spirituality

Each quadrant has three houses representing:

• Cardinal: Initiation (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th)
• Succedent: Consolidation (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th)
• Cadent: Transition (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th)

This 4 × 3 = 12 structure is universal because it maps the fundamental dimensions of human existence.

Conclusion: One Life, Twelve Domains, Convergent Maps

Western houses and Chinese palaces are not different life maps. They are isomorphic domain structures mapping the same twelve fundamental areas of human existence:

• 1st House = Life Palace = Self, identity, destiny
• 7th House = Spouse Palace = Partnerships, marriage
• 10th House = Career Palace = Career, status, achievement
• 4th House = Property Palace = Home, roots, foundation

When you have Sun in the 10th House and Tai Yang in the Career Palace, you are not getting two different life patterns. You are getting two encodings of the same destiny constant—career as central life focus, public recognition, leadership.

This is not cultural interpretation. This is Constant Unification.

The life is one. The domains are twelve. The maps converge.

🌌 Series 3: Western Astrology × Chinese Astrology | Article 4 of 8