Newcomers meet a confusing crowd: I Ching, BaZi, Zi Wei, Western astrology, Tarot - all “divination,” all different. This page is a map, not a match: five major systems placed on two axes, so you can see where each lives and which one fits the question you actually have.
Free one-page PDF. Divination Systems Map One-Page: Five Systems at a Glance — print it, keep it. No signup needed.
Download free PDFThe five systems
| System | Roots | Instrument | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Ching | China, c. 1000-750 BCE | 64 hexagrams, cast per question | Specific questions; situations in change |
| BaZi | China, classical | Birth chart: stems, branches, elements | Constitutional patterns; timing across life |
| Zi Wei Dou Shu | China, Song dynasty | Birth chart: stars in twelve palaces | Life areas in narrative detail |
| Western astrology | Hellenistic roots | Birth chart: planets, signs, houses | Psychological archetypes; transits |
| Tarot | Europe, 15th-18th c. | 78 cards drawn per question | Situations from multiple angles |
Two axes
Birth-based vs question-based. BaZi, Zi Wei, and Western astrology start from your birth moment and unfold it through time. The I Ching and Tarot start from a question asked now and answer it directly. Neither axis is better - they do different jobs. East vs West is the second axis: Chinese systems share the yin-yang and five-element cosmos; Western systems share planetary and archetypal languages.
How to navigate
Where this leads
Deeper comparisons: I Ching vs Tarot, BaZi vs Western Astrology, Zi Wei Dou Shu vs BaZi. System primers: I Ching for Beginners, What Is Your BaZi?, Zi Wei Dou Shu.
For guidance and self-awareness purposes only. This lesson explains Chinese astrology as a cultural and philosophical framework - what it is, where it came from, and how its vocabulary works. It is not a prediction of your future, a medical or financial opinion, or a substitute for professional advice.