As opposed to western astrology, in Polar Astrology the Sun does not play the main part. In the concept of Chinese Astronomy, Zi Wei is the most important star in the sky, so its name was chosen to designate this astrology as a whole. Zi Wei is called the Pole Star as it is situated very close to the Celestial North Pole.

It commands many other stars also included in Polar Astrology. The meaning of Zi Wei is “subtle purple,” being as it emanates a subtle purple light in the sky. For this reason, the ancient emperors and spiritual masters wore purple cloaks.

The Zi Wei Dou Shu Astrology technique was developed by the Master Lu Yen, also known as Lu Chun Yang. He was a Taoist alchemist born in 798 AC affectionately named Lu Tzu (Tzu = patriarch) by the Taoists. He was a master of alchemy and an ascendant master. He is considered by Taoist tradition as one of the immortals since the date of his death is unknown, he simply disappeared.

Lu Yen was one of the most important masters in the Taoist history, an enlightened being. His knowledge on Astrology is registered in the official collection of the millenary sacred works and texts, where only the more relevant texts are included. A part of the Zi Wei Dou Shu Polar Astrology that can be found in it is attributed to Lu Yen.

Thereafter, Lu Yen passed on his knowledge to Chen Tuan, today considered as the patriarch of these teachings. Chen Tuan was born in 871 AC and died in 989 AC, a little over a hundred years old. Bai Yu Chan, another master of great importance, helped develop the technique. His date of birth is unknown, but we do know that he lived until 1229.

These are the three fundamental figures of the Zi Wei Dou Shu Astrology. The Taoists consider Bai Yu Chan as the most important patriarch of the southern alchemy traditional lineage. He was responsible for the dissemination of Feng Shui teachings at the Chen Ko school, he is known as the founding father of Iori Fa, the Thunder Magic (due to his paranormal powers that caused lightning and thunder), and is also the author of three hundred written works.

Bai Yu Chan became very popular as he once slept for 300 days under a rock. A lumberjack found him lying, covered in dust and dry leaves and upon recognising him decided to sweep him clean. Bai Yu Chan woke up and asked the lumberjack “Why did you awaken me from my nap?” He had not been asleep, he had been in a trance for 300 days as he was a great master of meditation.

Lu Chung Yang is seen as the most important master being as the few actual existing Zi Wei Dou Shu Astrology texts are of his authorship. It may be said that Zi Wei Dou Shu was revealed for the first time by Lu Tzu in an esoteric way, followed by Chen Tuan in a more accessible manner, and later developed by Bai Yu Chan, allowing for it to be enhanced by other masters at a more popular level.

At that time, some famous people in China had access to this knowledge being as the great masters of the past were descendants of a privileged lineage of people who received and preserved this unique knowledge.