Much like western astrology, ziwei doushu claims to use the position of the cosmos at the time of one's birth to make determinations about personality, career and marriage prospects, and more.
Traditionally, ziwei doushu is considered to have been created by a Taoist named Lu Chun Yang (呂純陽) during the Tang dynasty.
Unlike the more commonly known Four Pillars of Destiny system of birth-chart divination, ziwei doushu is based on a purely lunar calendar and the position of the night sky.
The study of destiny (Chinese: 命學; pinyin: mìngxué), of which ziwei doushu is a part, has traditionally been closely intertwined with astronomy.
Ziwei doushu approaches the world and events from the idea that to view things in their proper context, it is important to recognise the "spiritual dynamic of the universe" to find the pattern of change that leads to "fundamental truth".