This is the series hub for my 7-part series on I Am a Fortune Teller (我是个算命先生) and the real world of Chinese fortune telling. Below you’ll find every article in the series, along with a short overview of what each one covers.
Chinese fortune telling is one of the oldest continuous traditions of its kind in the world, and one of the most misunderstood outside the Chinese-speaking world.
For many Western readers, the image of a Chinese fortune teller is a mix of movie clichés and secondhand assumptions. But the reality is far more complex, and far more interesting.
The Chinese bestseller I Am a Fortune Teller (我是个算命先生) offers a rare, grounded look inside this world. It is not a mystical manifesto. It is not a debunking exposé. It is a semi-autobiographical account of what it actually takes to learn, practice, and live as a fortune teller in modern China.
This 7-part series explores what the book reveals, not just about fortune telling itself, but about Chinese metaphysics, cultural continuity, and the universal human questions that draw people to these traditions in the first place.
What This Series Covers
The series moves from the broad cultural context of Chinese fortune telling, through the practical realities of learning the craft, into the deeper philosophical questions of fate, free will, and meaning.
Each article stands on its own, but together they form a complete picture of a profession that has survived emperors, revolutions, and the smartphone age.
The Complete Series
1. What One Chinese Bestseller Reveals About the Real World of Chinese Fortune Telling
The opening article introduces the book, its historical backdrop, and the many traditions that make up Chinese fortune telling, including Ba Zi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, the I Ching, face reading, palmistry, feng shui, and name analysis. It also explains why the book has resonated with readers far beyond China.
2. How Chinese Fortune Tellers Really Learn Their Craft
Forget magical awakenings and secret scrolls. This article explores the master-apprentice model that has transmitted Chinese metaphysical knowledge for centuries, why it took years, why observation mattered as much as memorization, and why character was often judged before skill.
3. The Many Schools of Chinese Fortune Telling Explained
Chinese fortune telling is not one system but many. This article walks through the major branches, Ba Zi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, the I Ching, Mian Xiang (face reading), Feng Shui, palmistry, and name analysis, and explains how experienced practitioners often combine several methods in a single consultation.
4. Can Fortune Telling Really Predict the Future?
This article examines what the book actually says about fate and prediction. Rather than offering absolute certainty, I Am a Fortune Teller presents destiny as a framework of tendencies and timing — where personal choices still shape the outcome. It also touches on how Purple Star Astrology fits into this balanced view.
Coming soon. This article examines one of the book’s most thought-provoking questions. It looks at how traditional Chinese practitioners understand fate, free will, and personal choice, and why the answer is more nuanced than most people expect.
5. Life Lessons from I Am a Fortune Teller
Coming soon.
6. Purple Star Astrology and the Other Schools of Chinese Metaphysics
Coming soon.
7. Why I Am a Fortune Teller Still Matters Today (Conclusion)
Why Read This Series
If you are curious about Chinese fortune telling, this series is designed to be a clear, grounded starting point, free of sensationalism in either direction.
If you are already studying a system such as Zi Wei Dou Shu or Ba Zi, the series offers cultural and historical context that is often missing from technical manuals.
And if you simply want to understand why these traditions have endured for thousands of years, the book, and this series, invite you to look at them on their own terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Am a Fortune Teller about?
I Am a Fortune Teller (我是个算命先生) is a semi-autobiographical Chinese bestseller that describes the real world of traditional fortune telling in China, how practitioners learn their craft, how they work with clients, and how traditional metaphysics functions in modern society.
Is this series only about Zi Wei Dou Shu?
No. The series covers Chinese fortune telling broadly, including Ba Zi, the I Ching, Feng Shui, face reading, and other traditions. Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology) is discussed in depth, but it is one part of a larger picture.
Do I need to read the articles in order?
Each article is written to stand on its own. However, reading them in order gives a more complete understanding of the book and the traditions it describes.
Is this series suitable for beginners?
Yes. The series is written for general readers with no prior background in Chinese metaphysics. Technical terms are explained as they appear.
How many articles are in this series?
Seven. Three are currently published, and the remaining four will be added over time.
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