Ancient Chinese Star Lore Part 2

Cancer In Chinese, Cancer is written 巨 蟹 座. In Chinese astronomy, the constellation forms six asterisms, belonging to four Lunar Mansions, all located in the quadrant of the Vermilion Bird of the South. α and β Cancri, the brightest stars of the constellation belong to an asterism that has its main part located in the constellation Hydra. Liǔ, the Willow gave its name to the 24th Lunar Mansion. According to Ian Ridpath, the willow is a traditional symbol of mourning and of rebirth.

Chinese asterisms in Cancer Map based on seasky.org

In the center of Cancer are three Chinese formations, all belonging to the 23rd Lunar Mansion: Asellus Borealis (γ Cnc), Asellus Australis (δ Cnc) and Theta Cancri are part of Guǐ, the "Ghost" - the asterism that gave its name to this Lunar Mansion.

The Guǐ asterism surrounds the Beehive Cluster, which is called Jīshī, a group of corpses. Also part of the "Ghost" Mansion is a group of faint stars around ψ λ and χ Cancri. This group is seen as a beacon fire on a watchtower, called Guàn. Tegmine (ζ Cnc) lies somewhat outside of the main part of Cancer. It forms an asterism called Shuǐwèi that extends into Canis Minor and is part of the 22nd Lunar Mansion, which is called Jǐng, the Well. The faint stars in the very north of Cancer, among others σ, τ, ξ and ν Cancri are part of the 25th Lunar Mansion, called Xīng, which means Star. They form a large asterism, that extends into Leo. It is called Xuānyuán which is the given name of the Yellow Emperor, a legendary Chinese sovereign and cultural hero who is said to have reigned from 2698 BC to 2598 BC. Sources: Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath

Yellow Emperor Source: Wikipedia

Canes Venatici In Chinese, Canes Venatici is written 獵 犬 座. In Chinese astronomy, the stars of Canes Venatici are located in two of the Three_Enclosures. In the Purple Forbidden Enclosure (Zǐ Wēi Yuán), the Whirlpool Galaxy and the faint stars 21 CVn and 24 CVn form Sāngōng, the Three Excellencies; according to Ian Ridpath, the Emperor’s closest and most trusted aides. Also in the Purple Forbidden Enclosure is Xiāng, the Prime Minister, commonly associated with 5 Canum Venaticorum. In the Supreme Palace Enclosure (Tài Wēi Yuán), a group of stars starting at α CVn and stretching across 10 CVn, β CVn, 6 CVn and 20 CVn to 67 UMa is seen as Chángchén, the Imperial Guards. Sources: Wikipedia, Ian Ridpath

Philosopher Mencius advising the emperor Source: China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Imperial Guards of the Tang Dynasty Source: pinterest.com

Canis Major In Chinese, Canis Major is written 大 犬 座 In Chinese astronomy, the constellation is located in the quadrant of the Vermilion Bird of the South. The entire constellation is located in the 22nd Lunar Mansion, called The Well. Here, the stars of Canis Major are part of five different asterisms. Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath have detailed descriptions of the asterisms.

In China, Sirius is known as Tianlang, the Celestial Dog, which is also the name of a large asterism, that includes γ, θ and μ Canis Majoris. The Celestial Wolf symbolizes invasion and plunder. ζ and λ Canis Majoris are part of an asterism called Sūn, the Grandson, that extends to the southwest into Columba. As with most ancient Chinese constellations, the definitions differ between different astronomers. Ian Ridpath describes the dilemma: "Take Junshi, for example, representing a market for soldiers... In one version, this was a ring of 13 stars, including ν and ξ Canis Majoris, extending into present-day Lepus. At its centre was Yějī, a pheasant, (or in Wickipedia's translation Wild Cockerel) represented by Mirzam (β CMa). But an alternative interpretation identified the pheasant as ν2 Canis Majoris, with Beta one of a ring of 6 stars (rather than 13) making up Junshi.

Celestial Wolf Source: aliexpress.com

Similar malleability can be seen in the case of Húshǐ, the bow and arrow. In one depiction the bow, Hu, was represented by the arc of stars from κ via ε, σ, δ and τ Canis Majoris to ξ Puppis. A line from η via δ to ο2 Canis Majoris was Shi, an arrow, pointing at Tianlang in a show of defiance against thieves and raiders. But another version sees the bow as an altogether larger figure, extending well into Puppis and with δ Canis Majoris as the tip of the arrow." [End of Ian Ridpath Quote] Our drawing (right) follows the description of Gustaaf Schlegel in Uranographie Chinoise - pretty much the largest extension of Bow and Arrow. Sources: Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath

Bow and Arrow, drawn by the author

Canis Minor In Chinese, Canis Minor is written 小犬座 In Chinese astronomy, the constellation is located in the quadrant of the Vermilion Bird of the South. The entire constellation is located in the 22nd Lunar Mansion, called The Well. Here, the stars of Canis Minor are part of two different asterisms. Ian Ridpath describes them as follows: Procyon along with Gomeisa and Epsilon Canis Minoris formed Nanhe, the southern river (the northern river, Beihe, included Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Lying either side of the ecliptic, Nanhe and Beihe were also interpreted as gates or sentries. Shuiwei, the "water level", consisted of a curved line of four stars representing a water level marker or, according to one interpretation, a drainage manager who releases water at times of flooding. The stars are usually identified as 6 and 11 Canis Minoris, and 8 and Zeta Cancri. Souces: Ian Ridpath, Wikipedia

Capricornus In Chinese, Capricornus is written 摩 羯 座) In Chinese astronomy, the constellation is located in the direction of the Black Tortoise of the North. It stretches across Lunar mansions 9, 10, 11 and 13, covering seven asterisms. The mansions are Niú (Ox; 9), Nǚ (Girl; 10), Xū (Emptiness; 11) and Shì (Encampment; 13). Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath have detailed descriptions of the mansions and the stars belonging to each one.

Ox, Girl, Emptiness and Encampment Map based on seasky.org

Niú or Ox is also the name of an asterism in the 9th Lunar Mansion of the same name. It consists (among others) of α, β, ξ, π, ρ and ο Capricorni and represents an animal for the midwinter sacrifice. This Ox should not be confused with the Chinese Zodiac of the same name. The other two Capricornus related asterisms in the 9th Lunar Mansion are Tiāntián and Luóyàn. Tiāntián, consisting (among others) of ω and ψ Capricorni represents the Celestial (or imperial) Farmland. Water for the farmland is supplied by Luóyàn, consisting (among others) of τ and υ Capricorni representing a Network of Dykes. Sources:Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath

Chinese Ox Source: clipart.email

The part of Capricornus located in the 10th Lunar Mansion consists (among others) of φ, ι, χ, θ and ζ Capricorni. The asterism is called Shíèrguó, meaning "The Twelve States." It represents the Chinese states during the Warring States period of the 4th century BC. Two Capricornus asterisms are located in the 11th Lunar Mansion. A group consisting of μ Capricorni and the faint stars 42, 44, and 45 Capricorni is described by Ian Ridpath as Liyu, which represents jade jewellery, while Wikipedia calls the same group Kū, which means "Crying". A group of stars around λ Capricorni, also in the 11th Mansion is called Tiānlěichéng, meaning "Celestial Rampart" or "Castle with earthwork ramparts." The ramparts continue into the 13th Lunar Mansion, where a constellation consisting (among others) of κ, ε, γ and δ Capricorni forms Lěibìzhèn, or "Line of Ramparts." Sources:Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath

The Warring States Source: Wikipedia Chinese castle with earthwork ramparts Source: britannica.com

Centaurus In Chinese, Centaurus is written 半 人 馬 座 Not all of Centaurus is fully visible in the Chinese sky. In Chinese astronomy, the visible parts form six asterisms in three Lunar Mansions in the quadrant of the Azure Dragon of the East. Most of the Centaur stars visible in China are part of Jiǎo (Horn), the First Lunar Mansion. Here, ζ, η, θ, ξ1, γ, τ, σ and ω Centauri, together with fainter stars form the walls of an Arsenal, called Kůlóu. Ian Ridpath adds, that in addition to the wall, the arsenal also had a tower, which according to Sun and Kistemaker may have been the stars of the the Southern Cross.

Lunar Mansions in Centaurus Map based on seasky.org

The other large constellation in the First Lunar Mansion is Zhǔ (Pillars), which Ian Ridpath describes as "poles for tethering cavalry horses." The brightest stars in this asterism are υ, ψ and ι Centauri. In the middle of Kůlóu is Héng, literally translated as "Scale." Wikipedia translates it as "Railing", while Ian Ridpath describes it as "a parade ground for troops." It consists of ν, μ, φ and χ Centauri. Alpha Centauri, the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus is part of a small asterism called Nánmén, the "Southern Gate". Ian Ridpath mentions, that " Two stars formed Nanmen, ..., but sources disagree as to their identity; different charts show the two stars as either Alpha and Beta Centauri, α and ε or ε and χ Centauri." The very detailed tables in Wikipedia settle for Alpha and Epsilon. Another gate called Yángmén (Gate of Yang), symbolizing a Frontier's gate consists of the faint (magnitude 4) stars b Centauri and c1Centauri. This asterism is the only part of the Second Lunar Mansion, which is called Kŕng - the Neck of the Azure Dragon. The Third Lunar Mansion, home of Qíguān is called Dī, which translates to "root" and means "Root in the Sky" - the Azure Dragon's chest and the front foot. This Lunar Mansion is present in Centaurus only with one star: κ Centauri is a Imperial Guards. The other Imperial Guards are all part of the constellation Lupus. R.H. Allen specifically lists the name Ke Kwan, derived from Qíguān for Kappa Centauri. Sources:Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath, R.H. Allen Ian Ridpath mentions one additional asterism:

Quoting Sun and Kistemaker, who, in turn quote the 579 AD treatise Star Manual of the Masters Gan and Shi, he tells us about Qifu, "... a storehouse for musical instruments. Qifu consisted of 32 stars scattered over the rich Milky Way area of Centaurus, Carina, and Vela. It had the second-largest number of stars of all Chinese constellations. Sun and Kistemaker note that the original stars of Qifu sank below the southern horizon over time because of precession and later maps placed it too far north.

A base-relief from the former Han showing the performance of music, dancing and acrobatics in ancient China. These games with musical acompaniment were called , "A hundred Kinds of Games." This picture may be related to the constellation Qifu of Gan Shi. Source: Sun Xiaochun & Jacob Kistenmaker: The Chinese Sky During the Han

In the case of the Dunhuang star chart, it is 20° too far north. Its stars were depicted in a stylized criss-cross pattern, making it impossible to work out which stars were intended.

The sky around the south celestial pole cannot be seen from China and was therefore not included in the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions system. In 1601, Italian Jesuite priest Matteo Ricci was the first European to enter the Forbidden City of Beijing on an invitation by emperor Wanli. He became the emperor's court advisor in matters of astronomy and calendrical science. Ricci introduced Chinese scientist Xu Guangqi to the constellations of the southern skies as they were observed by European explorers. Starting in 1629, Xu Guangqi intruduced 23 new asterisms from European star charts into the system of Chinese astronomy. They became known as the Southern Asterisms. The bright star Beta Centauri, which cannot be seen in China became part of Mǎfù, which translates to "Horse's Abdomen"; δ and ρ Centauri were part of Mǎwěi, the "Horse's Tail" and λ Centauri became part of Hǎishān (See and Mountain), an asterism that covers parts of Centaurus, Carina, Musca and Vela. R.H. Allen specifically lists the name Ma Wei, derived from Mǎwěi for δ Centauri. Sources:Wikipedia, Ian Ridpath, R.H. Allen

Matteo Ricci with Xu Guangqi Source: Wikimedia

Crux In Chinese, Southern Cross is written 南 十 字 座 According to Ian Ridpath, "...Chinese astronomers worked at a similar latitude to Ptolemy, so they were able to see the same stars as he did, including those of Crux. However, the effect of precession gradually carried this part of the southern sky below their horizon about 1500 years ago, as it did for European astronomers. The stars we know as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta Crucis were once part of the constellation Kulou, which represented a military depot. In their book The Chinese Sky During the Han, Sun and Kistemaker show these four stars forming a diamond-shaped tower at the southern end of the depot. Later, though, this feature was placed farther north among the stars of Centaurus. Source: Ian Ridpath Wikipedia places the stars in an asterism called Shízìjià which literally means "Cross" in the Southern Asterisms. The sky around the south celestial pole cannot be seen from China and was therefore not included in the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions system. In 1601, Italian Jesuite priest Matteo Ricci was the first European to enter the Forbidden City of Beijing on an invitation by emperor Wanli. He became the emperor's court advisor in matters of astronomy and calendrical science. Ricci introduced Chinese scientist Xu Guangqi to the constellations of the southern skies as they were observed by European explorers. Starting in 1629, Xu Guangqi introduced 23 new asterisms from European star charts into the system of Chinese astronomy. They became known as the Southern Asterisms. Source: Wikipedia

Delphinus In Chinese, Delphinus is written 海 豚 座 In Chinese astronomy, the constellation is located in the direction of the Black Tortoise of the North, forming two constellations in the 10th Lunar Mansion, Nǚ (Girl). The stars α, β, γ, δ and ζ Delphini form the constellation Hugua. The faint stars η, θ, ι, κ and ε Delphini form the constellation Baigua.

According to Ian Ridpath, these two Chinese constellations "...represented a pair of gourds, probably from the calabash vine, also known as the bottle-gourd plant. ... Hugua was said to be a hard, dried gourd, presumably intended as a container or scoop, whereas Baigua was described as an over-ripe or rotten gourd, evidently having gone off." Source:Ian Ridpath

Bottle-gourds Sources: Wikipedia and Wikipedia

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