Ancient Chinese
Star Lore

Part 5

Sagittarius
In Chinese, Sagittarius is written 人馬座.

In Chinese astronomy, the constellation forms nine asterisms, belonging to two Lunar Mansions, located in two quadrants.

Jī, the seventh Lunar Mansion is located in the Azure Dragon of the East, while Dǒu, the eighth Lunar Mansion is located in the Black Tortoise of the North. The constellations that lgave their names to those lunar mansions are both located in Sagittarius. Ian Ridpath (partially quoted in the following paragraphs) provides an extensive and graphic description of the main asterisms:

Jī, the "winnowing basket" consisted of four stars – γ, δ, ε and η Sagittarii – and represented a basket used for separating rice grains from chaff by shaking it in the air. The chaff, blown away by the breeze, is represented by a single star nearby called Kang, although opinions differ as to whether Kang lay in Sagittarius, Scorpius, or even Ophiuchus.

Chinese asterisms in Sagittarius
Map based on seasky.org

A related constellation was Chu, the pestle, to the south of Jī in Ara, for pounding the rice to remove the husks.
Dǒu, the dipper, also known as Nandǒu, (the southern dipper) was formed by μ, λ, φ , σ, τ and ζ Sagittarii, These same stars, bar μ, form the present-day asterism called the Milk Dipper. In a Chinese proverb, the southern dipper marks life while the northern dipper (Beidou, our Big Dipper in Ursa Major) marks death. A single star nearby, probably 5th-magnitude HR 7029, also called HD 172910, was Nóngzhàngrén, an old farmer, perhaps measuring out grain with the dipper and using the winnowing basket.

The Hong Kong Space Museum tells the story of the two dippers:

It was said that, in the Period of Three Kingdoms (220-280), there was a famous Taoist priest named Guan Lu. Once day he met a young man named Yan Chao. As an expert in physiognomy, he found the young man would die soon and told the man his ill fortune. At the time, Yan Chao was only nineteen and was really upset by the bad news. He begged the priest to help him. Guan Lu instructed, "You should go home fast and prepare a bottle of good wine and a plate of deer meat. Then go to the south of the wheat fields. Under a giant mulberry tree, you will find two old men playing Go. Serve them well and don't say a word. They may help you."

Following the instruction, Yan Chao finally found the old men as described. He stood beside still and served them with wine and meat silently. Being too concentrated on the game, they enjoyed the feast subconsciously. After some time, the old men to the North suddenly noticed the present of Yan Chao and annoyingly said, "What are you doing here?" Without saying a word, Yan Chao fell on his knees and kowtowed. Two old men
Source: Hong Kong Space Museum

Not knowing how to deal with the young man, the old man finally said, "we've enjoyed his offerings. Let's do something to reward him." The old man to the South said, "Give me your record of death." When he found that Yan Chao was destined to live only nineteen years, he crossed the record out and changed it into ninety. Delighted with unexpected good result, Yan Chao thanked the old men and went home. Afterwards, Guan Lu explained, "the old man sitting to the North is Northern Dipper, the one to the South is Southern Dipper. Southern Dipper is responsible for the birth and Northern Dipper is responsible for the death."

To the north of Dǒu the arc formed by υ, ρ, 43, π, ο and ξ Sagittarii was known as Jiàn, representing a flag or banner, perhaps at a city gate. (Wikipedia describes Jiàn as "Establishment.")

Next to Jiàn was Tiānjī, the "celestial cock", formed by 55 and 56 Sagittarii; the bird represented by this constellation was said to be in charge of time, because it was the first to crow at dawn and all others followed it.

South of Tiānjī were two canine-related constellations. Gǒuguó centered around ω Sagittarii is translated as "territory of dogs" or "dog kingdom"; it could represent a nation that appears in a Chinese fable or it may simply be an area for dogs around a farm. Next to it was Gǒu, formed by 52 and χ¹ Sagittarii, representing a guard dog. The Celestial Cock
Source: bestiarumvocabulum

Scorpius
In Chinese, Scorpius is written 天蝎座.
The constellation covers the fourth, fifth and sixth Lunar Mansion in Chinese astronomy. Ian Ridpath tells us:

"The four stars that we regard as forming the head of the scorpion, namely Beta, Delta, Pi, and Rho Scorpii, were known in ancient China as Fang (literally room), after which the fourth lunar mansion is named. Fang marks the abdomen of the Blue Dragon. These stars had several other personifications, including four assistants to the Emperor and a team of four horses. The adjacent naked-eye double star Omega-1/ Omega-2 Scorpii was Gouqian, a lock, while the single star Nu Scorpii just to the north was Jianbi, a bolt, presumably for securing the room."

Scorpius in Chinese Astronomy
Map designed based on a map
provided by seasky.org

"Ruddy Antares was called Huǒxīng 火星, the "fire star". With its two flankers, Sigma and Tau Scorpii, it formed Xin, the heart of the Blue Dragon, from which the fifth lunar mansion took its name. Antares/Huo was also said to represent a throne of the Emperor (he had several of them in different parts of the sky) with Sigma being the Crown Prince sitting on one side and Tau representing the son of a concubine on the other.
[End of Ian Ridpath Quote]

Another name for Antares was Xīnxiù'èr 心宿二, meaning "second star of mansion Heart."

In the second millennium BC, Antares was the national star of the Shang dynasty.

Source: Wikipedia King Tang of the Shang Dynasty
Source: Ancient History Encycl.

[Continuing Ian Ridpath Quote]

"The hook of nine stars from Epsilon to Lambda and Upsilon Scorpii formed the constellation Wei, meaning 'tail'. The sixth lunar mansion was named after it. ... Wei was also seen as a palace of the Emperor, with various apartments for the Empress and concubines. Next to the third star of the tail, Zeta Scorpii, was Shengong, a dressing room; this is identified not as a star but the naked-eye open cluster NGC 6231.

Near the tip of the dragon’s tail was a single star called Fuyue, the present-day G Scorpii. This star represented a legendary slave or hermit who became chancellor to the Emperor Wu Ding around 1200 BC. This star also represents the Empress praying for sons and grandsons.

Just north of it is Yu, representing a fish in the Milky Way, identified with the naked-eye open cluster M7."

"To the right of the tail, six stars including H and N Scorpii formed part of Jizu, a battalion of soldiers ready to repel invading forces. Jizu consisted of 12 stars in all, divided into four groups of three; two of these groups were in Scorpius, another was in Lupus and the fourth in Norma.

In northernmost Scorpius were two constellations associated with the celestial market in and around Ophiuchus." A battalion of soldiers
(The Terracotta Army)
Source: Smithsonian Magazine

"A line of three stars, identities uncertain, formed Fa (‘punishment’), symbolizing fines or financial compensation against dishonest traders. Four stars, including Xi Scorpii and extending into Libra, formed Xixian, the eastern door to a stewards’ room for investigating trading infringements; the western door, Dongxian, Ophiuchus."

[End of Quote]

Source: Ian Ridpath

Ian Ridpath mentions G Scorpii being named after Fu Yue.

Here is what Wikipedia tells us about this character:

"Fu Yue was originally a laborer, skilled at making walls for defense. Being unable to subscribe towards the repair of certain roads, he then worked upon them himself. After emperor Wu Ding heard of Fu Yue, he wanted to bring him to his royal court, but was worried that his court officials would despise Fu Yue for his background. Wu Ding concocted a dream that Heaven sent him an able minister; and on seeking for the man according to the features seen in the dream, Fu Yue was discovered in a work shed and received the appointment."

Source: Wikipedia Fu Yue
Source: Wikipedia

Scorpius and Orion
A Chinese legend shows a stunning similarity to the Greek myth of Orion and Scorpius, which were placed on opposite sides of the sky:

Legendary emperor Gaoxinshi, who - as legend tells us - ruled China from c. 2436 BC to c. 2366 BC had two sons, Shichen and Ebo, who were always fighting. Eventually, the emperor had only one solution to the feud: He placed his sons in the sky. Shichen became the ruler of the lunar mansion of Shen in present-day Orion, while Ebo was sent to rule the lunar mansion mansion Xin, in present-day Scorpius. Like the two fighting brothers, the two lunar mansions could never be seen at the same time.
Sources: Hong Kong Space Museum and Ian Ridpath's Star Tales

Shichen and Ebo
Source: Hong Kong Space Museum

Taurus
In Chinese, Taurus is written 金牛座.

In Chinese astronomy, the entire constellation known in the west as Taurus covers no less than 18 asterisms in five Lunar Mansions.

The largest number of stars, including the Hyades and Aldebaran are in an asterism called Bì, representing a net with a long handle (which is λ Tau) for catching animals such as rabbits. The asterism gave its name also to the 19th Lunar Mansion The Net.

The 19th Mansion extends all the way to the tips of the Bull's horns. Elnath (β Tau) is part of the Chinese asterism Wuchē, the five chariots of the celestial emperor. (The other four are located in Auriga.

Tianguan (ζ Tauri) the other "horn" is a gate in the ecliptic. It lays directly opposite in the sky to Tianyue in Sagittarius and Ophiuchus, which represented a lock or keyhole on the ecliptic.

Between Tianguan and the Hyades, also in the 19th Lunar Mansion, lies Tiāngāo, a group of stars including ι Tauri. Wikipedia translates Tiāngāo as "Celestial High Terrace", while Ian Ridpath calls it a "Lookout Tower."

The Pleiades are located in an asterism called Mǎo, the "Hairy Head", which is also the name of Mǎo, the 18th Lunar Mansion.

Pleiades star lore is covered separately here.

Also part of the 18th Lunar Mansion is Yue, (37 Tauri), the "Moon Star." Yue lies on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun star, Ri, in Libra, reflecting the fact that when the Moon is full it lies opposite the Sun in the sky. Yue and Ri divide the year into two equal parts and in ancient times, the full Moon in the 19th Mansion signaled the start of the rainy season in China.

With the exception of the 22nd Lunar Mansion, which is in the direction of the Vermilion Bird of the South, all asterisms in Taurus are located in the the direction of the White Tiger of the West. The stars at Taurus' bottom, including ν Tauri anf ο Tauri belong to Wèi, the 17th Lunar Mansion, which is the Stomach of the Tiger.

A few faint stars in the west of Taurus are part of Zī, the 20th Lunar Mansion, called the Turtle Beak and of 22nd Lunar Mansion, Jǐng, the Well.

Sources: Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath Chinese constellations in Taurus
Map based on seasky.org
Lookout tower and Moon at the Great Wall
Source: china.org
White Tiger of the West
Source: picsart.com

Ursa Major
In Chinese, Ursa Major is written 大熊座.
Chinese astronomers knew the shape of the Big Dipper as Beidou, the Northern Dipper (they had a Southern Dipper as well, in Sagittarius).

It was also seen as the chariot of the Emperor, controlling the sky as it revolves around the pole.

Source: Ian Ridpath
In a Chinese proverb, the southern dipper marks life while the northern dipper (Beidou, our Big Dipper in Ursa Major) marks death. The Hong Kong Space Museum tells the story of the two dippers:
Chariot of the Emperor; © Arjayempee
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

It was said that, in the Period of Three Kingdoms (220-280), there was a famous Taoist priest named Guan Lu. Once day he met a young man named Yan Chao. As an expert in physiognomy, he found the young man would die soon and told the man his ill fortune. At the time, Yan Chao was only nineteen and was really upset by the bad news. He begged the priest to help him. Guan Lu instructed, "You should go home fast and prepare a bottle of good wine and a plate of deer meat. Then go to the south of the wheat fields. Under a giant mulberry tree, you will find two old men playing Go. Serve them well and don't say a word. They may help you."

Following the instruction, Yan Chao finally found the old men as described. He stood beside still and served them with wine and meat silently. Being too concentrated on the game, they enjoyed the feast subconsciously. After some time, the old men to the North suddenly noticed the present of Yan Chao and annoyingly said, "What are you doing here?" Without saying a word, Yan Chao fell on his knees and kowtowed. Two old men
Source: Hong Kong Space Museum

Not knowing how to deal with the young man, the old man finally said, "we've enjoyed his offerings. Let's do something to reward him." The old man to the South said, "Give me your record of death." When he found that Yan Chao was destined to live only nineteen years, he crossed the record out and changed it into ninety. Delighted with unexpected good result, Yan Chao thanked the old men and went home. Afterwards, Guan Lu explained, "the old man sitting to the North is Northern Dipper, the one to the South is Southern Dipper. Southern Dipper is responsible for the birth and Northern Dipper is responsible for the death."

Ian Ridpath describes the other asterisms in the constellation as follows:

A ring of six faint stars near Merak including 36 and 44 UMa was known as Tiānláo, a prison for noblemen (the prison for commoners was in Corona Borealis), although some maps place this group south of ψ UMa.

Tiānlǐ, the judge responsible for imprisoning the noblemen, was represented by four faint stars including 66 UMa within the bowl of the Dipper.

Six stars in the forelegs and head of the bear formed an arc called Wénchāng, the administrative centre, representing six officers or departments of the celestial government. Sources differ as to exactly which six stars were involved, but υ, φ, θ 15 UMa were among them.
Chinese asterisms in Ursa Major
Map based on a map provided by seasky.org

There are various other faint Chinese constellations in this area which are difficult to identify with any certainty. To the north of Wénchāng was Sānshī a trio of stars representing three tutors. [Wikipedia identifies this group as ρ, σ¹ and σ² Uma.]

Nèijiē, "inner steps", was a group of six stars representing steps between Wenchang and the polar region of the sky. The Chinese referred to the area around the celestial pole as the Purple Palace or Central Palace. The star 24 UMa formed part of one of the walls enclosing this circumpolar region; the complete wall extended from Draco to Camelopardalis

South of the bowl of the Dipper were two named single stars. One was called Tàiyángshǒu, "guard of the Sun", usually identified as
χ UMa, while ψ UMa was Tàizūn, representing royal relatives or ancestors.

In southern Ursa Major, the three pairs of stars that the Arabs visualized as the tracks of a leaping gazelle were known in China as Sāntái, "three steps’, either leading to the administrative centre Wenchang, or steps that allowed the Emperor to travel between Earth and sky – literally, three steps to Heaven.

In Chinese astronomy, all the asterisms, except for Sāntái were part of the Purple Forbidden enclosure; Sāntái was located in the Supreme Palace enclosure.

Sources: Ian Ridpath, Wikipedia Stair to the Purple Heaven Palace; © Lu Jialiang
Purple Heaven Palace; © Yang Guangzhi

Ursa Minor
In Chinese, Ursa Minor is written 小熊座.

Ian Ridpath provides an extensive description of the Chinese constellations that are located in what is now known as Ursa Minor:

"In ancient China, the polar region of the sky took on immense symbolism because of its literally pivotal position, mirroring the central authority of the Emperor on Earth. The area including the modern Ursa Minor plus parts of Camelopardalis, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia was known to the Chinese as Zǐ Wēi Yuán, the Purple Palace Enclosure or Central Palace.

Surrounding it was a wall delineated by 15 stars, divided into western and eastern sections. The eastern wall started in present-day Draco and went through Cepheus into Cassiopeia, while the western section was in Draco, Ursa Major, and Camelopardalis.

Within this central enclosure lived the Emperor and his immediate family, depicted as an arc of five stars called Běijí, the North Pole Office. In sequence polewards they were: Tàizǐ, the Crown Prince (γ UMi); Di, the Emperor himself (β UMi), described as ‘the reddest and brightest star of the group’; Shùzǐ, son of a concubine (5 UMi); and Hòugōng, the Imperial Concubine or Empress (4 UMi).

At the end of the chain, over the border in Camelopardalis, was Struve 1694; this was known as Tianshu, the Celestial Pivot, or Niuxing, the Pivot Star, because it was closest to the celestial pole and hence acted as the pole star in those times despite being a mere 5th magnitude.

Keeping with the domestic theme, six faint stars in southern Ursa Minor and Draco formed the Emperor’s bedroom, Tiānchuáng.

Although Chinese astronomers did not recognize the Little Dipper we know today, they did have a similar dipper shape called Gòuchén (‘curved array’) formed by some of the same stars: ζ, ε, δ and α Ursae Minoris, plus two other unlabelled stars in Cepheus. What Gòuchén represents is unclear, though – it is variously described as the Empress, the residence of the Emperor, or even six generals

Gòuchén contains the present-day Polaris, but it was not known as that in ancient Chinese times. It is usually said that the Chinese called this star Tianhuang dadi, meaning ‘great emperor of heaven’ or ‘high god of heaven’, referring to the ultimate sky god – presumably the authority from which the terrestrial Emperor took his mandate to rule on Earth.

Sources: Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath Chinese constellations in Ursa Minor
Map based on seasky.org
Purple Palace Enclosure
Source: earthsky.org
Purple Palace in Hue, Vietnam
Source: anywhere.com

Virgo
In Chinese, Virgo is written 室女座
The northern part of Virgo is located in Tài Wēi Yuán, the Supreme Palace Enclosure.

The enclosure was by walls on the east and west, each consisting of a chain of five bright stars and a number of fainter stars. Tàiwēizuǒyuán, the left (eastern) wall started with η Virginis and stretched northwards, including γ, δ, and ε Virginis, extending further into Coma Berenices.

Tàiwēiyòuyuán, the right wall started at β Virginis and continued from there into Leo.

Within the walls, a group of faint stars, including ξ, ν, π, ο and ω Virginis form Nèipíng, the Inner Screen.
Chinese asterisms in Virgo
Map based on seasky.org
Walls of the Forbidden City; china.org.cn

The Left and Right Wall enclose a total of seventeen asterisms, most of them representing various groups of dignitaries, military and court officials. They belong to six different western constellations. Three of the asterisms are located within Virgo:

Sāngōng, Three Excellencies are formed by 31 and 35 Virginis, Jiǔqīng, Nine Ministers or Nine Senior Officers is formed by faint stars around ρ Virginis and Yèzhě, the Usher to the Court are centered at 16 Virginis.

Sources: Wikipedia, Ian Ridpath

In China, the southern part of the constellation Virgo is located in the direction of the Azure Dragon of the East occupying two of the seven Lunar Mansions in this quadrant.
Three Excellencies; Wikiversity

Jiǎo, the Horn (of the Azure Dragon) is the name of First Lunar Mansion in Chinese Astronomy.

The name Jiǎo is also given to an asterism consisting of α and ζ Virginis

The two stars also form one of many so-called gateways for the Sun, Moon, and planets, formed by stars located on opposite sides of the ecliptic.

Another one of these gateways, consisting of θ and 82 Virginis is called Píngdào, the Flat Road. It is seen as a straight road for the Sun, Moon, and the planets.

Yet another gate, called Tiānmén, the Celestial Gate is formed by the faint stars 53 and 69 Virginis.

Also part of the First Lunar Mansion is a heavenly field, called Tiāntián, the Celestial Farmland, consisting of τ and σ Virginis (or possibly 78 Virginis. According to Ian Ridpath, the Emperor ordered the heavenly fields to be plowed "...every spring before the year’s crops were sown."

Finally, there was a single star called Jìnxián, literally "Recommending Virtuous Men." Ian Ridpath describes the star as "...representing people of outstanding achievement being recommended for honors or awards." and identifies it as possibly θ Virginis, while Wikipedia assigns the asterism to 44 Virginis.
Kàng, the Neck (of the Azure Dragon) is the name of Second Lunar Mansion in Chinese Astronomy.

The name Kàng is also given to an asterism consisting of λ, κ, ι, φ, μ and υ Virginis and a number of fainter stars.

In 2016, the IAU's Working Group on Star Names assigned the name Kang to κ Virginis.
Ian Ridpath adds two more interesting facets to the picture of Kàng.

He writes that "...Kàng was also visualized in another way more relevant to Chinese society, as a government department administering various home affairs."
Dragon Horns; © missmonster
Heavenly Fields
Source: 24 Chinese Solar Terms in Season
Azure Dragon of the East
Source: Encyclopedia of Monsters

Ian Ridpath continues: "Near Kang was the similarly named Kàngchí, representing a lake with sailing boats. According to Sun and Kistemaker, Kàngchí originally consisted of 110, 109, and Mu Virginis, plus three other stars in Libra. Over time, though, it was moved north, first to six stars straddling the border between Virgo and Boötes and finally ending up as four faint stars in Boötes alone."

Sources: Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath