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Star Lore Orion Part 3 - Asia and Pacific

Nataraja

Orion is one of the most prominent and most recognizable constellations in our winter sky. Located on the celestial equator, the constellation is visible throughout the world. The constellation is named after the hunter Orion in Greek mythology. In addition, there are other myth about Orion in many parts of the world.

Asia

India In India, the constellation Orion is seen as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer - an avatar of Shiva. The Rig Veda refers to Orion's Belt as Mriga, The Deer and to Orion's Sword as the Baby Deer. The four bright surrounding stars Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Rigel and Saiph are hunting dogs, and the star on top, Meissa is the hunter. In Indian astronomy, the stars at the top of Orion, Meissa ( λ Ori), φ1 and φ2 Ori are part of the 5th Nakshatra, called Mrigashīrsha, the Deer Head (मृगशिर). Betelgeuse (α Ori) is the central star of the sixth Nakashtra, called Ardra, the "Moist One" (आर्द्रा). Source: Wikipedia

Shiva as the Lord of Dance Source: Wikipedia

R.H. Allen writes about the "... Hindu conception of the whole figure as a running Stag, or Antelope, of which α, β, γ and κ marked the legs and feet with ... the adjacent Sirius being the hunter Mrigavyadha.

China In Chinese, Orion is written 獵 戶 座. In Chinese astronomy, the western constellation Orion covers seven asterisms in four Lunar Mansions. The three stars of Orion's Belt are called Shen, which literally means three. The Three Stars are the 21st mansion of the Chinese star chart. Later, the four corner stars were added to the constellation, making it the center of a hunting scene. During the November-December hunting season, the full Moon was in this part of the sky. Orion's head star and the stars of the bow form the Turtle Beak, the 20th mansion in the Chinese sky. A few faint stars in the very south of the constellation extend into the 19th and 22nd Lunar Mansion, Bì, the Net and Jǐng, the Well. Except for the Well, which is located in the quadrant of the Vermilion Bird of the South, all the mansions are located in the White Tiger of the West. Sources: Ian Ridpath's Star Tales and Wikipedia.

Three Stars and Turtle Beak Chart based on Sea and Sky

Orion and Scorpius 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

Japan In Japanese, Orion is written オリオン Most of the following are direct quotes from the excellent writings of Steve Renshaw and Saori Ihara. Modern Star Atlases published in Japan use the Katakana form of "Orion"; however, most children learn the term Tsuzumi Boshi to visualize the constellation. As a standard instrument of both Nou and Kabuki drama, tsuzumi is a Japanese drum. It has heads on both ends and is beaten with the fingertips. Many drums of this type are thought to have been introduced into Japan prior to the Nara period (710-794). Especially as they are used in court music, tsuzumi still retain much of their original form. Strings are used to tie the heads from end to end, and the pattern gives the drum a somewhat hourglass appearance. The stars Betelgeuse and Gamma Ori form one end of the drum while the stars Rigel and Kappa Ori form the other. The three belt stars represent the cord that is used to tie the strings snugly in the middle. Source: Renshaw and Ihara

Tsuzumi Boshi Source: Renshaw and Ihara

When Orion is near the zenith, some Japanese call the trapezoidal figure Sode Boshi. Sleeves of a kimono are long, rectangular, and hang almost to the ground. Thus, the stars of Orion appear as though a woman has lifted her arm out, and her decorative kimono sleeve drapes gracefully toward the Southern Sky. Source: Renshaw and Ihara Depending upon the particular area of Japan and the predominant activity of people living there, job related objects were often seen in the three stars of the belt. For example, apparent equal spacing of Mitsu Boshi led people in areas whose primary industry related to construction or land management to see various types of linear measures such as Shakugo Boshi (ruler stars).

Sode Boshi Source: Renshaw and Ihara

In areas where bamboo was grown, people were likely to call the three belt stars Take no Fushi (bamboo joints) seeing each of the stars as a joint in a bamboo pole. In textile producing areas, ordinary citizens often visualized three prongs of a machine used in weaving thread and labeled the three stars Kase Boshi. Source: Renshaw and Ihara

Much of Japanese star lore concerns specific events in the nation's history. In this regard, Orion's Betelgeuse and Rigel have special significance in many prefectures of Japan. Bluish-white Rigel (β Orionis) is sometimes called Genji Boshi, representing the Minamoto Clan, while red Betelgeuse (α Orionis) is called Heike Boshi, representing the Taira Clan. Conflicts between the two families lead to a nationwide civil war between 1180 and 1185. Now, the two feuding clans are kept apart by Orion's Belt. Source: Renshaw and Ihara

Minamoto and Taira clan symbols

Sulawesi The Bugis sailors of the Malay Archipelago called the stars of Orion's Belt Tanra Tellué, meaning "sign of three." Source: Wikipedia

Siberia The Chukchi people of Siberia's far East see Orion as a hunter - similar to western and middle eastern depictions. An arrow shot by the hunter is represented by Aldebaran (α Tauri). Source: Wikipedia

Chukchi Hunter © Mary Evans Library

Pacific

Hawaii In Hawaii, Betelgeuse is called Kaulua-koko. Kaulua means brilliant red star, Koko means blood or rainbow-hued. Rigel is called Puana-kau, meaning Suspended Blossom. Source: University of Hawaii

Māori In Māori, Orion's Belt is called Tautoru, meaning "The Three Friends." Tautoru is part of a larger constellation called Te Waka o Tamarēreti. Orion's Belt forms the stern, Te Waka o Mairerangi is the keel and Te Waka o Mairerangi is the bow. Māhutonga (The Southern Cross) is the anchor and The Pointers in Centaurus are the anchor line, called Te Taura o te Waka o Tamarēreti. Sources: Wikipedia, Maori Dictionary, Maori Star Names Tūhoe legends surrounding the creation of star constellations, Part 1 and Part 2

Te Waka o Tamarēreti Source: Youtube

Rigel (β Orionis) is called Puanga and the entire constellation is sometimes called Nga Tira a Puanga, which means "Puanga's Company," or "The Traveling Party of Puanga." Puanga is the son of Rēhua, the chief of all stars, which is Antares. In some regions, Puanga (Rigel) is seen as a fruit and the constellation is seen as a pigeon called Kererū, sitting on a perch (Orion's Belt) and feeding on the fruit. Keep in mind that in the southern hemisphere, Rigel is "above" Orion's Belt. Betelgeuse (α Orionis) is called Pūtara. When the the red star first rises out of the ocean, it is very large and bright and throws out unmistakable red flashes. In Māori believes, if these flashes appear to be towards the north, it will be a year of plenty on land and in the sea, but if they appear towards the south it will be a lean season for food. Sources: The Wisdom of the Maori: The Call of the Stars, Maori Star Names

Kereru Source: Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Polynesia In Polynesia, the constellation Orion is called Heiheionakeiki. Source: Wikipedia

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