The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture

Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 260, 2009

c International Astronomical Union 2011
D. Valls-Gabaud & A. Boksenberg, eds. doi:10.1017/S174392131100319X

Ancient Chinese constellations

Junjun Xu
Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Room 424, Apartment 20, No. 37 Xueyuan Street, Beijing, China
email: xjjhhyy@sina.com

Abstract. China, a country with a long history and a specific culture, has also a long and specific
astronomy. Ancient Chinese astronomers observed the stars, named and distributed them into
constellations in a very specific way, which is quite different from the current one. Around the
Zodiac, stars are divided into four big regions corresponding with the four orientations, and
each is related to a totem, either the Azure Dragon, the Vermilion Bird, the White Tiger or the
Murky Warrior. We present a general pattern of the ancient Chinese constellations, including
the four totems, their stars and their names.
Keywords. China, constellations, mansions

1. Introduction
Three enclosures, four symbols and twenty-eight mansions characterise the ancient
Chinese constellations. This division of the starry sky began to appear in China before
the Zhou and Qin dynasties. The three enclosures refer to three areas around the North
celestial pole: the Purple Forbidden enclosure, the Supreme Palace enclosure and the
Heavenly Market enclosure. The four symbols are distributed near the ecliptic Zodiac
and the lunar orbit and are represented by four totems: the Azure Dragon of the East,
the Vermillion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West and the Black Tortoise of
the North. Every symbol was divided into seven sections which were know as mansions.
There are twenty eight mansions in this system and the Moon goes through approximately
a mansion every day, reflecting the lunar month. The twenty eight mansions† were named
Horn, Dipper, Legs, Well, Neck, Ox, Bond, Ghosts, Root, Girl, Stomach, Willow, Room,
Emptiness, Hairy head, Star, Heart, Rooftop, Net, Extended net, Tail, Encampment,
Turtle beak, Wings, Winnowing-basket, Wall, Three stars, Chariot, as show in Fig. 1.

2. Tables of star names

The following tables are a comparison list of star names both in traditional Chinese
characters and in English. They are classified in seven tables according to the three
enclosures and the four animal images which they belong to‡.

3. Implications
Ancient Chinese astronomy has taken an important rôle in both the Chinese culture
and the world astronomical culture. Chinese ancestors divided the constellations and de-
nominated the stars in a quite different way as the Greeks did. It will be an interesting
† see also http://baike.baidu.com/view/17723.htm?fr=ala0 1 1
‡ http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Space/Research/StarName/c research
chinengstarzone b.htm

107

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 108 J. Xu

Figure 1. Ancient Chinese constellations. Artwork by Zuojing Guanxing.

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 Ancient Chinese constellations 109

Table 1. The First Enclosure: Purple Forbidden Enclosure

Purple Forbidden Enclosure

Northern pole Left wall Right Wall

Crown prince Left pivot Right pivot Three

excellencies

Emperor Second premier Second chief Prime minister

judge

Son of Concu- First minister First minister Judge for

bine nobility

Imperial Second minister Second minister Guard of the

Concubine Sun

Celestial pivot First imperial First imperial Royals

guard guard

Four Advisors Second Imperial Second imperial Celestial prison

guard guard

Curved Array Second prime First prime Eunuch

minister minister

Great Emperor Second premier Celestial Great Administrative

of Heaven One centre

Celestial Pillar First minister Frist Great one Inner steps

Maids-in- Second minister Inner kitchen Three top

waiting instructors

Female protocol First imperial Northern dipper Eight kinds of

guard crops

Official of royal Second Imperial Celestial pivot Guest house

archives guard

Royal secretary Second prime Celestial rotating Celestial

minister jade kitchen

Celestial bed Celestial shining Celestial flail

pearl

Chief judge Celestial balance

Hidden virtue Jade

sighting-tube

Six Jia Opener of heat

Interior seats of Twinkling

five emperors brilliance

Canopy of the Assistant

emperor

CanopySupport Sombre lance

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 110 J. Xu

Table 2. The Second Enclosure: Supreme Palace Enclosure

Supreme Palace Enclosure
Seats of the Left wall Right wall
five emperors

Crown prince First premier Right law Upper step

administrator

Retinue First eastern First western Middle step

minister general

Officer of Second eastern Second ower step

honour minister western
general

Five feudal Second eastern Second Emperor’s

kings general western bodyguard
minister

Nine senior First eastern First western Junior officers

officers general minister
Three First premier Captain of the ong wall
excellencies bodyguards
Official of Astronomical
imperial guard observatory
Imperial Cosmological
guards temple
Three steps Usher of the
court

work to carry out a comparison between these two systems. Ancient Chinese constella-
tions were rooted in a strong belief of harmony among the heaven, the Earth and human
beings. By studying the stories behind the the names of the stars, one learns ancient
Chinese astronomy and also Chinese history and philosophy as well.

References
Chen, J. 2005, Ancient Chinese Constellations Decoding (Beijing: Qunyan Publisher)
Sun, X. & Kistemaker, J. 1997, The Chinese sky during the Han: Constellating Stars and Society
(Leiden: Brill)

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 Ancient Chinese constellations 111

Table 3. The Third Enclosure: Heavenly Market Enclosure

Heavenly Market Enclosure

Emperor’s Left wall Right wall

seat

Astrologer WEI HEZHONG Celestial

Discipline

Eunuch official ZHAO HEJIAN Woman’s bed

Dipper for JIUHE JIN Coiled thong

liquids

Dipper for Celestial spear ZHENG Seven

solids excellencies

Jewel market QI ZHOU

Commodity WUYUE QIN

market

Municipal XU SHU
office

Official for DONGHAI BA

royal clan

Official of YAN IANG

Religious
Ceremonies

Patriarchal NANHAI CHU

clan

Textile ruler SONG HAN

Butcher’s
shops

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 112 J. Xu

Table 4. Seven Mansions which belong to Azure Dragon

Horn Mansion Neck Root Room Heart Tail Winnowing-

Mansion Mansion Mansion Mansion Mansion basket
Mansion

Horn Neck Root Room Heart Tail Winnowing

basket

Flat road Great horn Boats and Lock Group of Changing Zhongshan
lake soldiers room

Celestial Left law Mattress of Door bolt Celestial Pestle

farmland administrator the emperor river

Tripod of the Left Celestial Punishment FUYUE

ZHOU conductor lance

Recommending Executions Twinkling Eastern door Fish

virtuous man indicator

Celestial gate Trials Celestial milk Western door Tortoise

Judging Gate of Celestial Sun

YANG spokes

Arsenal Battle Retinue

chariots

Pillars Chariots and

cavalry

Railings Chariot and

Cavalry
general

Southern gate Imperial

guards

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 Ancient Chinese constellations 113

Table 5. The Seven Mansions which belong to Vermilion Bird

Well Mansion
Ghosts Willow Star Extended Wings Chariot
Mansion Mansion Mansion Net Mansion Mansion
Mansion

Well Four Ghosts Willow Star Extended Wings Chariot

channels net

Battle axe Palace gate Cumulative Banner Celestial Celestial DONGOU Left
corpses of wine premier Temple linchpin
shop

Official for Market for Beacon fire Celestial Right

irrigation the soldiers cereals linchpin

Celestial Wild Outer Xuanyuan Changsha

wine cup cockerel kitchen

Five feudal Celestial Judge to Maids-in- Green

kings wolf estimate waiting hill
the age of
animals

North river Grandfather Moon High Military

judge Gate

Accumulated Son Celestial Master

water dog of Con-
struction

Pile of Grandson Celestial House for

firewood earth god’s Musical
temple Instru-
ments

Water level Old man

South river Bow and

arrow

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 114 J. Xu

Table 6. The Seven Mansions of the White Tiger

Net Mansion
Legs Bond Stomach Hairy Turtle Three Stars
Mansion Mansion Mansion Head Beak Mansion
Mansion Mansion

Legs Bond Stomach Hairy head Net Celestial Turtle Three stars
gate beak

Wangliang Great Mausoleum Celestial Whisper Celestial Deity in Punishment

general of river tally charge of
the monsters
heaven

Whip Official in Heaps of QI Celestial Interpreters Seat flags Jade well

charge of corpses street of nine
forest dialects

Auxiliary Official in Celestial Rolled Celestial Banner of Axe

road charge of boat tongue high three stars
pasturing terrace

Southern Square Stored Celestial Feudal Imperial Military

military celestial water slander kings military well
gate granary flag

Flying Ricks of Celestial Whetstone Five Celestial Screen

corridor grain foodstuffs chariots orchard

Outer Circular Celestial Pillars Toilet

fence celestial YIN force
granary

Celestial Hay Pool of Excrement

pigsty harmony

Master of Celestial Celestial

construc- meadows pier
tions

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X
 Ancient Chinese constellations 115

Table 7. The Seven Mansions of the Murky Warrior

Girl M ansion
Dipp er Ox Em ptiness Ro oftop Encam pm ent Wall
M ansion M ansion M ansion M ansion M ansion M ansion

Dipp er Ox Girl ZHAO Em ptiness Ro oftop Encam pm ent Wall

Celestial Celestial Pearls on YUE Deified Tomb Resting Celestial

keyhole drum stick ladies’ judge of palace stable
wear life

M arket offi cer Drum at Rotten Right Deified Ro ofing Flying Offi cial for
the river gourd conductor judge of serp ent earthworks
rank and
buildings

Establishm ent Left flag Good ZHENG Deified Tem ple Thunder and Thunderb olt
gourd judge of lightning
disaster
and go o d
fortune

Celestial co ck Right flag Celestial W EI Deified Celestial Offi cial for Cloud and
ford judge of m oney m aterials rain
right and supply
wrong

Dog Weaving XIZHONG HAN Crying Hum ans The line of Sickle
girl ram parts

Territory of Clepsydra Basket for JIN Weeping Pestle Palace guard

dogs terrace mulb erry
leaves

Celestial Im p erial Twelve YAN Jade M ortar M aterials for

spring passageway countries ornam ent M aking
on ladies’ Tents
wear

Peasant Networks of ZHOU Celestial Big yard North gate of

dykes ram parts for the m ilitary
chariots cam p

River turtle Celestial QIN Decayed ZAOFU Chaff

farm land M ortar

Nine water DAI Celestial Net for

wells ho ok catching
birds

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 81.44.80.61, on 30 Jan 2019 at 15:57:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131100319X