Chinese constellation: Difference between revisions
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The '''Chinese''' have a tradition of grouping stars in '''constellations''' that is completely different from the Western one. | The '''Chinese''' have a tradition of grouping stars in '''constellations''' that is completely different from the Western one. | ||
In traditional Chinese thought, the arrangement of the sky reflects the political arrangements on Earth: the most northern stars represents the most elevated figures, and [[Polaris]] represent the Emperor - around which all other stars revolve. <ref>Ronan, Colin A. ''The Cambridge Illustrated History of the World's Science'', Vol. 2. 1984: Cambridge University Press.</ref> Also, the sky around [[North Celestial Pole]] (the [[circumpolar region]]) is divided | In traditional Chinese thought, the arrangement of the sky reflects the political arrangements on Earth: the most northern stars represents the most elevated figures, and [[Polaris]] represent the Emperor - around which all other stars revolve. <ref>Ronan, Colin A. ''The Cambridge Illustrated History of the World's Science'', Vol. 2. 1984: Cambridge University Press.</ref> Also, the sky around the [[North Celestial Pole]] (the [[circumpolar region]]) is divided into '''Three Enclosures''' (三垣 sān yuán). | ||
In addition, for the Chinese, the region of sky passed through by the [[ecliptic]] is not divided into 12 [[zodiac|zodiacal constellations]], but | In addition, for the Chinese, the region of sky passed through by the [[ecliptic]] is not divided into 12 [[zodiac|zodiacal constellations]], but into '''Twenty-eight Mansions''' (二十八宿 èrshíbā xiù). In each day of the month, the [[Moon]] occupies one of these mansions. The Twenty-eight Mansions reflect the movement of the Moon, whereas the Zodiac reflects that of the Sun. ([[Indian astronomy]] also has a system of lunar mansions, called ''[[Nakshatras]]''.) | ||
== | ==Three Enclosures== | ||
The '''Three Enclosures''' (三垣 sān yuán) are: | The '''Three Enclosures''' (三垣 sān yuán) are: | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
* [[Heavenly Market enclosure]] (天市垣, Tiān Shì Yuán) - lies at the other side of the Forbidden Enclosure. | * [[Heavenly Market enclosure]] (天市垣, Tiān Shì Yuán) - lies at the other side of the Forbidden Enclosure. | ||
== | ==Twenty-eight Mansions== | ||
The '''Twenty- | The '''Twenty-eight Mansions''' (二十八宿 èrshíbā xiù) are: | ||
{| cellspacing="0" border="1" bgcolor="white" | {| cellspacing="0" border="1" bgcolor="white" | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
||'''name''' | ||'''name''' | ||
||'''[[pinyin]]''' | ||'''[[pinyin]]''' | ||
||''' | ||'''literal translation <ref>Translations of the Xiu names are done literally and may not be the true and original meaning</ref>''' | ||
||'''approx. localization due <br>to official constellations''' | ||'''approx. localization due <br>to official constellations''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
||Jiăo | ||Jiăo | ||
||[[Horn (Chinese constellation)|Horn]] | ||[[Horn (Chinese constellation)|Horn]] | ||
||[[Virgo]], around [[Spica]] | ||[[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]], around [[Spica]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|亢 | |亢 | ||
||Kàng | ||Kàng | ||
||[[Neck (Chinese constellation)|Neck]] | ||[[Neck (Chinese constellation)|Neck]] | ||
||[[Virgo]] | ||[[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|氐 | |氐 | ||
||Dī | ||Dī | ||
||[[Root (Chinese constellation)|Root]] | ||[[Root (Chinese constellation)|Root]] | ||
||[[Libra]] | ||[[Libra (constellation)|Libra]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|房 | |房 | ||
||Fáng | ||Fáng | ||
||[[Room (Chinese constellation)|Room]] | ||[[Room (Chinese constellation)|Room]] | ||
||[[Libra]] | ||[[Libra (constellation)|Libra]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|心 | |心 | ||
||Xīn | ||Xīn | ||
||[[Heart (Chinese constellation)|Heart]] | ||[[Heart (Chinese constellation)|Heart]] | ||
||[[Scorpius]], around [[Antares]] | ||[[Scorpius (constellation)|Scorpius]], around [[Antares]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|尾 | |尾 | ||
||Wěi | ||Wěi | ||
||[[Tail (Chinese constellation)|Tail]] | ||[[Tail (Chinese constellation)|Tail]] | ||
||[[Scorpius]] | ||[[Scorpius (constellation)|Scorpius]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|箕 | |箕 | ||
||Jī | ||Jī | ||
||[[Winnowing Basket (Chinese constellation)|Winnowing Basket]] | ||[[Winnowing Basket (Chinese constellation)|Winnowing Basket]] | ||
||[[Sagittarius]] | ||[[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The Black Tortoise of the North]]<br>(北方玄武) | |rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The Black Tortoise of the North]]<br>(北方玄武) | ||
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
||Dǒu | ||Dǒu | ||
||[[Dipper (Chinese constellation)|Dipper]] | ||[[Dipper (Chinese constellation)|Dipper]] | ||
||[[Sagittarius]] | ||[[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|牛 | |牛 | ||
| Line 77: | Line 77: | ||
||Nǚ | ||Nǚ | ||
||[[Girl (Chinese constellation)|Girl]] | ||[[Girl (Chinese constellation)|Girl]] | ||
||[[Aquarius]] | ||[[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|虛 | |虛 | ||
||Xū | ||Xū | ||
||[[Emptiness (Chinese constellation)|Emptiness]] | ||[[Emptiness (Chinese constellation)|Emptiness]] | ||
||[[Aquarius]] | ||[[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|危||Wēi||[[Rooftop (Chinese constellation)|Rooftop]], Danger | |危||Wēi||[[Rooftop (Chinese constellation)|Rooftop]], Danger | ||
||[[Aquarius]]/[[Pegasus]] | ||[[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]]/[[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|室 | |室 | ||
||Shì | ||Shì | ||
||[[Encampment (Chinese constellation)|Encampment]], Room | ||[[Encampment (Chinese constellation)|Encampment]], Room | ||
||[[Pegasus]] | ||[[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|壁 | |壁 | ||
||Bì | ||Bì | ||
||[[Wall (Chinese constellation)|Wall]] | ||[[Wall (Chinese constellation)|Wall]] | ||
||[[Pegasus]], around [[Algenib]] | ||[[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]], around [[Algenib]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The White Tiger of the West]]<br>(西方白虎) | |rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The White Tiger of the West]]<br>(西方白虎) | ||
| Line 101: | Line 101: | ||
||Kuí | ||Kuí | ||
||[[Legs (Chinese constellation)|Legs]] | ||[[Legs (Chinese constellation)|Legs]] | ||
||[[Andromeda]] | ||[[Andromeda (constellation)|Andromeda]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|婁 | |婁 | ||
||Lóu | ||Lóu | ||
||[[Bond (Chinese constellation)|Bond]] | ||[[Bond (Chinese constellation)|Bond]] | ||
||[[Aries]] | ||[[Aries (constellation)|Aries]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|胃 | |胃 | ||
||Wèi | ||Wèi | ||
||[[Stomach (Chinese constellation)|Stomach]] | ||[[Stomach (Chinese constellation)|Stomach]] | ||
||[[Aries]] | ||[[Aries (constellation)|Aries]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|昴 | |昴 | ||
||Mǎo | ||Mǎo | ||
||[[Hairy Head (Chinese constellation)|Hairy Head]] | ||[[Hairy Head (Chinese constellation)|Hairy Head]] | ||
||[[Taurus]], around [[Pleiades|The Pleiades]] | ||[[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]], around [[Pleiades|The Pleiades]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|畢 | |畢 | ||
||Bì | ||Bì | ||
||[[Net (Chinese constellation)|Net]] | ||[[Net (Chinese constellation)|Net]] | ||
||[[Taurus]] | ||[[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|觜 | |觜 | ||
||Zī | ||Zī | ||
||[[Turtle Beak (Chinese constellation)|Turtle Beak]] | ||[[Turtle Beak (Chinese constellation)|Turtle Beak]] | ||
||[[Orion]] | ||[[Orion (constellation)|Orion]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|參 | |參 | ||
||Shēn | ||Shēn | ||
||[[Three Stars (Chinese constellation)|Three Stars]] | ||[[Three Stars (Chinese constellation)|Three Stars]] | ||
||[[Orion]] | ||[[Orion (constellation)|Orion]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The Vermillion Bird of the South]]<br>(南方朱雀) | |rowspan="7" align="center"|[[The Vermillion Bird of the South]]<br>(南方朱雀) | ||
| Line 137: | Line 137: | ||
||Jǐng | ||Jǐng | ||
||[[Well (Chinese constellation)|Well]] | ||[[Well (Chinese constellation)|Well]] | ||
||[[Gemini]] | ||[[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|鬼 | |鬼 | ||
| Line 147: | Line 147: | ||
||Liǔ | ||Liǔ | ||
||[[Willow (Chinese constellation)|Willow]] | ||[[Willow (Chinese constellation)|Willow]] | ||
||[[Hydra]] | ||[[Hydra (constellation)|Hydra]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|星 | |星 | ||
||Xīng | ||Xīng | ||
||[[Star (Chinese constellation)|Star]] | ||[[Star (Chinese constellation)|Star]] | ||
||[[Hydra]], around [[Alphard]] | ||[[Hydra (constellation)|Hydra]], around [[Alphard]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|張 | |張 | ||
||Zhāng | ||Zhāng | ||
||[[Extended Net (Chinese constellation)|Extended Net]],Growth | ||[[Extended Net (Chinese constellation)|Extended Net]],Growth | ||
||[[Crater]] | ||[[Crater (constellation)|Crater]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|翼 | |翼 | ||
||Yì | ||Yì | ||
||[[Wings (Chinese constellation)|Wings]] | ||[[Wings (Chinese constellation)|Wings]] | ||
||[[Corvus]] | ||[[Corvus (constellation)|Corvus]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|軫 | |軫 | ||
||Zhěn | ||Zhěn | ||
||[[Chariot (Chinese constellation)|Chariot]], <br>Strongly (as of emotion) | ||[[Chariot (Chinese constellation)|Chariot]], <br>Strongly (as of emotion) | ||
||[[Corvus]] | ||[[Corvus (constellation)|Corvus]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
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<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:1; column-count:1;"> | <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:1; column-count:1;"> | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
</div> | </div>[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:00, 28 July 2024
The Chinese have a tradition of grouping stars in constellations that is completely different from the Western one.
In traditional Chinese thought, the arrangement of the sky reflects the political arrangements on Earth: the most northern stars represents the most elevated figures, and Polaris represent the Emperor - around which all other stars revolve. [1] Also, the sky around the North Celestial Pole (the circumpolar region) is divided into Three Enclosures (三垣 sān yuán).
In addition, for the Chinese, the region of sky passed through by the ecliptic is not divided into 12 zodiacal constellations, but into Twenty-eight Mansions (二十八宿 èrshíbā xiù). In each day of the month, the Moon occupies one of these mansions. The Twenty-eight Mansions reflect the movement of the Moon, whereas the Zodiac reflects that of the Sun. (Indian astronomy also has a system of lunar mansions, called Nakshatras.)
Three Enclosures
The Three Enclosures (三垣 sān yuán) are:
- Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣, Zǐ Wēi Yuán) - the nothersmost area of the night sky, contain the north pole, in the center of stars' movements;
- Supreme Palace enclosure (太微垣, Tài Wēi Yuán) - lies at one side of the Forbidden Enclosure;
- Heavenly Market enclosure (天市垣, Tiān Shì Yuán) - lies at the other side of the Forbidden Enclosure.
Twenty-eight Mansions
The Twenty-eight Mansions (二十八宿 èrshíbā xiù) are:
| Four Symbols (四象) |
"Xiu" (宿) | |||
| name | pinyin | literal translation [2] | approx. localization due to official constellations | |
| The Azure Dragon of the East (東方青龍) |
角 | Jiăo | Horn | Virgo, around Spica |
| 亢 | Kàng | Neck | Virgo | |
| 氐 | Dī | Root | Libra | |
| 房 | Fáng | Room | Libra | |
| 心 | Xīn | Heart | Scorpius, around Antares | |
| 尾 | Wěi | Tail | Scorpius | |
| 箕 | Jī | Winnowing Basket | Sagittarius | |
| The Black Tortoise of the North (北方玄武) |
斗 | Dǒu | Dipper | Sagittarius |
| 牛 | Niú | Ox | Capricornus | |
| 女 | Nǚ | Girl | Aquarius | |
| 虛 | Xū | Emptiness | Aquarius | |
| 危 | Wēi | Rooftop, Danger | Aquarius/Pegasus | |
| 室 | Shì | Encampment, Room | Pegasus | |
| 壁 | Bì | Wall | Pegasus, around Algenib | |
| The White Tiger of the West (西方白虎) |
奎 | Kuí | Legs | Andromeda |
| 婁 | Lóu | Bond | Aries | |
| 胃 | Wèi | Stomach | Aries | |
| 昴 | Mǎo | Hairy Head | Taurus, around The Pleiades | |
| 畢 | Bì | Net | Taurus | |
| 觜 | Zī | Turtle Beak | Orion | |
| 參 | Shēn | Three Stars | Orion | |
| The Vermillion Bird of the South (南方朱雀) |
井 | Jǐng | Well | Gemini |
| 鬼 | Guǐ | Ghost, Demon | Cancer | |
| 柳 | Liǔ | Willow | Hydra | |
| 星 | Xīng | Star | Hydra, around Alphard | |
| 張 | Zhāng | Extended Net,Growth | Crater | |
| 翼 | Yì | Wings | Corvus | |
| 軫 | Zhěn | Chariot, Strongly (as of emotion) |
Corvus | |