Chinese star names (Chinese: 星名, xīng míng) are named according to ancient Chinese astronomy and astrology. The sky is divided into star mansions (星宿, xīng xiù, also translated as "lodges") and asterisms (星官, xīng guān). The ecliptic is divided into four sectors that are associated with the Four Symbols, guardians in Chinese mythology, and further into 28 mansions. Stars around the north celestial pole are grouped into three enclosures (垣, yuán). The system of 283 asterisms under the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions was established by Chen Zhuo of the Three Kingdoms period, who synthesized ancient constellations and the asterisms created by early astronomers Shi Shen, Gan De and Wuxian. Since the Han and Jin dynasties, stars have been given reference numbers within their asterisms in a system similar to the Bayer or Flamsteed designations, so that individual stars can be identified. For example, Deneb (α Cyg) is referred to as 天津四 (Tiān Jīn Sì, the Fourth Star of Celestial Ford). In the Qing dynasty, Chinese knowledge of the sky was improved by the arrival of European star charts. Yixiang Kaocheng, compiled in mid-18th century by then deputy Minister of Rites Ignaz Kögler, expanded the star catalogue to more than 3000 stars. The newly added stars (增星, zēng xīng) were named as 增一 (zēng yī, 1st added star), 增二 (zēng èr, 2nd added star) etc. For example, γ Cephei is referred to as 少衛增八 (Shào Wèi Zēng Bā, 8th Added Star of Second Imperial Guard). Some stars may have been assigned more than one name due to the inaccuracies of traditional star charts. While there is little disagreement on the correspondence between traditional Chinese and Western star names for brighter stars, many asterisms, in particular those originally from Gan De, were created primarily for astrological purposes and can only be mapped to very dim stars. The first attempt to fully map the Chinese constellations was made by Paul Tsuchihashi in late 19th century. In 1981, based on Yixiang Kaocheng and Yixiang Kaocheng Xubian, the first complete map of Chinese stars and constellations was published by Yi Shitong (伊世同). The list is based on Atlas Comparing Chinese and Western Star Maps and Catalogues by Yi Shitong (1981) and Star Charts in Ancient China by Chen Meidong (1996). In a few cases, meanings of the names are vague due to their antiquity. In this article, the translation by Hong Kong Space Museum is used.
Three Enclosures
Purple Forbidden Enclosure The Purple Forbidden Enclosure (紫微垣 Zǐ Wēi Yuán) occupies the region around the north celestial pole and represents the imperial palace. It corresponds to constellations Auriga, Boötes, Camelopardalis, Canes Venatici, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Hercules, Leo Minor, Lynx, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor.
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Supreme Palace Enclosure The Supreme Palace Enclosure (太微垣, Tài Wēi Yuán) represents the imperial court. It corresponds to constellations Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Leo, Leo Minor, Lynx, Sextans, Ursa Major and Virgo.
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Heavenly Market Enclosure The Heavenly Market Enclosure (天市垣, Tiān Shì Yuán) represents the emperor's realm. It corresponds to constellations Aquila, Boötes, Corona Borealis, Draco, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Sagitta, Serpens and Vulpecula.
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Azure Dragon
Horn The Horn mansion represents the Dragon's horns. It corresponds to constellations Centaurus, Circinus, Coma Berenices, Hydra, Lupus and Virgo.
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Neck The Neck mansion represents the Dragon's neck. It corresponds to constellations Boötes, Centaurus, Hydra, Libra, Lupus and Virgo.
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Root The Root mansion represents the Dragon's chest. It corresponds to constellations Boötes, Centaurus, Hydra, Libra, Lupus, Serpens and Virgo.
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Room The Room mansion represents the Dragon's abdomen. It corresponds to constellations Libra, Lupus, Ophiuchus and Scorpius.
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Heart The Heart mansion represents the Dragon's heart. It corresponds to constellations Lupus, Ophiuchus and Scorpius.
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Tail The Tail mansion represents the Dragon's tail. It corresponds to constellations Ara, Ophiuchus and Scorpius.
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Winnowing Basket The Winnowing Basket mansion is the last of the Azure Dragon mansions. It corresponds to constellations Ara, Ophiuchus and Sagittarius.
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Black Turtle
Dipper The Dipper mansion is the first of the Black Turtle mansions. It corresponds to constellations Aquila, Corona Australis, Ophiuchus, Sagittarius, Scutum and Telescopium.
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Ox The Ox mansion corresponds to constellations Aquila, Capricornus, Cygnus, Delphinus, Lyra, Microscopium, Sagitta, Sagittarius and Vulpecula. Its name derives from the Cowherd Star.
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Girl The Girl mansion corresponds to constellations Aquarius, Aquila, Capricornus, Cygnus, Draco and Delphinus.
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Ruins The Ruins mansion (also translated as Emptiness) corresponds to constellations Aquarius, Capricornus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Grus, Microscopium, Pegasus and Piscis Austrinus.
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Rooftop The Rooftop mansion corresponds to constellations Andromeda, Aquarius, Cepheus, Cygnus, Draco, Lacerta, Pegasus, Piscis Austrinus and Vulpecula.
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Encampment The Encampment mansion corresponds to constellations Andromeda, Aquarius, Capricornus, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus, Lacerta, Pegasus, Pisces and Piscis Austrinus.
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Wall The Wall mansion corresponds to constellations Andromeda, Cetus, Pegasus and Pisces.
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White Tiger
Legs The Legs mansion represents the tail of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cetus, Pisces and Triangulum.
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Bond The Bond mansion represents the body of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Andromeda, Aries, Cetus, Fornax, Perseus, Pisces and Triangulum.
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Stomach The Stomach mansion represents the body of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Aries, Camelopardalis, Cetus, Eridanus, Perseus, Taurus and Triangulum.
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Hairy Head The Hairy Head mansion represents the body of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Aries, Cetus, Eridanus, Fornax, Perseus and Taurus.
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Net The Net mansion represents the body of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Auriga, Eridanus, Horologium, Lepus, Orion, Perseus and Taurus.
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Turtle Beak The Turtle Beak mansion represents the head of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Auriga, Gemini, Lynx, Orion and Taurus.
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Three Stars The Three Stars mansion represents the body of White Tiger. It corresponds to constellations Columba, Eridanus, Lepus, Monoceros and Orion.
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Vermilion Bird The final seven mansions represents the Vermilion Bird, creature of the direction south and the element Fire.
Well The Well Mansion corresponds to constellations Auriga, Cancer, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Carina, Columba, Gemini, Monoceros, Orion, Pictor, Puppis and Taurus.
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Ghosts The Ghosts Mansion corresponds to constellations Cancer, Gemini, Hydra, Monoceros, Puppis, Pyxis and Vela.
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Willow The Willow Mansion corresponds to constellations Cancer, Hydra and Leo.
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Star The Star Mansion corresponds to constellations Cancer, Hydra, Leo, Leo Minor, Lynx, Sextans.
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Extended Net The Extended Net Mansion corresponds to constellation Hydra.
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Wings The Wings Mansion corresponds to constellations Crater and Hydra.
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Chariot The Chariot Mansion corresponds to constellations Corvus, Crater, Hydra and Virgo.
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Southern asterisms Stars near the south celestial pole had not been catalogued in China until the arrival of western star charts. In the early 17th century, 23 new asterisms were designated during the compilation of the Chongzhen calendar.
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Individual stars with traditional names Names listed above are all enumerations within the respective Chinese constellations. The following stars have traditional proper names.
Single star asterisms
Proper names of individual stars
See also Chinese star maps List of Arabic star names
Notes
References