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10♓48 to 06♈23
The 12th Chinese lunar mansion is named 危宿 Wēi Su, “Roof Mansion.” It is the 5th of the 7 mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North.
The 6th asterism of the Roof Mansion is called 車府 Chēfǔ, “Big Yard for Chariots.” It represents the residence of the official carriages, and is composed of 7 stars of the constellations Cygnus and Lacerta. [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 06♈23 | 07♈05 | 15 Lac | Chefu Yi (1) | 1°00′ |
| 04♈37 | 05♈19 | 11 Lac | Chefu Er (2) | 1°10′ |
| 02♈15 | 02♈57 | 2 Lac | Chefu San (3) | 1°10′ |
| 20♓08 | 20♓50 | ρ Cyg | Chefu Si (4) | 1°30′ |
| 13♓05 | 13♓46 | 59 Cyg | Chefu Wu (5) | 1°00′ |
| 10♓48 | 11♓29 | ξ Cyg | Chefu Liu (6) | 1°30′ |
| 16♓19 | 17♓01 | 74 Cyg | Chefu Uqi (7) | 1°00′ |
Chefu the Big Yard for Chariots
10♓48 to 06♈23
The asterism Chefu symbolizes the residence of the official carriages, the ancient emperor’s garage, or his carriage management facility. In later poetry and prose, “Chefu” refers to imperial travels or court ceremonies. In ancient astrology, changes in the Chefu star official were used to predict the safety of the emperor’s carriage and matters concerning national travel. [2]
Some of the star officials in the Northern Black Tortoise are the celestial chariots and the masters who drive them. Asterism Tianjin (Celestial Ford) means the ferry crossing of the Milky Way. Near Tianjin are the asterisms Xi Zhong and Che Fu (Big Yard for Chariots). They were set up here specifically to serve the Heavenly Emperor’s travels.
When the Heavenly Emperor wanted to tour the world, he would set off from the Ziwei (Purple Palace) Enclosure north of the Milky Way, riding in a chariot along the “Chariot Road” of star officials, to the shore of the Milky Way, and then cross the Milky Way from Tianjin to the other side for his inspection. There would be special carriages and horses waiting for him on the shore.
The Carriage Palace (asterism Che Fu) is the place where the Heavenly Emperor usually stores his carriages and horses. Among the attendants who travel with the Heavenly Emperor are the asterism Xi Zhong in charge of managing the carriages and the asterism Zao Fu who drives the carriages and horses.
The Xi Zhong asterism is located northwest of the Tianjin asterism. Xi Zhong was the inventor of the chariot and was appointed “Chariot Master” by King Yu of Xia.
The Zao Fu asterism is located northeast of the Che Fu asterism. Zaofu was a master horse driver and judge of horses during the Western Zhou Dynasty. [3]
Ma Duanlin (1317)
Above Human Star (asterism Ren) are seven crows called Chariot Mansion (Chefu). The seven stars southeast of Tianjin (Celestial Ford) are called the Chariot Palace (Chefu), located near the river (Milky Way) to the east, reaching Sifei (Deified Judge of Right and Wrong), and govern the official carriage palace. If Venus and Mars guard it, there will be great turmoil in the chariots. [4]
Song History (1346)
The Seven Stars of the Chariot Palace (Chefu) are located east of Tianjin (Celestial Ford), near the river (Milky Way), arranged in an east-west line. It oversees officials responsible for carriages and the management of guest houses for visitors.
If the stars are bright and lustrous, it indicates the arrival of foreign guests and that their carriages will be elegant and clean. If Mars remains in this area, military movements will occur. If a comet or guest star transits here, war chariots will be deployed. [5]