Asterism Chu – Pestle

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15♓59 to 24♓00

Asterism Chu – Pestle

The 12th Chinese lunar mansion is named 危宿 Wēi Su, “Rooftop Mansion.” It is the 5th of the 7 mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North.
      The 4th asterism of the Rooftop Mansion is also called 杵 Chǔ, “Pestle.” It represents a military ration pestle and is composed of 3 stars of the constellations Lacerta and Pegasus[1]
      Note: The 3rd asterism of the 7th lunar mansion Ji (Winnowing Basket) is also named 杵 Chǔ, “Pestle.” It represents the standard pestle used for pounding things.

20002050IAUChineseOrb
24♓0024♓421 LacChu Yi (1)1°20′
19♓3320♓15π ² PegChu Er (2)1°20′
15♓5916♓4123 PegChu San (3)1°00′

Chu the Pestle

15♓59 to 24♓00

Ma Duanlin (1317)

The three stars of the Inner Pestle (Chu), beside the Human Star (Ren), signify military provisions. If they are upright and aligned, it is auspicious; if they are not aligned, provisions will be exhausted; if they are not upright, the people will starve. The Sui Shu states that when a guest star enters the mortar and pestle positions, war will break out, and rice will accumulate throughout the land. [2]

Song History (1346)

Chu (Pestle) consists of three stars located to the east of Renxing (Human Star); alternatively, they are said to be north of Jiuxing (Mortar Star) and oversee the pounding of military grain. If these stars are incomplete or missing, people will sell their cooking vessels.

If the Pestle and Mortar constellations are not clearly visible, the people will suffer famine; if the stars are numerous, the year will be prosperous; if they are sparse, famine will occur; if they move or waver, famine will also occur; if the Pestle constellation is directly opposite the Mortar constellation, it is auspicious; if they are not aligned, the army’s food supplies will run out; if they are aligned vertically, it is auspicious; if they are horizontally aligned, there will be famine. [3]

References

  1. List of Chinese Star Names – Wikipedia.
  2. General Examination of Literature, Volume 279, Part 2, Ma Duanlin, 1317.
  3. Song History, Volume 50, Chapter 3, 1346.

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