Asterism Dou – Dipper (Southern)

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03♑12 to 14♑50

The 8th Chinese lunar mansion is named 斗宿 Dǒu Su, “Dipper Mansion.” It is the 1st of the 7 mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North. It represents the Southern Dipper in the constellation Sagittarius, not to be confused with the Big (Northern) Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major.
Shaped like the Big Dipper, the Southern Dipper represents the head and body of the Black Tortoise of the North. The ancients called it Tianmiao, “Heavenly Temple,” and it belonged to the emperor. It contains 6 stars in the constellation Sagittarius. ^[1]

Note: There is another “Dou” in Chinese astronomy. 斗 Dǒu, “Dipper for Liquids,” is the name of the 14th asterism of the Tian Shi (Heavenly Market) Enclosure.

2000	2050	IAU	Chinese	Orb
10♑11	10♑53	φ Sgr	Dou Su Yi (1)	1°50′
06♑19	07♑01	λ Sgr	Dou Su Er (2)	2°00′
03♑12	03♑55	μ Sgr	Dou Su San (3)	1°30′
12♑23	13♑05	σ Sgr	Dou Su Si (4)	2°10′
14♑50	15♑32	τ Sgr	Dou Su Wu (5)	1°40′
13♑38	14♑20	ζ Sgr	Dou Su Liu (6)	2°00′

Constellation Dou the (Southern) Dipper

03♑12 to 14♑50

Those born under the Dou constellation become stronger when facing stronger opponents and weaker when facing weaker ones. They experience significant mood swings but possess the power to overcome adversity and are highly creative. However, they tend to be reserved and secretive, which can lead to misunderstandings, and they need a calm and stable mind.
The Dipper constellation is the head of the Northern Black Tortoise, consisting of six stars shaped like a dipper. It is generally called the Southern Dipper. It belongs to the Wood element and is associated with the mythical beast Xie. The ancients also called it Tianmiao (Heavenly Temple), and it belonged to the emperor. Ordinary people should not easily offend the emperor’s star, hence it is often considered inauspicious. ^[1]

The six stars of the Southern Dipper consist of

φ Sgr, Namalsadirah I, Tianfu, astronomically Douyi, anciently Lingxing, Heavenly Mansion Palace, Star Lord of Destiny.
λ Sgr, Kaus Borealis, Tianliang, astronomically Douer, anciently Yinxing, Heavenly Minister Palace, Star Lord of Prosperity (Si Lu Xing Jun
μ Sgr, Polis, Tianji, astronomically Dousan, anciently Shanxing, Heavenly Beam (Liang) Palace, Star Lord of Longevity
σ Sgr, Nunki, Tiantong, astronomically Dousi, anciently Fuxing, Heavenly Harmony Palace, Star Lord of Increased Lifespan (Yi Suan Xing Jun)
τ Sgr, Namalsadirah II, Tianxiang, astronomically Douwu, anciently Yinxing, Seven Killings Palace, Star Lord of Overcoming Calamities (Du’e Star Lord)
ζ Sgr, Ascella, Qisha, astronomically Douliu, anciently Jiangxing, Heavenly Mechanism Palace, Star Lord of Birth (the Upper Life)

The Six Star Lords of the Southern Dipper are celestial officials who govern all living beings in the world, including humans, demons, spirits, gods, and immortals. The Great Emperor of Longevity of the South Pole, Jade Purity True King, (Canopus) is their superior. Therefore, all six palaces of the Six Star Lords of the Southern Dipper are under the jurisdiction of the Great Emperor of Longevity of the South Pole. ^[2]

In ancient astrology, the Southern Dipper constellation was used for political and agricultural predictions. Gan De of the Warring States period believed that “when the Southern Dipper is bright and large, rank and emoluments will be issued, and the world will be at peace… when the star is not bright… then the king will lose his way and the world will be full of worries.” Xi Meng of the Han Dynasty believed that a bright Southern Dipper foretells “a great harvest of the five grains… and timely wind and rain,” while an unseen Southern Dipper foretells “a poor harvest of the five grains… and irregular wind and rain, and the world will be sick.” There is also a general saying that “when the six stars are bright, the world will be at peace.” ^[3]

Dipper Personality.
People born under Dou Su (Dipper constellation) are suited to riding horses and exploring mountains and forests. They love prayer and making friends with virtuous people. They are skilled in many arts and have abundant wealth. The Dipper is auspicious for wearing new clothes, undertaking long-term projects, acquiring treasures, repairing gardens and forests, building vehicles, constructing fields, houses, cities, temples, and other auspicious structures. The construction of war equipment and other necessities is also auspicious.
The Dipper, the Pleiades and the Wings are the three most auspicious constellations, representing the typical late bloomers. The Dipper gives a generally stable and reliable nature, a strong fighting spirit, a love of conquest, and a refusal to easily admit defeat. They are strict with themselves and always strive to be the best in their group, whether it’s in terms of wealth, status, or reputation. They cannot allow themselves to lose to others in any of these areas. Furthermore, their strong sense of justice prevents them from resorting to underhanded means to win. As a result, they are often surrounded by friends who work together, learn from each other, and progress together.
However, when the environment is relatively comfortable, without goals and with less pressure, their enthusiasm often diminishes significantly, making it difficult for them to develop. Yet they are always very strict with themselves when it comes to improving their skills and honing their abilities.
Dipper natives have a very strong sense of perseverance and energy, silently honing themselves and accumulating their achievements. With a very strong sense of self-esteem, they don’t care about small wins or losses, but rather about big, tangible victories and defeats. They find it difficult to bow down to others, and in areas where they are not very good, they often miss out on good opportunities because they don’t want to lose face. They tend to remain silent when faced with important issues.
People born under the Dipper constellation are upright and incorruptible, never bullying the weak. They don’t back down when faced with a conflict, earning them respect and admiration. They also hope and appreciate that those around them treat them with politeness and humility. Many have strong beliefs, hold deities in high esteem, and pay attention to offerings to the gods and ancestral worship. In this way, they often have good luck.
These people are ingenious and particular about food, are good at dressing and have a good sense of fashion. However, those who excessively adorn themselves with lavish outward appearances often lack in ability (excluding those in fashion-related industries). A small portion of those born under the Dipper are arrogant, enjoy reading people’s expressions, and like to show off in front of those weaker than themselves. They are also deeply greedy. If they do not change their values, their fortunes will often decline.

Dipper Life Stages.
People born under the Dipper are often tall. A strong sensitivity to beauty gives good taste in clothing and appearance. Often born into “lucky” families, they may come from relatively well-off backgrounds in their early years, though their fortunes are often turbulent. After entering the workforce, they gradually distinguish themselves, and their luck steadily improves. Their innate indomitable spirit drives them to continuously break through in their fields, and with the support of those around them, they experience some very glamorous and successful periods in their lives. In their later years, their connection with their children may weaken slightly, as their children may live far away. However, they usually accumulate considerable fame and wealth, and their upright conduct earns them the respect of those around them.
During their childhood and adolescence, most people born under the Dipper constellation will have a period of great hardship. This may be due to family reasons or an illness that requires a long time to cure. During this period, they are often like butterflies emerging from their cocoons. They want to change themselves and their surroundings, but it’s like wearing a heavy shell. Every attempt is as painful as peeling off skin, and the current situation can feel suffocating.
Upon entering their youth, growth expands significantly. Intelligent individuals often excel in work and studies, quickly mastering key skills. They also possess social skills that may help them garner a following. They rarely allow themselves to say “I can’t do it” or “I’m not good enough,” demonstrating a strong sense of self-worth. Life during this period, at least in the eyes of outsiders, appeared very elegant and comfortable. The most important “accumulations” in life are made in this period.
In middle age, if they have found their field of study or life goal, this is often the busiest period. Sometimes, because of their high aspirations, they have to put in three times as much effort as ordinary people do. This period is also the most prosperous; they will persevere in their efforts for a better future, wealth, and fame. Furthermore, being a lucky constellation, even if they encounter any difficulties, they often find someone willing to lend a helping hand. However, due to their busy careers, they often find it difficult to care for their families after marriage, leading to less attention to their children and less time for them.
In their later years, they often gather many friends around them, and their lives remain full of warmth and vitality. They may be a little busy, but their later years are relatively peaceful and stable.

Dipper Man.
Men born under the Dipper have a clean-cut, direct impression and possess a noble air. They often have a chauvinistic side, believing their partners should cooperate with them and understand their focus on their careers. They also don’t make many practical demands on their partners, believing that men should provide women with a good life. Some men, whose pursuit of a career completely dominates their lives, may choose partners with better conditions than they do to strengthen themselves, but their chauvinistic nature remains at its core.
Ambitious yet shy, they are often too embarrassed to actively and strongly pursue their desired partner, always waiting and often missing opportunities as a result. Being very ambitious in their work and careers leaves less time for family. With positive synastry aspects, the marriage will be relatively smooth. They will work side by side, or the couple will have a harmonious relationship where one focuses on external affairs and the other on internal affairs.

Dipper Woman.
Women born under the Dipper often appear very feminine but may lack the delicate charm that men typically find attractive. In relationships, they often project a strong, assertive image that can be intimidating to their partners. Preferring a stable life, Dou women have few romantic expectations of their partners and are more concerned with a long-term, secure relationship. They are often well-suited to younger, more assertive men. Dou women are known for their loyalty and willingness to help their partners overcome relationship difficulties. Even if a Dou woman is family-oriented and her spouse is financially well-off, she may still be unable to relinquish her career due to various objective reasons. She will likely remain a strong, career-driven woman after marriage.

Dipper Love and Marriage.
The Dipper constellation gives a career-oriented focus. Therefore, in relationships, they often neglect their partners due to an intense focus on work, leading to frequent partner changes or simply avoiding relationships altogether. In their youth, this competitive nature can also spill over into romantic relationships, turning love into a battleground for dominance. They may prefer to choose someone from a more affluent family background. This is especially true for women, who are more likely to marry into families with stable and wealthy economic conditions.
With their focus on their careers, late marriage is very common. After marriage, they value family highly, but this isn’t necessarily reflected in housework or caring for family members. Instead, they strive to provide a better financial future for their family. As the partner of a Dipper person, you need to be tolerant and understanding, and they will likely contribute more to housework and family care. After marriage, they may not have a very close relationship with their parents.

Dipper Career.
Dipper people have strong self-esteem but are not good at self-promotion, so sales-related jobs are not suitable. Those who are self-disciplined can learn a professional skill and develop in a specialized field, such as a painter, designer, gourmet, martial artist, or technical worker. With confidence in their areas of expertise, a strong sense of justice and showing care and compassion for others, they can apply their talents in fields such as teaching, professorship, writing, or politics. Their devout faith suits them for working in a religion-related field. Furthermore, their keen intuition about fashion and beauty would also benefit their career prospects in such areas. When choosing a workplace, ample opportunities for advancement should be prioritized over job stability.

Dipper Health.
This constellation represents the left armpit. So discomfort in the left armpit may be a signal to get a medical check-up. Because they dislike admitting defeat and often bear much of their suffering alone, they need to be careful about venting their frustrations through food, as overeating can lead to digestive problems and other issues. People born under the sign of Dou are prone to dietary problems, so they need to pay special attention to healthy eating and a balanced diet.

Dipper Advice.
During stable periods of fortune, Dipper people may feel they have no place to apply their skills. However, this is indeed a good opportunity to accumulate strength. Sometimes, when faced with relationship issues, they can appear overly shrewd and capable. However, in relationships, there are often no winners or losers. Channeling their fighting spirit into emotion can win the game, but may cost the relationship. Dipper needs a window, a good friend with whom they can talk about anything. Too much grievance and pressure bottled up inside is detrimental to mental health. Having a confidant with whom one can talk about anything is a treasure in the life of someone born under the sign of Dou. ^[4]

There are Fourteen Main Stars used in Chinese Astrology. They include the Sun, Moon, and twelve fixed stars:
Five belong to the Big Dipper: Dubhe, Merak, Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid.
Six in the Southern Dipper: φ Sge, Kaus Borealis, Polis, Nunki, τ Sge, and Ascella.
The remaining fixed star is Kochab. ^[5]

Ma Duanlin (1317)

The Dipper resembles a tortoise and snake coiled together. It governs winter, water, the Northern Mountain, the North, and shelled creatures, totaling 360. Wang Yi said that the tortoise is not only the leader of shelled creatures, but also, in the northern winter, it causes hibernation, creating an image of shrinking and hiding. The Dipper has six stars, resembling the Big Dipper.

The Dipper, at twenty-five degrees, is the Heavenly Temple, also called the Heavenly Mechanism. When the five planets pierce its center, the sun and moon are on their proper paths. It represents the position of the Prime Minister and Grand Chancellor, who deliberates on appropriate political affairs, promotes the virtuous and capable, bestows titles and emoluments, and also governs military affairs.

The two southern stars, Kui and Tianliang, represent the Heavenly Beam; the two central stars, Tianxiang; and the two northern stars, Shao and Tianfuting, also indicate lifespan. When matters concerning the emperor arise, the Southern Dipper is consulted. When there are matters concerning the Son of Heaven, divination is performed in the Southern Dipper.

If the stars are bright and clear, the ruler and his ministers are of one mind, the world is at peace, and titles and emoluments are bestowed. If the stars are sharp or angular, or wavering, the emperor is troubled, and war breaks out; if they shift, his ministers are expelled. If the sun, moon, and five planets retrograde into the Dipper, the world is in turmoil. If a comet invades it, war breaks out. If the stars are dim, the prime minister (Chancellor) is deposed or dies. ^[6]

Song History (1346)

The six stars of the Southern Dipper (南斗) represent the Heavenly Rewards and Salaries (official rank) Palace. It oversees the emperor’s longevity and symbolizes the positions of prime ministers in terms of titles and salary; classical texts refer to it as 天庙 “Tianmiao,” or the Heavenly Temple. It represents the positions of the Prime Minister (Chancellor) and the Grand Minister (Tai Zai), who are responsible for honoring virtuous individuals and advancing scholars in official ranks. It also oversees military affairs. Another name for it is 天机 Tianji (Heavenly Mechanism).

The two southern stars, Kui (魁), are known as Tianliang, the Heavenly Beam (天梁). The two central stars are the Tianxiang, the Heavenly Minister (天相). The two northern stars symbolize the heavenly court of Tianfu. It is also said that the southern stars are Kuixing (the Northern Dipper’s handle), while the northern stars form the dipper’s ladle.

The first star in this group is called Beiting, alternatively known as Tiankai or Fuwan. Shi Shen said: “The first star of Kuixing governs Wu, the second Huiji, the third Danyang, the fourth Yuzhang, the fifth Lujiang, and the sixth Jiujiang.”

If the stars are bright and prominent, then royal virtue prevails in harmony; the emperor enjoys a long life, and generals and ministers work together harmoniously. If they appear dim or irregularly arranged, then officials of all ranks lose their proper order. If any star has sharp spines (mangjiao) or wavers, it indicates that loyal ministers are lost from the state, military conflict arises, and people suffer distress.

A solar eclipse in the Dipper signifies worry for generals and ministers, war, disaster for the empress, and war arises in the region of Wu. A solar halo signifies worry for the prime minister and unrest in the ancestral temple.

A lunar eclipse in this region signifies famine in the corresponding state, minor military conflict, and distress for the empress and her ladies-in-waiting. Three lunar eclipses in a year signify a general amnesty. A lunar halo signifies the death of a great general and a lack of harvest.

If the moon transits the Dipper, ministers and generals are demoted; winds and rains become irregular, and high-ranking officials face execution.

Another interpretation: if the moon enters here, it signifies distress for the female ruler, with military conflict arising in the Zhao and Wei regions; an ominous color signifies the death of a minister (or the prime minister).

If Jupiter enters, there will be an amnesty or pardon; if it remains in place for a long time, floods and rising grain prices follow. If it remains for a hundred days, there will be military action and the death of high-ranking officials.

Mars in the Dipper signifies that an amnesty occurs, but there will be the destruction of the army and the killing of generals, and fire disasters. If it enters for twenty days, grain prices will be high; if it enters for forty days, there will be virtuous decrees. If it remains (shou zhi), there will be war and bandits. A prolonged stay indicates severe disasters. If it emerges from the Dipper and moves upward, the whole realm faces distress; if it does not move, the ministers face trouble. If it enters, there will be conspiracies both inside and outside the court; if it remains for seven days, the crown prince will fall ill.

If Saturn transits the Dipper, there will be rebellion or disorder; if it enters here, there will be loss of territory. If it moves in retrograde, there will be earthquakes; if it emerges, enters, or remains for twenty days, a major mourning event occurs; if it remains, high-ranking officials will rebel. Another interpretation: if Saturn moves retrograde here, there will be floods followed by drought; if it remains for some time, the state will produce many righteous and virtuous men.

If Venus transits the Dipper, military conflict and ministerial rebellion follow. If it remains or lingers (liu shou zhi), armies are destroyed and generals killed. If it enters with Mars, the sun will blaze, subjects rebel against their sovereigns; if this continues, the calamity will be great.

If Mercury transits the Dipper, there will be floods, grain will not grow, and there will be war. If it remains for an extended time, warfare or mourning events arise.

If a guest star invades, war breaks out, and the country is in chaos; if it enters, feudal lords attack each other, there is much theft, severe drought, palaces and temples burn, and grain prices rise. If the guest star remains for seven days without departing, an amnesty will be issued.

If a comet transits the Dipper, the ruler is troubled. If it exits this region, then plots arise in its corresponding area; it also indicates water disasters, fires within the palace, subordinates plotting against superiors, and rebellious forces. If it appears in the region, military conflict or disease follows, bringing distress to the state.

When a meteor enters, southern and western barbarians come to pay tribute; the prime minister is distressed; subordinates plot against superiors; and rebellious forces arise. If it exits the Dipper, military conflict or disease follows, bringing distress to the state. In spring, it signifies the emperor’s longevity; in summer, floods occur; in autumn, the prime minister is demoted or removed from office; in winter, high-ranking ministers act rebelliously. If meteors appear red and exits, then a high-ranking minister dies.

When clouds enter, pale clouds signify strong winds; red clouds signify drought; if they appear, war breaks out and palaces and temples burn; if they enter, two red clouds signify war; black clouds signify disease. ^[7]